Being a frequent traveler, I find myself in a new rental every other week. As a result, I've really become accustomed to charging my phone by simply plugging it into a USB charger, while still having the cigarette lighter socket available for radar detector, GPS, or whatever. I already know about the existence and use of the variety of adapters that fit in the 12V cigarette lighter socket, but I wanted to leave mine open.

So after a little thought and under $30, I have now have a dual USB charger for the wife and I.

I bought the USB charger socket off of Amazon. I'm sure you can find it cheaper if you look around.




First I removed the seat so I'd have more room to work. The black panel is the target. Twist the plastic screw at the vent and the vent cover will slip off. After that there is one metal screw to remove and the plastic panel can be removed.



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Next mark a location for your 1 3/16" hole. Be careful, as there isn't much room for error in it's placement.

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The socket slips into the hole and there is one plastic retaining nut that secures it in place.

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You'll need to now tap into a ground and 12V source. This part is self explanatory, so have at it. Go with a constant 12V if you want it to charger when the key isn't in the ignition. This location is very accessible and it won't cost a fortune to replace the panel if you screw up or decide to remove it.

This project took approximately 1 hour to complete.

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And here's a screen shot showing the battery is charging on my phone when it's plugged in.

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Not to be a know-it-all, but could I also suggest an inline fuse, if they do not tap a fused source?

Also, if you do my "always hot" mod* to the cigarette lighter/glove box lamp, you'd have constant 12 volts without the key on AND without running any wires!

(Well, ok not sure how easy it would be to get to the cig lighter/glove box lamp wiring, never tried. My mod is done totally in the fuse box under the hood on the driver's side)






(*Did I document that mod here somewhere?)

 

I guess I didn't:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...lamp-work.html




EDIT: DONE! It's in the link above now!

 

I tapped into the radio, as I want it off when I'm not in the car. The power feed to the radio is fused, so I didn't bother wiring in another one.

 

Ok, got it!

I think I'll add that to my car, but it'll be on battery power. I am always charging my GoPro batteries at the Dragon, and when ever I take the camera with me. I have three batteries, but they only last about 2 1/2 hours each.

 

Well, that's pretty nice.

But I just stick mine in the cigar lighter. And there's NO chance my wife will wipe it out with her dainty little feet/legs/knees.

 

Or with her purse.

 

Clean and professional as always, Anthony!

 

Did you remove the 'dust cover' showing on the first picture, or was that a generic picture and it didn't come with one?


Great job!!!

 

Exactly what I was thinking and no hassle of installing.
plug in usb charger for auto - Google Search

 

Yes, I removed the dust cover to keep the install more stealthy. I'm fully aware of the cigarette lighter USB adapters, but I wanted to have my cake and eat it to. In other words, I want my cigarette lighter socket available for other things while my phone is charging.

 

This is what I use. Car 2 way Cigarette Lighter Power Splitter

 

I was going for a cleaner look I guess. My wife uses a 3-to-1 in her car.

 

I don't leave mine plugged in. When there is a need, then I use them which usually on a longer road trip. My wife and I are the only ones who see it. They come in handy when I'm using my GPS and need to charge my phone.

 

see https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...?highlight=GPS

I did that quite a while back, the GPS powers up when key is switched on, and the cigarette lighter socket is still available.

 

 

Lol, this is getting silly. Maybe someone should start a thread titled "solution's to avoid installing a semi-permanent USB adapter"?

By the way, I have one of those USB cigarette lighter adapters beside me right now. This is my own fault, as I was't more specific as to why I installed it. I've revised the thread now, so everyone isn't piling on with alternate solutions.

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Somehow my phone will not charge with the 12v charger.. My parents Navigation does, and so does my brothers phone. I use a plug-in what give's me 1 Usb, 1 mini Usb and some other thing.

Only thing i can think of is that my phone sucks..

Edit: Never mind, just tried it again, and it seems to work

 

Nice. That's a prettty slick solution.

I got a new GPS for Christmas that came with the lighter socket USB plug, so I'll just plug it's cord into the the USB charger I installed whenever I use it. I still need to hard-wire my radar detector to get rid of that cord.

 

I like the Glove-Box-Light-wire-tap idea, but I take my GPS off the windsheild all the time and put it in the trunk due to theft concerns. (I can see some creep cutting thru the $2200 top to get my $150 GPS.) I like Anthony's idea of the permanent-mounted outlet - as I could use it to charge GoPro batteries and even my phone; my FRS radio and GPS are powered off a two-way adapter via the lighter socket.

Yea, on trips like the Dragon, I have up to four things to power in the car!