Best usb mod for none smokers

[edtzxr]

Hi all,

Quick share

I have replaced my cig lighter socket with a pair of usb power points
really easy to do and cost less than £7 from here.
Done this mod on a few of my cars now and fitted some in my camper van too.

Perfect addition for phone charging.

12V~24V 2.1A Dual Car USB Charger Socket Waterproof for iPhone 6 6 plus 5S 5 4S | eBay

Ed

 

[markmifsud]

Wouldnt you have been better off with something like this CLICKY then you could have retained the lighter socket for other items that still use the socket connector?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Wouldnt you have been better off with something like this CLICKY then you could have retained the lighter socket for other items that still use the socket connector?

I have to agree, I paid £1.70 for my Belkin (good quality) dual USB adaptor which is only a few MM deep, so virtually unnoticable + the 12V cover still shuts perfectly.

And its future proof for when the new USB standards trickle (no pun intended ) down to every product.

 

[edtzxr]

Had several of the plug in usbs and 3 of them including the belkin one melted!

Its personal choice i like the oem look and have fitted a built in sat nav so no need for the socket for me.

Everything i own is usb powered these days and i have a standard socket in the boot for my tyre pump

 

[edtzxr]

The griffin one was one of the ones that melted on me so be careful!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Had several of the plug in usbs and 3 of them including the belkin one melted!

Its personal choice i like the oem look and have fitted a built in sat nav so no need for the socket for me.

Everything i own is usb powered these days and i have a standard socket in the boot for my tyre pump

If your melting a Belkin one, then I expect your drawing far to much current?

Also, a Belkin one will be of higher qualty than an unbranded Chinese version, hardwired into your car could be a potental fire risk! - if its anything like the wall socket USB adaptors that only use bell wire...! - you have a ticking time bomb now wired into your car.

Not trying to downplay your mod - modding is good

 

[edtzxr]

I know where you are coming from! Actually i was mistaken the belkin one was ok wifes got it now.
As for the one I fitted this is the 3rd car with not a single issue and they have been in the camper for nearly 2 years with no problems.
fitted in MGF, Rav 4 (actually fitted 3 2 in the back for the kids games phones ipads and god knows what else)
they are designed for boats and are really will made. i fitted a double one in the camper where one of the units is a volt meter too to monitor the van battery.

 

[Rob77]

I paid £1.70 for my Belkin (good quality) dual USB adaptor

Where did you get a Belkin one for £1.70?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Where did you get a Belkin one for £1.70?

Gone up to £1.99 + Free delivery now

GENUINE BELKIN USB CAR CHARGER FOR IPHONE 6 / 6 PLUS 5S 5C 4S 4 SAMSUNG HTC SONY | eBay

 

[Chrishazle]

I've just bought one of these for my 968 so I can run the Tom tom and charge phones at the same time :

Genuine Tomtom High Speed Multi Charger Adaptor USB Upto 3 Devices | eBay

Tried a cheapie one first, it did not work in either car, but this one does. My phone charger needs the cig lighter socket, wife's phone and Tom tom are USB (as is camera) so this is perfect.

 

[b1g1an]

Where did you get a Belkin one for £1.70?

He didn't, all those cheap Belkin and Griffin ones are fakes.

It's pure luck whether you get one that lasts a while, just fails or very occasionally catches fire.

If you you want a decent high power one, look at the Scosche ones for around a tenner, if not get one of the fakes and cross your fingers, not judging as I've done both.

 

[Chrishazle]

My genuine Tom Tom one was £10.82 delivered (from Ebay, they're £14 +P&P from Tom Tom!). I like that it has a high speed USB as well as a normal one, both of which will run and charge the satnav, and even the low power one will do my Nexus 7.

 

[markjay]

I have attached a 3amp fuse and 12v lighter socket to a 12v power source inside the dash fuse box.... then inserted a USB 2.1amp charger into it, and run a short USB-to-MicroUSB cable out from the dash fusebox to where the mobile phone cradle is. This way I can charge the phone (Samsung) while it is sitting in it's cradle on the windscreen with only a very short cable (about 3") running from the side of the dash into the cradle, the cabin is otherwise wire-free, and the original 12v car socket in the centre console remains available to use.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

He didn't, all those cheap Belkin and Griffin ones are fakes.

It's pure luck whether you get one that lasts a while, just fails or very occasionally catches fire.

If you you want a decent high power one, look at the Scosche ones for around a tenner, if not get one of the fakes and cross your fingers, not judging as I've done both.

Mines not a fake.

 

[b1g1an]

Mines not a fake.

Lol, it is if you got it from the seller on that link you posted.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Lol, it is if you got it from the seller on that link you posted.

I have had it over 2 years, it came in full packaging, with a warranty card etc, complete with currys (I think) price stickering - I imagine it was old stock. - not sure of seller, but I simply eBayed it yesterday.

 

[edtzxr]

hopefully picture attached

 

[Notwen]

I think the other issue with the fitted ones are, very few are E marked for use in vehicles.
Deep Sea systems make a good 5v 2.1A one that is both CE & E marked.