USB plug in

[samples08]

Okay first off I wish to apologize if this is in the wrong section, I tried to determine the best place to place my idea, however I am certain that an admin could place this in proper placement for me. That aside here goes.

This has been my idea for a while now and I have been pondering on which would be the appropriate coarse of action, I want to install a custom USB port for cellphone charging only or anything else that connects via USB, but here is the kicker I want my stock cigarette lighter port to stay in place and I want the USB port to plug in left of the cigarette lighter just incase I still need that port for anything else. So here are my official questions 1. Has anyone ever done or attempted anything like this and 2. If I had the USB charging and I plug something in such as a GPS would it cause a circuit overload and blow the fuse.

Any help on my idea would be greatly appreciated and please feel free to comment your concerns and ideas.


Also I do not wish for it to connect into my radio in any way I simply want to be able to charge things.

[1oldman]

So, you want a USB port, not a cigarette lighter outlet with a USB charger adapter plugged into to it? Just 1 cigarette lighter port and 1 seperate USB charging port?

Would this work?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RQ ... cs&sr=1-13

- BC

[Evan0801]

http://www.amazon.com/Hardwire-Smartpho ... B00I3P6QQG


Something along the lines of that would be really easy to install and make neat. Although I'm sure there are better ones out there. All you have to do is run positive side to your cigarette outlet circuit and ground to chassis.

OR if you want to take an easy route and not hunt down wires you can plug this http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Circuit-sam ... B007FFG5YI into where the cigarette outlet fuse is and bridge off it to make a positive and then ground it to chassis.

Also, its going to make a difference if you want this to run only with key on or all the time. Some cigarette outlets run all the time and others turn off with key.

[samples08]

I want it to turn off, key off that's why I was hopeing to use the one on the dash board doesn't it cut off as well and I appreciate your ideas on something that plugs into my already existing outlet but that's not what I want, honestly what I want is a place to plug in my USB cable directly in like in the newer cars and whenever I turn key off USB charging port no-longer has power and I have been thinking about putting it beside the trac switch as I have no heated seats it's just bare there in my car and I think having a separate plug in port that looks factory would be awesome (especially if I can find a USB port that covers when up when not in use. But that's not important)

[samples08]

http://www.amiservices.us/ac-12vusb100. ... 8283950120 <<= something like this ?

[00Beast]

It should be fine. You should be able to splice right into the cigarette lighter.

[samples08]

You don't think it'd blow the fuse if I had something plugged into it the same time I had something plugged into the cigarette lighter do you?

[00Beast]

No. I have a splitter that plugs in and goes out to 3 cigarette lighter outlets and have had that full and it was fine. It's a pretty robust circuit. Each device only pulls 2-ish amps at 5 volts, way less wattage than that circuit is rated for.

[96 SSEi]

hi, all usb devices are powered by 5 volts so you will risk damaging device if you run 12v with no inline fuse

[00Beast]

The device transforms it down to 5v for the device plugged in.

[MattStrike]

If you're interested in learning about DC circuits, you can build your own 5v regulator circuit using a LM2596 that will give you a 2-3 amp source @ 5v, you just have to splice in some wires and find a panel mount USB port (interweb search, some even have caps!).
http://www.amazon.com/Outlet-Charger-So ... +mount+usb

I build one of these and mounted it inside my stereo to plug my Zune into the radio and not get any humming/buzzing/ground loops while charging it. If you want key on/off splice it into the stereo wire harness for power.

[00Beast]

Matt, I'm interested in how that goes together. In my next vehicle, I'm looking to put a USB charger in a small cubby...

[samples08]

http://www.amazon.com/Outlet-Charger-So ... +mount+usb

Okay Matt I absolutely love that one but I have questions before ordering,
1. Could I not just jump black to black, red to red, on the cigarette lighter socket or is it more recommend to find an alternative ground.
2. Does the socket on the dash board not cut off key off because honestly I don't want to cut into the radio power.
3. Will it convert it down like a resister inside the device ? Like you said in an earlier post?

All that aside this is darn near perfect and I would love to order it so long as it suffices all needs

[Oldman]

I'm not Matt, but that's exactly what you're looking for. It states "Input 12V, Output 5v, so it reduces the voltage to exactly what you need. Good idea to have the cap for where you are planning to put it so it won't get crud down inside. I have to say, I like this idea and I'm going to do the same thing. On my '01 SSEi, there's a cigarette outlet on the back side of the center console for rear seat passengers, so that's a really convenient power source for jumping wires from. Also, on my '01, these power outlets can be made either key off or constant my moving the fuse. The fuse has two "legs" but the place for the fuse has 3 slots. the middle slot is ground and the other two are key off power, and constant power. So, you can plug the fuse in two different ways to determine of the current is constant or key off. Neat trick! I have mine as constant power so if I'm charging my phone or something else, it charges if I make a quick stop and turn the car off.

[MattStrike]

Mine is the DIY circuit, used a PC panel-mount USB port, integrated into the stereo head unit. It's the one on the top in this picture:


The one I linked to in Amazon is what I would do if I were going to mount it on a separate trim panel.

You want to pull this off the stereo harness if you plan to use it to charge a hard-line-in audio device. Otherwise you will get a ground loop and alternator whine.

[samples08]

Nope I'm just looking for a charge port only thanks guys!

[wast3dd3ath]

most usb devices when plugged into a usb port an not a outlet will only pull 500mah

[yourgrandma]

Amazon has a ton of panel mount usb power ports. The $6 one from like blue wave or some such is what ive used in both my cars. In the bonneville i added a couple fuse blocks under the console to power gizmos l. My usb charge port is in the hole where the traction control button used to be. The one in the bmw, i modified to put out full android power all the time, but it no longer charges apple devices.

I would rotally post pics but its a pain. Lol.