markaluge Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 Has anyone fitted a USB port for sat nav, phone charging etc and if so any advice gratefully received? Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted April 7, 2021 Report Share Posted April 7, 2021 (edited) Easy to do if your car is negative earth Mark. A bit iffy if it is positive earth, as anything with exposed metal parts which you connect must not touch any of the car's metalwork else there would be a short circuit. I fitted a cigar-lighter socket on the support bracket below the glovebox on my 3A, wired direct to the battery via a fuse so it works with the ignition off. I can use that for an electric jack as well as with a plug-in USB adaptor. I can even use it in reverse for keeping the battery topped up with a battery conditioner. There are also wired-in USB sockets available but a lot of those have led lights which are on all the time there is power. That means they need to be connected to an ignition-switched supply and can't be used with the ignition off. If you wire those in to an unswitched supply, not only is the light on permanently but the small current drawn can drain the battery if the car is left standing unused for a few weeks. Edited April 7, 2021 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markaluge Posted April 8, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 Thanks Rob, much appreciated. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phil Read Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 I notice usb sockets are available on ebay, they fit in the place of the ash tray on the dash. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 I fitted a combined usb socket and voltmeter and hid it under the dash. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 (edited) I have an accessory cigar lighter socket Fused and ignition controlled Power feed Meaning I have both ammeter and voltmeter to interpret what the alternator and battery might be doing. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-20A-CIGAR-CIGARETTE-LIGHTER-POWER-SUPPLY-CAR-ACCESSORY-SOCKET/221264885765?hash=item33846a3805:g:~XUAAMXQQtNR3TxW With this sort of thing plugged into it. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-1A-USB-Car-Cigarette-Phone-Charger-Lighter-Digital-LED-Voltmeter-Accessories/293643118626?hash=item445e7e6822:g:Tq0AAOSwGUde~djm Edited April 8, 2021 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 Like Rob, I fitted one of these under my glove compartment. On the left, two USB ports. On the right, one cigar lighter type socket. Both wired to an 'ignition on' supply (because the USB socket has a small LED light) but they could have been wired separately if I had wanted. All in all, very useful as Rob has indicated. Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted April 8, 2021 Report Share Posted April 8, 2021 I made a small plate to fix under the dash, this holds a "cigar" lighter socket into which I can plug phone charger, sat nav power cable, air bed inflater, USB adapter etc. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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