15 minute power port install 3x 12v with USB

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Asmara

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I’m getting ready to go on a long road trip and needed some extra 12V power ports for the gear and to charge the kid’s stuff. Here’s my quick but, with the exception of the garish blue LEDs that I missed on the packaging, fairly decent looking hidden install. Took about 15 minutes start to finish. The only thing I would change is that I would tap into the wire harness before the plug that goes to the power port, not after.

1. Get the stuff you’ll need together. You can go ahead and cut off the cigarette lighter plug off the multi-12V power port. I bought the triple socket power port at Walmart for $10.The two scotchlok quick splice connectors and the grommet, I had laying around.
 

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Pull up on the center console piece that contains the power port and surrounds the shifter exposing the wiring for the cigarette lighter.
 

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Drill a hole in the center console bucket under the coin holder. I couldn't get a full size drill in there but a step bit with the impact driver worked great. The hole size depends on the size of your grommet if you use one. The hole is towards the shifter on the passenger side.
 

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Cut the cigarette lighter plug off the triple socket tap, feed the wire through your hole (and grommet if you used it). Run the wiring around to the wiring for the cigarette lighter. Use the quick splices to tap into the power port circuit. The white wire goes to the white wire in the truck. Note that I would recommend that you not put them where I did but rather on the other side of the connector (circled in orange) so if you ever had to remove this piece of the center console, you could easily.
 

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Using the included double sided tape (I actually used more than they provided) install the adapter into the center console bucket. Then use cable ties to secure loose wires and snap center console piece back together.

Final product complete with blue LEDS (that I'll probably remove someday unless it seems like they will be good bucket lights). The only other thing I don't like is that the screw hole for the triple socket's case face into the bucket. You could probably mount it the other way but then the USB port would be hard to get to.
 

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very nice install! I'd consider this if I didn't have the aux and AC outlet down there, great job!
 
Remember that on that circuit you can only pull 15 amps total! That includes the AC line, the front AND rear outlets. At 12 Volts thats 180 amps. If you plug in small stuff like cell phones and things it will work great. Going much more than that you are better off running a separate line to the battery. Have a fun and safe journey!!!
 
shuly said:
Remember that on that circuit you can only pull 15 amps total! That includes the AC line, the front AND rear outlets. At 12 Volts thats 180 amps. If you plug in small stuff like cell phones and things it will work great. Going much more than that you are better off running a separate line to the battery. Have a fun and safe journey!!!
Click to expand...

Your point is very well taken, but 15 amps will run 7 100w light bulbs. Still a lot of power, unless that is you are trying to run power tools or a big TV.

If you are running high amperage items, just install an converter/inverter straight from the battery with appropriate cable gauge.

Good Luck
 
ALLEGRO said:
Your point is very well taken, but 15 amps will run 7 100w light bulbs. Still a lot of power, unless that is you are trying to run power tools or a big TV.

If you are running high amperage items, just install an converter/inverter straight from the battery with appropriate cable gauge.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

Since the vehicle is 12V DC ->>
7 * 100 Watt light bulbs = 700 Watts / 12 Volts = 58 Amps

...umm....the last time I checked 58 Amps is a lot more than the 15 Amp fuse and the gauge of the wiring will handle. ...not sure how you got there with that math.

I have several appliances as well as an oven that I ran my own wiring from the battery through the firewall on its own circuit and with its own fuse so I can safely pull 40 amps. I fused it for 30 amps so there was plenty of design margin. If you want to take up such a project just run the wires through the firewall grommet and then under the dash and through the center console. I put three adapters in an electrical box with their own switch.

If you are just going to try out your extra sockets carry extra fuses with you. Just think of it as living in an older home where you can't run the washing machine, the dishwasher and the tv all at once. :D If the fuse blows figure out what causes it and just trade off on your accessories so not to blow fuses again. It won't hurt to carry spare fuses just in case...just something else to keep handy in your travel/4x4 kit.
 
Asmara said:
...You can go ahead and cut off the cigarette lighter plug off the multi-12V power port....
Click to expand...

Something to be aware of. I didn't notice this before...but it looks like when you cut off the lighter plug you cut off the fuse that came with the device. Depending on the fuse it came with the wiring gauge inside the device may not be able to safely handle 15 amps. You should double check the fuse that it came with. If it is less than 15 amps, be sure not to overload that circuit. The wiring could melt and cause a fire prior to the main fuse blowing. It is probably ok...but it is worth making sure everything is safe.
 
shuly said:
Something to be aware of. I didn't notice this before...but it looks like when you cut off the lighter plug you cut off the fuse that came with the device. Depending on the fuse it came with the wiring gauge inside the device may not be able to safely handle 15 amps. You should double check the fuse that it came with. If it is less than 15 amps, be sure not to overload that circuit. The wiring could melt and cause a fire prior to the main fuse blowing. It is probably ok...but it is worth making sure everything is safe.
Click to expand...

Good point. I'll check and see what the fuse is (was) and post it here. I'm not running inverters or anything so I don't have any worries. I really just needed a bunch of USB ports to charge stuff and USB technically tops out at 500ma (but many devices will draw more current if it is available for faster charging). I'm using the USB port on the device (which puts out 500ma), a 2 port power port to USB converter that can draw up to 1 amps at 5vdc (so what's that at 12v, less that 1/2 an amp or so?), and Sirius radio adapter. No blown fuses yet and I don't suspect this draws enough current to even be close to a problem.

Sidenote: Trip is going great. We drive past (but are not stopping in) Moab today.
 
Asmara said:
Good point. I'll check and see what the fuse is (was) and post it here. I'm not running inverters or anything so I don't have any worries. I really just needed a bunch of USB ports to charge stuff and USB technically tops out at 500ma (but many devices will draw more current if it is available for faster charging). I'm using the USB port on the device (which puts out 500ma), a 2 port power port to USB converter that can draw up to 1 amps at 5vdc (so what's that at 12v, less that 1/2 an amp or so?), and Sirius radio adapter. No blown fuses yet and I don't suspect this draws enough current to even be close to a problem.

Sidenote: Trip is going great. We drive past (but are not stopping in) Moab today.
Click to expand...

I checked the fuse and it was an 8 amp fuse. I'm not going to worry about it since I know I won't ever pull that many amps and a direct short will blow the 15amp power port fuse circuit anyway. The device also looked decently constructed (the wire diameter was larger than the factory wire) so it may just be designed to blow before the factory fuse in the case of excess current draw.

As far as the trip; We did spend a couple of hours in Arches National Park. Highly recommended.
 
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