Anyone else adding USB ports?
 

I ran across this on Amazon - five single port boards, just need wires soldered to them and mounted somewhere.

https://smile.amazon.com/HiLetgo-DC-...dp/B01HXU1C6U/

RwP

Maybe someday. I really only need one though and if I ever replace the head unit it'll have that... **** on that note I just remembered I have a spare head unit in a box! And some good speakers sitting around. Dammit Ralph, you gave me another project.

Since my cig lighter is defunct I'll have to come up with something and probably easier to just do something like this. I would like to see something like that other one you posted Ralph, didn't that one have two USB ports?

Anyway, maybe in the spring I'll do something.

Steve

Yes, it did, and was a better fit for my plans up high. Those little ones, though ... there's notches at the top of the glove box, you could mount them there (take the trim out with the cupholder to reach in there), wire them to either constant hot or switched hot, and snake the USB cable up into the notch. (I ran some LED pods for a glove box light instead ... that should be finally ready for pics sometime this next week!)

Here's the one I used: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IY4QFXE/

Do notice that it's 3A total; the other one is also 3A, but for just one outlet. And it's cheaper per outlet too! (All five run less than this single 2-outlet unit does.)

OTOH - THIS one works, and works great.

OTGH ... with five, you could stick one or two up in the headliner up front, one in back, and two in the glove box ...

RwP

A few more possibilities.

5, 2A singles: https://www.newfrog.com/product/5pcs...charger-146344

A double unit: https://www.newfrog.com/product/dual...-module-261981

And for those that want a really, REALLY bright footwell light - mount this one: https://www.newfrog.com/product/1pcs...-new-208985.01 (Or under the hood. Shucks, put a pair and get yourself a suntan while checking the oil!)

(Yes, that last one is a bit silly.)

RwP

BTW - I've bought from Newfrog before. As long as I understand a) English isn't their first language (and at times, I don't think it even ranks in the top 5!) and b) Ad writers lie worse than politicians, then it's usually OK.

RwP

Thank You for that. Gave me a good laugh. (mainly because its true.....) Glad I wasn't drinking anything. :D

Heh.

Let's say I recommend them with reservations. Main reservation is "Use your brain!" :icon_lolsign:

So far nothing from them's been bad; as long as I read between the lines.

(At least they haven't gotten Wish's reputation ... )

RwP

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...b699958c02.jpg
I had a dead cigarette socket, replaced it with a dual USB port from Amazon. Works great.

I like that for replacing the cig ligher but would still need to add one up above mirror and in the rear near the dome light OR back in the bed of the truck for a bed cap mounted camera.

Steve

Yah, I've got two of the cig lighter style units to add to my trim plate on the driver's side (and also an accessory jack).

But I ALSO have the dual port over the headliner.

There's multiple ways to get there from here ...

RwP

They sale a 3 unit one that I thought of pulling the cup holder out and replaceing it with that.

Don't need to pull the cup holder itself out if you have a taper drill that goes over 1 1/8" ... Well, pull that piece off long enough to drill the internal hole.

Like the larger one out of this Hazard Fraught set: https://www.harborfreight.com/2-piec...lls-96275.html

I REALLY need to get mine finished and a few pics taken of where I'm putting three of the round ones in (two dual-USB, one accessory port) between the cup holder and the A/C duct.

RwP

I have the 3 accessory port attached to the passenger firewall, but have never ran the wires.

I did run a 4.5 foot usb cord from rhe dual charger where the cigerette lighter was, behind the trim plate and then out to plug into my phone. Here is what I have for that. Works great for Google Maps, doesn't block vents, attached to steering wheel I have a button that I-Heart Radio and Spotify and answers the phone.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...a780005391.jpg

That's good too!

*ponders*

For the Cougar, I have one of these so it'll fit on the trim over the instrument cluster: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B010T3D1...ter_B06WVHN2J9

That might fit on the cover on the Dakota there between the cluster and the OD switch.

Just in case anyone's considering.

My GPS is a 7" unit, though.

I don't have a remote on the steering wheel, but I DO have one for my radio that I use quite often while driving - after I pick it up, I can feel and adjust previous/next/louder/louder (huh? Who turns their radio DOWN??? *grins* ) without taking an eye off the road.

But that's me there; those criteria were important to me, could easily be "Who gives a flying finger?" to everyone else *grins*

RwP

Ralph, my phone is 5.5" all you would have to do is move the mount over, or even instead of the dash board, as I have several times wished I had done, mount it on the door/windshield bar. The mount moves in a couple of ways, not only the head where the phone is swivels, but the arm up and down.

Here is the phone controller. Also works to control the camera for selfies, but have never used it for that. I also have radio remote I reach for, have thought about a peice of velco to the center of the steering wheel, might have to see if placing it there it still works.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...451ac2cf46.jpg
Got a button power switch coming for the firewall mounted accessory plugs and will finally finish that this week, broken foot and boot and all.

What is everyone's thoughts of placing a push button on/off switch for extra outlets between the cigarette lighter and the ac/heater controls? Glanced down yesterday and it seems like a handy spot. Any pitfalls that I am not thinking of?

I ask this in all seriousness, so please educate me, but why would you want so many usb ports?

At the headliner - dashcam and GPS.

In the front seat - Sprint smartphone, Verizon smartphone, AT&T smartphone, and SiriusXM head unit.

There's six right there ...

And that's just today.

RwP

You have three phones? Are you that much of a glutton for punishment? :D I don't have a cell phone. At all. Don't want one either. Had one for work that I HAD to answer for a while, and EVERY time it rang, it was bad news.... So, I am just as happy without one. :D

I'm contingent IT work - that is, I'm the guy that gets called for the once-in-a-blue-moon.

I also travel. Used to travel a lot in a 150 mile radius - have done over 40,000 miles in a year before.

And due to where I live, there's spots that have only AT&T service, or have everything but AT&T; have only Verizon, or anything but Verizon; have Sprint, or anything but Sprint.

So I carry three of them.

And have used all three at the same time before - one call on AT&T, the Verizon as a hot spot, and another call on the Sprint phone. Oy vey!

BTW - when my phone rings, it's normally paying the bills :icon_twocents: :icon_twisted: :icon_lolsign:

RwP

Hey Ralph, not meaning to get too far off topic, but I would like to hear your thoughts on dash cams....

I have one that runs all the time the ignition is on. That good enough? *grins*

Hrm ... I've been through several cheap ones; the BIGGEST secret seems to be "Don't skimp on the microSD/TF card you use".

I can't find the ones I'm using now.

I have a friend who swears by his set, which set him back like $300. OTOH, he can record when I can't ...

But yes, I've grabbed a few nice videos with it. So far it's been unneeded; again, so far my seat belt's been unneeded :icon_crackup:

RwP

Hey Ralph. I looked at Crutchfield and they have a section on what to look for. FWIW last year I had a tractor trailer back in to me.... One of those cameras would have been nice!!

I did the same but,
 

Mine has a digital volt meter reading on it

I have a friend who swears by his dashcam ... https://www.blackvue.com/dr900s-2ch/

Here's two videos off of mine, which is forward facing only:



*dry* I spent a whopping $30 on the dashcam, and $45 on the high speed MicroSD card. But today's dashcams tend to be much better.

RwP

Addendum, since it's still my truck.

I finally got the RVinyl Blue Carbon Fiber dash overlay installed.

I also got the three, dual USB adapters installed.

Here's a pic of the passenger side cover.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...ec06b70a21.jpg

RwP

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgefo...112c264e3a.jpg
Plenty of plugs with this one plus the three under it.


I'm in the process of winterizing my 2000 Escalade and I'm also cleaning up a lot of wiring issues from the kid who used to have it putting a "system" in it and then ripping it out when we traded. (He wanted my BMW that my knee couldn't shift anymore.) When he pulled the stock radio, the CD players didn't work anymore. A single in the dash and a 6 disc in the console. I'm making a place for a holster in the console and I'm replacing the in dash unit with a three unit set of a double USB charge port, 12 volt plug and digital voltmeter. I'm going to wire a relay to the accessory port to power it.

The Frog Follies car show is next weekend and I'll be hitting the swap meet section, which is where I got this last year. I can get all sorts of things that nobody else carries anymore. The national chains have run all the local parts stores out of business and now the prices are going up and small stuff, like cigarette lighter power plugs, are no longer sold. I've had to go with Fleabay for things like calipers as I can only buy them with the bracket locally. I'm not paying $6 for a bracket I don't need.