Batboard

I need to mount a permanent 5V power supply for cell phone charging. The phone will normally sit in a cradle, and having a traditional cig lighter adapter is not working due to the extra clutter it causes and the limited number of out lets available.

I need to find a solution I can mount in the console or dash to power the phone, anyone have any suggestions?

I built a little box with a 7805 regulator in it to produce 5 volts for a GPS receiver. It was pretty easy to make, you should be able to find a lot of info on the net. Probably cost me less than $10 including a little box to mount it in. It's pretty small and I just stuck it up under the dash board.

Another alternative is to get one of these guys:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Auto-Car-Black- ... 0860749977

Hardwire it to your fuse block or where ever, plug in your cell phone charger, tape it up so it doesn't work loose, and tuck it up under the dash with some tie-wraps. When we traded in our old Jeep, I found the aftermarket satellite receiver was installed that way several years ago by an install shop (wife insisted on paying the buck for "pro" install.) I kept it that way when I moved it into my truck, and for much the same reason as you.

Thanks for the suggestions, I was hoping to find something a little more custom. I guess Ill keep looking.

An ebay search for "dc-dc converter 5v" turned up some interesting results that might just work for you. Some of them supply USB jacks, which could work great for a phone with a USB charging cord.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Converter ... 067wt_1396

or with USB

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Converter ... 653wt_1243

Cheap-cheap, too!

The second one looks perfect, isnt 3A too high though?

The charger will provide UP TO 3 Amperes when in operation, that's the way current works.

Thanks, I forgot about that. Looks like a perfect solution.

Just make sure it is on switched (accessory) power, not always hot (battery) - it WILL draw some current even when not charging your phone, and if you don't switch it, it WILL run your battery down at the most inconvenient time.

Thanks

Are you looking for a mini-USB terminated direct wire power cord? I only ask because most cellphones are going to them for power/data, and the 5 volt requirement. If so, check this out-http://www.gpsgeek.com/products/gusb5v- ... -1412-1430

Skooter92 wrote:Are you looking for a mini-USB terminated direct wire power cord? I only ask because most cellphones are going to them for power/data[/url]

Most phones are going to MICRO-USB, not mini-USB. Indeed, the USB consortium has deprecated the mini-USB format as it is not as mechanically robust as the micro-USB connector.

You can get what you are looking for at amazon.com, search for motorcycle USB.

http://www.amazon.com/Angled-Direct-Bat ... 948&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Gilsson-Direct-Ga ... 387&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Single-Port-Charg ... 576&sr=1-1

I agree with Wowbagger, you need to connect to accessory power.
I recommend the units by 12 Volt Designs, they come with an iPod/iPhone cable and you can use your own USB Type A to USB Mini or Micro cables so you are not limited to the cabling for your usage. Plus these things are solid as a brick.
I saw them on Amazon and eBay and ended up buying direct from the manufacturer.
The Amazon listing for their “Dual Port” charger lists the standby current at 10A, but the ebay listing and their website lists it at 10mA so I think this is just a typo on the Amazon listing.

I use this one in my Tahoe to charge my Droid and it works great.

http://order.waytekwire.com/productdeta ... 20CHARGER/

And a quick search for angled USB cables came up with this site:

http://www.angledcables.com/a-to-micro-b.html

I may need to revisit my install and use angled connectors instead.

In my tahoe, I took one of the lighter plug cables, popped it apart and mounted it inside the console powered off one of the switched circuits. Had to extend some of the wires in it, and add a different fuse holder. Was able to run the wire out of a existing hole. Me and my wife have the same phone, so being able to swap chargers is not an issue for us. Keeps the plug open for other things that way.