Replacing the Cigarette Lighter with USB plugs in the Jeep...
The cigarette lighter in my car has annoyed me for quite a while now. No, I don't smoke, I use it as a power sorce for a USB plug thingee to charge my whatevers - Phone, garmin, ipad, etc. But the lighter plug was very unstable and wouldn't grip the plug which made the charging function unreliable. So I started searching for alternatives - New 12volt lighter plug or a USB plug were the only 2 I could find. And to tell you the truth, the USB plug was the way to go.
I found this one Cllena Car USB Charger Socket Power Outlet 1A & 2.1A for Ipad Iphone Car Boat Marine Mobile Blue LED Light(5007B) For $12. I liked the versatility and definitely the looks of it. And there were plenty of installation materials (Videos and writeups) on line for it.
So I like a moron didn't take a picture of the before picture, but I found one on line.
I removed the bottom cluster of toggle switches and power outlets. I figured out how to remove the cigarette lighter on the left from the Cluster. What was left was a hole that the usb blug was supposed to fit through. But the hole was too small. I had to use the Roto-Zip drill saw to make the hole larger. I was not happy about it, because I have NEVER had success with that tool... Till this time.
Once the fabrication was done, I had to figure out the wiring. And I really hate stripping wire... But I sucked it up cut the original connector off and installled the cluster back into the dash. I moved slowly, took my time and HaaaaaZaaaaah! Success!
the USB cable is run thru the dash and comes out on the left side of the DashBoard. it's where I keep the Garmin Hand Held GPSMap60Csx for Geocaching and now I can charge while I'm on the go, Like I used to.
For $12 and 90 minutes of time... not a bad little projuect.
I found this one Cllena Car USB Charger Socket Power Outlet 1A & 2.1A for Ipad Iphone Car Boat Marine Mobile Blue LED Light(5007B) For $12. I liked the versatility and definitely the looks of it. And there were plenty of installation materials (Videos and writeups) on line for it.
So I like a moron didn't take a picture of the before picture, but I found one on line.
I removed the bottom cluster of toggle switches and power outlets. I figured out how to remove the cigarette lighter on the left from the Cluster. What was left was a hole that the usb blug was supposed to fit through. But the hole was too small. I had to use the Roto-Zip drill saw to make the hole larger. I was not happy about it, because I have NEVER had success with that tool... Till this time.
Once the fabrication was done, I had to figure out the wiring. And I really hate stripping wire... But I sucked it up cut the original connector off and installled the cluster back into the dash. I moved slowly, took my time and HaaaaaZaaaaah! Success!
the USB cable is run thru the dash and comes out on the left side of the DashBoard. it's where I keep the Garmin Hand Held GPSMap60Csx for Geocaching and now I can charge while I'm on the go, Like I used to.
For $12 and 90 minutes of time... not a bad little projuect.