Blue Sea USB adapter in Smoker kit ashtray

[rokr1292]

Hey all, just wanted to share a thing I made.

It's a threaded adapter that accepts a Blue Sea Systems USB Charger, and fills the ashtray in the "Smokers Kit" for 4th gen 4runners.

I need to take pictures of the final version that I have installed, but the pictures on the thingiverse page should illustrate.

I did have to open up the bottom of the ashtray and drill a hole in the smokers kit ashtray receptacle for the wires to pass through.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3445846

If you're like me and dont smoke, maybe you'll be interested in this as a way to make that ashtray into something functional.

 

[4RUNNINGNY]

This looks cool. How would the wiring work?

 

[Sithrebel15]

This looks cool. How would the wiring work?

You can splice me into the cigarette lighter or run an add a fuse to the driver side fuse box. For ground I usually splice into the radio harness since every vehicle I've done something like this to has USB cables running up there anyways.

 

[LOSTR4]

Nice creative design! Clean, sly, and needed!

 

[JVC8790]

 

[Terminator03]

Very nice design, but I’m curious why you didn’t just remove the cigarette lighter and mount it in that spot so you would have easier access to the ports without leaving the cover open? That would also keep the ashtray useable for keys, change,or other small objects. Planning to add the smoker’s kit to mine soon, and that is what I plan to do because I use my current compartment for storage. I’m also thinking of getting one of the USB ports that also has the USB extension so I can use that for Apple CarPlay, and still have the second one to charge another phone if needed.

 

[YetiX]

Very nice design, but I’m curious why you didn’t just remove the cigarette lighter and mount it in that spot so you would have easier access to the ports without leaving the cover open? That would also keep the ashtray useable for keys, change,or other small objects. Planning to add the smoker’s kit to mine soon, and that is what I plan to do because I use my current compartment for storage. I’m also thinking of getting one of the USB ports that also has the USB extension so I can use that for Apple CarPlay, and still have the second one to charge another phone if needed.

That's pretty much what I did, minus the Apple CarPlay bit.

 

[0verland]

That's pretty much what I did, minus the Apple CarPlay bit.

Literally did this exact mod last week. Same product and everything. Super easy 5-10 min job and now I can monitor my battery.

 

[rokr1292]

Very nice design, but I’m curious why you didn’t just remove the cigarette lighter and mount it in that spot so you would have easier access to the ports without leaving the cover open? That would also keep the ashtray useable for keys, change,or other small objects. Planning to add the smoker’s kit to mine soon, and that is what I plan to do because I use my current compartment for storage. I’m also thinking of getting one of the USB ports that also has the USB extension so I can use that for Apple CarPlay, and still have the second one to charge another phone if needed.

My situation differs a bit. My phone (Oneplus 3T) uses a proprietary fast charge technology that I take extreme advantage of. This tech (Dash Charging) requires a cable and charger "certified" for it, which means one of my 12v sockets will be very nearly permanently filled with this charger. This is what I have in the cigarette lighter socket.

When I first wanted extra usb ports, I dropped a 2x port adapter from anker into the 12v socket with the little flip cover. This was fine, but it bothered me that the little flip cover wouldnt close over any adapter I tried. On my first smokers kit, I ended up doing some cutting and trimming to mount the bluesea adapter there (this wasnt a great idea) and I used it in this configuration for a while.

One day, I needed to charge my phone AND use my little 12v inverter at the same time, and since I didnt have 2 12v sockets anymore, I was forced to slow-charge my phone and I wasnt a fan. This layout gives me the things I want, and sacrifices something I had no use for otherwise. I now have 2 12v sockets, and 2 USB sockets at all times, and with the ashtray cover closed, my center console looks entirely unmodified.

 

[Terminator03]

My situation differs a bit. My phone (Oneplus 3T) uses a proprietary fast charge technology that I take extreme advantage of. This tech (Dash Charging) requires a cable and charger "certified" for it, which means one of my 12v sockets will be very nearly permanently filled with this charger. This is what I have in the cigarette lighter socket.

When I first wanted extra usb ports, I dropped a 2x port adapter from anker into the 12v socket with the little flip cover. This was fine, but it bothered me that the little flip cover wouldnt close over any adapter I tried. On my first smokers kit, I ended up doing some cutting and trimming to mount the bluesea adapter there (this wasnt a great idea) and I used it in this configuration for a while.

One day, I needed to charge my phone AND use my little 12v inverter at the same time, and since I didnt have 2 12v sockets anymore, I was forced to slow-charge my phone and I wasnt a fan. This layout gives me the things I want, and sacrifices something I had no use for otherwise. I now have 2 12v sockets, and 2 USB sockets at all times, and with the ashtray cover closed, my center console looks entirely unmodified.

Thanks for explaining. Makes perfect sense now. That compartment, especially the one in the smoker’s kit is fairy useless to most, I’m sure, I just happen to use it for extra property keys for fast access. I don’t have my smoker’s kit yet, as it’s supposed to be delivered early this week, but I’m hoping to use that compartment in a similar way. That was great “outside the box” thinking in your situation though!

 

[WCHamby]

Sorry for reviving this, but if anybody wants to try this mod I have the 3D printed part and the blue sea adapter. I’ll sell for cheap and ship for free. Just PM me