11-08-2013, 11:53 AM
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#1
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DIY: Add wireless charging in your cabin for smartphones/tablets
I just completed installing wireless charging pads for both my phone and my tablet and wanted to do a write-up to share with you guys.
Requirements / Baseline:- Basically, my requirement/need was very simple. I use my smartphone and/or tablet quite a bit for navigation in the car and wanted a seamless, hard-wired solution for them to be charging while they are being used (GPS use sucks up a lot of juice)
- Even when not using GPS, I wanted to be able to dock the phone and tablet and not have to fiddle with a cord I had to plug in each time. Docking should mean charging, with zero effort.
- This was particularly important for the phone, because I am constantly picking it up and taking photos or talking etc. and plugging/unplugging each time proved to be a huge hassle (which prompted this whole project in the first place).
Here are the parts I ordered:
Installation Notes: - For details on how I mounted the tablet mount in the car, see this thread: My ashtray navigation/tablet mount
- I am not covering the steps on how to install the Proclip vent mount - pretty straightforward.
- I wanted the whole setup to be modular. i.e., have the ability to swap out the charging pad later on for different voltage/design (I actually have a slimmer black pad on order for the phone), swap out cables in case I go to a device that is not micro-USB, as well as have the ability to swap between 2A and 1A outlets on the USB charger socket.
- I wanted it all to be hardwired so I that I don’t have to fiddle with cables and plugging in each device each time I get in and out of the car.
- First, I spliced the cigarette lighter socket and juiced my dual aux input tray.
- Then I mounted the dual-outlet tray like so. I wanted it to be accessible, but you can easily bury it somewhere even more out of sight if you wanted to.
- Then I routed the phone and tablet micro-USB cables, leaving as little of the cables exposed as possible.
- Tidied it all up, and BAM! I’ve got a dual wireless charging setup for both devices.
I will put this to test in the course of the next several thousand miles and post an update. Just wanted to share in case anyone has a similar need.
Also, clearly, for this to work, your smartphone/tablet needs to support wireless or induction charging. Many of the modern devices do nowadays (except apple, cough cough), but in case they don’t here is a neat solution that I used on my old phone (Galaxy S4 mini):
Qi Wireless Universal Charger Receiver Pad Coil with Micro USB Head for Samsung | eBay
Last edited by xxaarraa; 11-08-2013 at 11:56 AM.
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11-08-2013, 12:35 PM
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#2
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Are you getting a full 3A from the adapter? I am trying to find one strong enough to charge my ipad.
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11-08-2013, 01:39 PM
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#3
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Very cool idea, I like it
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11-08-2013, 03:16 PM
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#4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ebg18t
Are you getting a full 3A from the adapter? I am trying to find one strong enough to charge my ipad.
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I think so. I have both the Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 feeding off of it and they both say they are charging. I am actually going to plug in another 2A in the second slot in the aux tray so that I can have 2A going to both phone and tablet.
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11-08-2013, 08:23 PM
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#5
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so do you not have use of your center cup holders anymore?
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11-09-2013, 03:23 PM
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#6
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Any fitment issues after the charging pad was added to the mount? Does it require any modification to the actual mount to fit the tablet?
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11-09-2013, 04:41 PM
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#7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xxaarraa
I think so. I have both the Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 feeding off of it and they both say they are charging. I am actually going to plug in another 2A in the second slot in the aux tray so that I can have 2A going to both phone and tablet.
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hummm. My nexus 7 charges in the 3a version i have now, but my ipad (not mini) doesn't. My speculation is i am not getting the amperage i need. But i am not sure how to test a usb port for amperage.
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11-10-2013, 07:17 PM
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#8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by macoyle
so do you not have use of your center cup holders anymore?
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ugh, no. I never did. My car didn't come with the divider thingy, and I always had my tablet mounted there anyway.
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11-10-2013, 07:19 PM
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#9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuck CAPS
Any fitment issues after the charging pad was added to the mount? Does it require any modification to the actual mount to fit the tablet?
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Nope. Just got back from a 500 mile road trip and very happy with the setup. Zero fitment issues. I noticed that while both phone and tablet charge, the phone does not charge fast enough with the 1A output. So I ordered a dual 10 Watt (2.1) amp socket. Hopefully this puts out a fast charge to both phone and tablet simultaneously.
Also, I am really glad I mounted the dual aux tray outside in an easily accessible location. After wheeling this weekend, I ordered a CB radio and will be mounting that in the cabin soon, and plan to power it from the free spot in the dual aux tray.
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11-11-2013, 01:35 AM
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#10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xxaarraa
Nope. Just got back from a 500 mile road trip and very happy with the setup. Zero fitment issues. I noticed that while both phone and tablet charge, the phone does not charge fast enough with the 1A output. So I ordered a dual 10 Watt (2.1) amp socket. Hopefully this puts out a fast charge to both phone and tablet simultaneously.
Also, I am really glad I mounted the dual aux tray outside in an easily accessible location. After wheeling this weekend, I ordered a CB radio and will be mounting that in the cabin soon, and plan to power it from the free spot in the dual aux tray.
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Good to know. May do this at some point.
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- Helpful DIY Videos
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11-11-2013, 01:18 PM
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#11
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"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel"
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11-11-2013, 02:27 PM
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#12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jambone
"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel"
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What other moral tips do you have for us today? 
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