USB charger hardwire help

Can anyone explain how to hardwre a car charger for charging usb devices? I've found some threads on the subject but they don't exactly explain the wire connections in detail.

thanks

 

Why not buy a cigarette lighter to usb adapter?


$8 doesn't sound bad.

 

Since I don't smoke that is exactly what I did. Just took out the cig lighter and stuck the usb adapter in the socket. So I still have 2 usable outlets for GPS or my FM ipod thing. I figured it is less added wires on my electrical system, as I want to add other electric gadgets later on. Just make sure if you do go that route that the usb adapter will be able to charge whatever your devices are.

I remember reading some usb adapter only output at 1a and it needed to be like 2a or something to charge an ipad. Some people said that in the reviews for my usb adapter (Griffin USB with 2 slots) but I don't know if there is validity to that. I am able to charge both my Android phone and girlfriends Iphone 4s just fine, albeit kinda slowly (after a 2 hour drive my phone only charged from 22% to 80%

 

i thought about going that route...but my cig lighter socket is already loose and jiggly so i prefer not to use one of those. and i'm kinda paranoid about leaving something plugged in all the time. had bad luck doing that in 2 other cars. i prefer the built-in USB port look. i'm just not sure how to hard-wire a car charger. once i get it hard-wired, i'll run a USB extension to the USB port location for a nice clean look.

 

The lighter socket turns off when you turn the key off. It only makes sense to use a usb adapter in there because at least the circuit has a fuse already. It would be easier just to fix the lighter socket than trying to rig up a usb socket dangling from a wire.

 

Yeah I was about to say the lighter socket is only on when the truck is on. Believe me I was paranoid enough after hearing of people melting theirs to pull the USB adapter out after a good 2 hour drive and it was cold, and that's even after charging my phone on it the whole way. So I have a little piece of mind now.

But if you are die hard about hard-wiring, check this out. I did a search and remembered seeing this a while back:
(2nd gen write-up): http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/47366-my-usb-port-write-up.html

 

There was a guy who hardwired two USB ports below the ashtray that were a constant source. He also wired them to the back of his aftermarket head unit. Pretty sure he did a simple write up on how to do it also.

I thought I bookmarked it but can't find it. Maybe someone with mad searching skills can help you out. (I know I replied in his thread, before he explained it to me, with something like, "I have no idea what you accomplished but it seems cool.")

 

I played detective and found it

Here's the thread! http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/157189-usb-port.html

 

Thanks JdevTac.... that gave me tons of ideas.

would it be possible to connect the wires to the wiring for one of the power outlets?

 

I bet if it's connected to the head unit it'll be powered with the head unit... do you have an aftermarket head unit OP? If so I'd try to find out if it'll draw power through it. If that works it'll be super easy to rig up, just plug and play and then figure out where to mount the physical USB port somewhere.

 

don't have an aftermarket head unit. still working with the factory installed high-power, super-bass system lol

 

Ah. I'll look at my stock one that's sitting on a shelf when I get home to see if there's anywhere that could be adapted to a USB (I'm thinking the port for the CD changer is looking promising). If that works out and you're willing to pull the dash apart (it's not tough, just gotta be careful of all the stupid pins and clips that hold everything together) you could have a powered USB port that also is tied into your head unit.

 

Got nothing to do at work so I found this:

http://www.gromaudio.com/usb.html

I think it'll work assuming you can find one that has a matching plug to your disk changer port and assuming you have a head unit with the disk changer port. This gives you USB, 3.5 mm jack, and two others that look like the old school Din5 mouse and keyboard plugs, and bluetooth.

 

thats a little steep...i'd rather not spend that much because my goal is only to be able to charge my iphone in the car. i'm gonna install the usb port in one of the factory blanks on my dash. the factory CD port would be great...but i have no idea if my unit has one.

 

Grom hookups seem nice but you are right about ridiculous pricing. For that price I'd rather buy a new headunit. Easiest option is probably just gonna be tapping into the fuse box behind the driver side dash with a fuse tap in an empty slot. Close enough to the factory blanks to make install that much easier. Again make sure the usb port has an output of atleast what your Iphone needs to charge

Also in tapping into one of the power outlets (if you still wanted to go that direction) I remember reading somewhere when researching hardwiring a gps some disclaimer against it. I think it was moreso related to just avoiding tapping into factory wires and creating more mess.

 

i found another site that talked about doing it this way. i've been trying but can't seem to get power to the iphone. the iphone works just fine and charges on any other power outlet so i know my method is flawed somehow. here is what i did:

i got a +5V Fixed Voltage Regulator 7805 from radio shack (PICTURED) and wired it up as shown in this sketch. for the 12v source i've tried the fuse box and the power outlets. i'm just not getting any power to the iphone for some reason. can someone tell me what i'm dong wrong here?