roguiethegiant

Everyone,

This morning I did the cigarette lighter to USB conversion, which I've seen elsewhere and was told was simple (it is but read below).

Part is $8 on amazon a. You do need to sand down minorly the holder for the cigarette lighter but the usb charger easily screws in after
b. You do need to switch from three prong adapter for cigarette lighter to then go to 2 prong on USB (easy, just cut old wires and crimp new ones - $3 in parts at auto store)

Issues though (and where I need your thoughts):
a. The lights on the USB stay lit even when car is off. I am afraid this will drain battery but parts store guy said no since cigarette lighter gets a charge even when car is off - this is how you can use it for charging dead battery etc.
b. This should be strong enough to charge my phone but after all was said and done, it didn't charge the phone! What did I miss?!!!

wyovino

The cigar lighter circuit is always hot. I would be surprised if that Pioneer head unit doesn't have USB input/charging connection. If it does, you can tap into that instead and cap off the cigar lighter wires.

roguiethegiant

The pioneer does have a usb in back, i just didnt want to run a cable wire through the shelf. Thought this looked cleaner

wyovino

I meant something like this
It's just a USB extension cable (no power adapter). You would mount it through the lighter hole in the dash and connect it to the back of the Pioneer head unit.

Mark I

Re issue b, you haven't missed or done anything wrong. The deficiency is probably with the converter. Perhaps you could find one that tests out as adequate and replace it with that. GLWS

Mbren1979

I have the exact as same usb setup. I also didnt like that it stayed on all the time. I went ahead and left the factory connector alone and tied into the telephone harness behind the center console. The telephone harness is a 4 wire harness that has a ground, switched 12v, constant 12v and a radio mute wire. Even though i could have cut the connector off and tied right in, i decided to order the becker factory pigtail ($20) and spliced in so it has a factory connection. Now the USB and light only turns on with the key on. And mine charges my phone perfectly fine.

lowpue

Do you have pics of this connector and location?

Mbren1979

photo from the internet. If you sit in the car and your leg were to rest on the console, pull that panel off. No tools required - it pops right off. This picture is on the passanger side but driver side is a mirror image.

Mbren1979

If you need better pics i can go out to my car

Flyfishnick

I can't help on your dilemma but if you want to go the simple route, this is flush mount and has the orange light. I got one to try out. It is orange light too.

ThatSalesGuy

I have one of these sitting in the console currently, teri ng to decide where to install it. Dont want to remove the cigar lighter as I still use that for other electronics on occasion.

Dranon

There is no orange light on this one it is just orange colored. Aukey also has a dual-port flush mounted one.

IF you want one with orange LED that lihts up here is one:
​​​​​​

DGI

Going to be ordering one of these to install once my 996.2 dash goes in. Any one have any wiring instructions so it isnt hot all the time?

Mbren1979

Tie into the existing connector for the cig lighter. It is not hot all the time from the factory.

bplein

I used an adapter from Becker to connect to the phone hookup shown above in the thread. There is accessory line there that has enough amps for this application.

You don't have to use the Becker adapter, it just makes it easy to tap in without cutting into factory wires.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/252389052709

I used this adapter so I could see the system voltage. I was a bit paranoid after replacing an alternator. The blue is not super bright and not obnoxious (although it doesn't match the otherwise amber lighting)