Hey everyone, does anyone know how to add a phone charger to our cars? I'm thinking of putting one in my center console. Not a plug in the lighter kind. I mean have a female USB connection wired in to a hot that I could plug my cell phones charger cord into. I just want to add a little new school convenience to my old school ride. Thanks for any input.
you could use something like this and simply eliminate the cigarette adapter as the source and hard wire it to a 12v lead in the car. I'd suggest fusing it in-line. https://www.epaky.com/product/12v-d...charger-for-iphone-digital-voltmeter-display/
Replaced all 5 of the lighter sockets in the Riv to fused 20A power ports and use a short USB plug in like the one on the R side in the pic above. Fuse is inline directly below the ash trays for easy access.
I did this @jhems17, not hard. You need a decent power source as you could pull 5 amps if you want to charge two phones. They make drop in USB chargers, just need an inch or maybe 1 1/8 hole. I drilled out the actual ash tray and popped it in there. The quickie cig lighter adapters mean you can't close the ash tray. The way I did it only the cables pop out. Don't get the cheap chargers as they can't charge two modern smart phones at once. The USB standard is also changing from USB A to USB C. This a smaller connector that can drive more power. It is backwards and forwards compatible so if you go USB c you'll be better off in 36 months.
Alan how much is that thingy? The webpage doesn't say and you gotta request a quote or something. Did you buy it?
@Ken Mild note that this thing has a 1 amp USB charger and a 2.1 amp. The 1 amp port is not enough to charge most new smartphones - especially if you are running a map program. Use something like this for $16 -- way more power and ready for USB C-- https://www.amazon.com/Zeato-Charge...&sr=8-4&keywords=usb+charger+car+install&th=1
Thanks bostoncat68, I saw that it was only 1A and 2.1A and figured that was low, especially since I'll be using it a lot to keep my phone charged while I play music from my phone and use maps for directions so that's perfect. I plan to build a little box and put the chargers in my center console so they're hidden. Leave my stock cigarette lighters intact to keep the old school look. Thanks for the info, its very much appreciated.
Thanks. What is the difference between USB C + PD & QC 3.0. Also, I wonder if this will swap right in place of my existing lighter??
@Ken Mild USB C is a new standard for connectors. It's designed to support higher amps min of 3A --max of 5A and higher data speeds. It's also got a new connector that is the same on both ends of the cable and that can be plugged in in either direction. Phones are JUST starting to go to USB C. In 2019 we should see quite a few. In a couple of years it will be the norm for everything.
