Install Dual USB and 12v Outlets

[G-Dubya]

I was getting sick of the tangle of cords and 12v socket jacks etc. when the family go on a road trip. The missus and kids have their tablets and then there are 2 mobiles in the car as well. Then I need to find somewhere to plug the GPS into. So to free up some space I decided to install dual USB ports into the blanked switches next to the handbrake and then put an old waeco 12v socket onto the back of the centre console. I hooked them both up through a relay using power from one of the front batteries and using a switch source from another accessory inside the car. Took some pics while doing it so I thought I would post them up as a bit of a walkthrough. I already had the switch source sorted, it was just spliced into the wire off the cigarette lighter so that once the ACC is switched on with the key it all activates, and turns off when the key turns to off.

First you need to undo the screws holding the centre console around the handbrake in place. There are 2 in the bottom of the centre console and 2 underneath the tray under the handbrake. The tray just lifts out with a screwdriver.

 

[G-Dubya]

Once the console is out, poke the desired switch blank out. I used a rocker style dual USB I got from Jaycar (there are plenty available online through Ebay as well, I just had the bug to do something today and didn't want to wait for delivery from China). You will need to file the inside of the hole out just a little and get rid of the little square in the bottom right corner.

I also screwed the mounting plate for the Waeco plug onto the back of the console, drilled a hole for the cable to come through and got the Waeco plug into position.

I ran twin core cable from both and then it was ready to reinstall.

 

[G-Dubya]

Once that is done there are three screws that need to be undone, 2 on the passenger side of the surround for the gear sticks and 1 at the bottom of the aircon/stereo/ashtray facia. Undo all three and feed the cable under them to hide them away. You should only see a little bit of cable between the gear stick surround and facia as in the photo.

Once you have the wires tucked in reinsert the three screws.

The red wire on the top left of the foot well picture is the switch source for the relay. I already had it going into the engine bay through the firewall and used it as a trace wire to pull the 6mm twin core from the battery through into the cab.

Also in the pic is the fuse block I used. I had it in my boat until I upgraded the switch panel. It was just laying around so I thought I would save some coin and use it.

 

[G-Dubya]

Got a bit slack with the photos from then on but the only thing left to do was wire in the relay and hook it all up to the battery at the front. I used a 30a 5 pin relay. The wiring kit that came with the Waeco socket already had a fuse holder and terminals to attach it to the battery. I used a 30a fuse in that wire and connected it to the relay with spade connectors.

Wire in the relay (5 pin) like this:

30 - Power in from battery
85 - Earth
86 - Switch wire
87 - Power out to fuse block
87a - Not used. Just placed an insulated spade terminal over it so nothing could short out on it.

Earth for the 85 pin on the relay just went up to the screw used to mount the relay. Earth from the cable going into the car attached to that as well.

 

[G-Dubya]

The last thing to do was start the car and stand back to see what happens. I was expecting a fuse to blow somewhere but it was all good. I mounted the fuse block under the dash in between the centre facial and glove box. I also added my UHF onto this fuse block. I used a 5a fuse on the radio, 10a on the USB and 15a on the Waeco socket.

An that's it. Now to my next project.

 

[DeanosD22]

Nice neat install mate

 

[Ben54b]

Good work. Will steal this idea.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[samlohse]

Where did you get the usb port from? Can’t seem to find anywhere that has them that fit. All seem to be a bit too big

 

[Melbzd30]

Jaycar

 

[Lofty]

Looks good, I'm about to do the same to stop the constant backseat complaints about charging phones. If I want to have the USB sockets powered on all the time, can I skip the relay and just run a wire from the battery through a fuse and into the sockets? Would a 10A fuse still suffice?