USP ports for rear passengers

[ericb]

Hi Guys,

I would like to install a dual USB port outlet for the second row passengers in a NX for the kids to charge phones / iPads etc. The obvious choice of location is the rear of the drivers centre console box. My issues are the surface is not completely flat to mount a plate of any description, and I don't know what is in behind there and how much room there is.

Has anyone come up with any neat solutions?

[Axis]

I installed a Narva double USB port. Tapped into the power for the cigarette socket in the console between the seats. It won't charge 2 iPads at once due to max current.

[ericb]

I installed a Narva double USB port. Tapped into the power for the cigarette socket in the console between the seats. It won't charge 2 iPads at once due to max current.

Cheers Axis,

My car has the rear aircon controls where you have mounted yours. I would have to mount below it. Guess I'll pull it apart and see how much room is there.

What amperage is the narva socket?

Eric

[batteoui]

I've done exactly that. Just go ahead there is plenty of room. Drilled a 25mm hole where I put a narva style 2 usb outlets. Just pull the AC rear control out they come off easy

[ericb]

I've done exactly that. Just go ahead there is plenty of room. Drilled a 25mm hole where I put a narva style 2 usb outlets. Just pull the AC rear control out they come off easy

Thanks for the heads-up. I would have pulled the entire console out! Sounds like it could be a straightforward easy job.

Eric

[kiwi1973]

The issue is though that you need to wire up to something with a decent wire size to get enough charging current. If you just hook into standard wiring that goes to a cigarette lighter it will work, but will be a bit sub-par. I'm doing the same thing right now, but in need I'll run an all new higher current wire through from the battery. Yet if doing that the charging point will remain live with ignition off, which is not ideal. May be able to get around this by hooking via a relay to an wire that is only live with the ignition on. Not sure if this is the most efficient way to do this, but should work.

[m_and_m]

I used a car charger from Kogan

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-5-port-usb-fast-charger

Simply plugs into 12v socket inside the centre console.
Being mounted on the side and slightly forwards means the kids don’t bump/break the cables.
Attached using heavy duty velcro from Bunnings. Works perfectly and can be removed if necessary.

[NFT5]

The issue is though that you need to wire up to something with a decent wire size to get enough charging current. If you just hook into standard wiring that goes to a cigarette lighter it will work, but will be a bit sub-par. I'm doing the same thing right now, but in need I'll run an all new higher current wire through from the battery. Yet if doing that the charging point will remain live with ignition off, which is not ideal. May be able to get around this by hooking via a relay to an wire that is only live with the ignition on. Not sure if this is the most efficient way to do this, but should work.

Why? Most cigarette lighter type power sockets are capable of handling up to 100W, which at 12V is a shade over 8A. USB standards are 0.5A and 0.9A at 5V so any power socket is well capable of delivering the current necessary. Even USB3.1 ups the current to 3A, still at 5V.

To run from the power socket to your USB charging point anything bigger than about 22AWG will be more than enough, 18AWG if running two charging sockets.

[SWF]

I used a car charger from Kogan

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-5-port-usb-fast-charger

Simply plugs into 12v socket inside the centre console.
Being mounted on the side and slightly forwards means the kids don’t bump/break the cables.
Attached using heavy duty velcro from Bunnings. Works perfectly and can be removed if necessary.

This looks easy enough - even for a girl like me! Lol

[m_and_m]

This looks easy enough - even for a girl like me! Lol

Keep it simple is the rule.

[Axis]

Cheers Axis,

My car has the rear aircon controls where you have mounted yours. I would have to mount below it. Guess I'll pull it apart and see how much room is there.

What amperage is the narva socket?

Eric

I think it is 2.5A. If I was doing it again I'd install 2 of these.

[batteoui]

Hello,
Here is my setup. I've put one in front, near the cup holders and one in the rear under the rear A/C controls. Works great !

[kiwi1973]

Why? Most cigarette lighter type power sockets are capable of handling up to 100W, which at 12V is a shade over 8A. USB standards are 0.5A and 0.9A at 5V so any power socket is well capable of delivering the current necessary. Even USB3.1 ups the current to 3A, still at 5V.

To run from the power socket to your USB charging point anything bigger than about 22AWG will be more than enough, 18AWG if running two charging sockets.

After giving further consideration to this I take your point that a cigarette lighter socket should have sufficient wiring capacity. However, I have noticed that charging my phone or tablet is painfully slow from my cigarette lighter whereas if I plug the same cigarette socket to USB adapter into a cigarette socket connected directly to my auxillary battery with robust wiring my phone/tablet charges far more rapidly. Recalling the issues some people have trying to run a 12v frig thru the standard wiring to the cigarette lighter I figured the issue came down to wiring being the limiting factor. Of course the issue affecting 12v frig's is somewhat different, as that has to do mainly work voltage drop.

[jimako]

After giving further consideration to this I take your point that a cigarette lighter socket should have sufficient wiring capacity. However, I have noticed that charging my phone or tablet is painfully slow from my cigarette lighter whereas if I plug the same cigarette socket to USB adapter into a cigarette socket connected directly to my auxillary battery with robust wiring my phone/tablet charges far more rapidly. Recalling the issues some people have trying to run a 12v frig thru the standard wiring to the cigarette lighter I figured the issue came down to wiring being the limiting factor. Of course the issue affecting 12v frig's is somewhat different, as that has to do mainly work voltage drop.

The charge quality you get to your USB devices will mainly depend on the quality of USB adapters, USB sockets and USB cables used, Not much to do with the wiring up to the Cig Socket.

[Kingbrown]

A lot of useful information can be found here:

https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=44847

Note the discussion about the voltages that are applied to the data lines affecting the charge rate.