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I replaced the stereo in my car and replaced the cigarette lighter with a USB socket that plugs into the back of the new head unit. I tucked the 12v plug back in behind trim piece.
About a month ago, one of my tires went flat due to nail in the tread. The leak was slow enough that I could fill the tire with the handy, dandy compressor and drive to the service station to get the tire plugged. However, I had to fish to 12v connector out from the console and reconnect the cigarette lighter to power the compressor.
Where is a good place to install the 12v socket? The socket, including the power connector, needs a good 3" behind any trim piece.
Somewhere on the center console? "Batwing" ? I'm not sure how many people actually do this so you may just have to improvise. If you find a good spot, a write-up would be appreciated!
I also have a USB socket instead of a cigarette lighter socket in my dash.
I just picked up one of these for my battery in case I need to use my air compressor:
$2 off of eBay, or ~$10 from Amazon, Autozone or Walmart.
Amazon has some that are over 10' long in case you need the extra reach.
Changing channels a bit, is there an adapter for the oversized 12V socket that came in my 99? My understanding is that it is a European socket that has a larger diameter.
Nice solution but I needed to use the USB device as input to the head unit.
Got it. I've been trying to come up with a couple of ideas for my car. I do have a USB input for the head unit that terminates in the little storage compartment at the rear of the center console. I used it to listen to music from a little memory stick, for the drive home when I first purchased the car. I messed with the stereo and now that USB input does not appear to be active. I may have dislodged the cable when I had it out. Haven't found the time to retrace my steps and check it.
More to my misinterpreted suggestion to you, I want to have a 5V output to power my GPS unit. That's the little adapter I bought (and pasted above) to resolve that issue. Now I am looking for a cleaner solution which I can plug into and run a very short cord to the GPS.
I like your idea. When I get some time, I'll see what it will take to get my USB input relocated to an area that is more convenient to access - such as you have done. But I still want at least one USB power output (charging phone, powering GPS, etc.)
I've been checking on ideas from Jim and his wife's thread as well. Need to start popping off some of the blank switch plates to see what can be wired up.
Here are a couple of places I'm thinking about....
[QUOTE=Nice solution but I needed to use the USB device as input to the head unit.[/QUOTE]
I did this:
I redid it recently to make it look cleaner but didn't take a picture of the redone port. I also rigged it to light up when along with the other buttons when the headlights are on.
Got it. I've been trying to come up with a couple of ideas for my car. I do have a USB input for the head unit that terminates in the little storage compartment at the rear of the center console. I used it to listen to music from a little memory stick, for the drive home when I first purchased the car. I messed with the stereo and now that USB input does not appear to be active. I may have dislodged the cable when I had it out. Haven't found the time to retrace my steps and check it.
More to my misinterpreted suggestion to you, I want to have a 5V output to power my GPS unit. That's the little adapter I bought (and pasted above) to resolve that issue. Now I am looking for a cleaner solution which I can plug into and run a very short cord to the GPS.
I like your idea. When I get some time, I'll see what it will take to get my USB input relocated to an area that is more convenient to access - such as you have done. But I still want at least one USB power output (charging phone, powering GPS, etc.)
I've been checking on ideas from Jim and his wife's thread as well. Need to start popping off some of the blank switch plates to see what can be wired up.
Here are a couple of places I'm thinking about....
I'd get a short USB cord like this:
Like I said in the previous post, we bought a clear blue one to match the blue lighting of the buttons (We changed ours form the orange to blue), but you could buy this in clear orange too, I'm sure.
I'd get a short USB cord like this:
Like I said in the previous post, we bought a clear blue one to match the blue lighting of the buttons (We changed ours form the orange to blue), but you could buy this in clear orange too, I'm sure.
Right. I just ordered a 3-foot long unit similar to that to try as input to the stereo. But I'm still tossing around ideas for a powered outlet for the GPS.
Here's the piece I will consider for the stereo and plan to install where you mounted yours:
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12v Socket Relocation
