Ashtray charging hub

[canadian357]

I wanna wire a USB hub/ Wall plug charging station into where my ashtray is. I can build it all fine, im just curious... how can i go about wiring this? Its 4 USB ports in the hub and I'm trying to figure out what to use for the 120v outlet, gonna see if I can find something the size of the end of an extension cord, Anyhow, even just for the USB how would I wire it into the car electrical system?

[ghettogeddy]

you wouldent
you would need a power converter

[mykwikcoupe]

usb is 5.5volts the car is 12. the stock fuse is 15amps. Just get a 12v to 5volt conveter and wire it in. the max draw on all usb is milliamps. If your inclided pull the cigarette socket and stash it behind the dash and use a usb universal car charger. run the new cord into the ashtray and fill the empty socket with a dummy or wire in a second one. Dont convert to 120v just to convert back to 5v

[canadian357]

I'd like to keep my lighter socket for adapters and that crap. I just have no use for the ashtray, I dont smoke.

[lostforawhile]

you just need a usb car adaptor is all,no need to convert to 120 volts then to 5.5 volts, if you pull out the ashtray,you'll see the front face unscrews from it, you can make a plate that screws back on there.

[Hazwan]

Build a circuit to step down 12v to 5v based on LM5805 regulator. You should be fine with 2 ports (500mA each port). Do you really need all 4 ports of it?

Heres a picture of mine, except mine is single USB port.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/accord/interior_projecto/DSC00017.jpg

[canadian357]

LM5805? What the hell is that? I guess I could do two ports instead of 4.

[Hazwan]

Aw crap I meant LM7805. I dont even know how I got that mixed up.

Its a voltage regulator used to convert from 12v to 5v (USB voltage). I couldn't find any suitable how-tos on the internet, but heres a closest one minus that alarm clock thing: http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/13/how-to-add-usb-power-to-your-alarm-clock/

Instead of powered by 9V battery as shown in that article, you use 12V from your car. Same basics. I guess I should write my own how-to?

[Dr_Snooz]

Aw crap I meant LM7805. I dont even know how I got that mixed up.

Its a voltage regulator used to convert from 12v to 5v (USB voltage). I couldn't find any suitable how-tos on the internet, but heres a closest one minus that alarm clock thing: http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/13/how-to-add-usb-power-to-your-alarm-clock/

Instead of powered by 9V battery as shown in that article, you use 12V from your car. Same basics. I guess I should write my own how-to?

Um....yes!

[Hazwan]

Haha nothing much to write about, I'll see what I can do.

I really love having USB ports built into the car instead of using regular cigarette lighter to USB/or whatever propriety charger.

[Civic Accord Honda]

write up asap please :D

[AccordB20A]

I like this ideal lol. except i ripped apart a car fm mp3 player and im going to remote mount its USB port somewhere for flash drives/charging purposes and mount the remote control IR thing so the remte can control it. and hook it to my aux in on my HU, win!!!

[Hazwan]

Bleh I gave up. I can't write a how to for shit.

What a LM7805 looks like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/LM7805_reg.jpg

Heres a diagram:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/LM7805.jpg

What a real female USB port looks like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/ports.jpg

Connect the yellow 12v to a fused connection in your car. I spliced wire to radio acc connection. I have no idea how 3g cigarette lighter works, but on my 1g the cigarette lighter is constantly powered even with ignition turned off.

Do my post makes any sense?

[Rendon LX-i]

hell to the yea man...Nice making a idea so right. Need to make a how to when you do it

[Civic Accord Honda]

fuck yeah, ima go to radio shack tomarrow :D

[Hazwan]

Haha I take no responsibilities if you fry anything up.

I have one mounted in my center console:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/accord/interior_projecto/DSC01283.jpg

Also, if you're going to use 2 ports (1000mA current draw) at one time, its better to mount a heatsink on. The regulator can get pretty hot with current draw above 500mA.

The easiest if you cant solder or dont want to mess with this stuff up is to get regular cigarette lighter USB charger and hardwire the thing somewhere. I choose to build one mine since I enjoy doing this kind of stuffs.

[AccordB20A]

Allways wanted to know how to step voltages down and this LM780X is a winner i wonder what i could use them for, wonder if i could make an ATX PSU for a motherboard that ran off 12v

[Civic Accord Honda]

Haha I take no responsibilities if you fry anything up.

I have one mounted in my center console:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/ullyeus/accord/interior_projecto/DSC01283.jpg

Also, if you're going to use 2 ports (1000mA current draw) at one time, its better to mount a heatsink on. The regulator can get pretty hot with current draw above 500mA.

The easiest if you cant solder or dont want to mess with this stuff up is to get regular cigarette lighter USB charger and hardwire the thing somewhere. I choose to build one mine since I enjoy doing this kind of stuffs.
i plan to mount 2 but im going to run separate regulator for each one :thumbup:
there pretty damn cheap on ebay u can get 10 of them for 3 bucks hopefully there cheap at radio shack as well :O

[Hazwan]

Haha nice, make sure the connections are nice and properly insulated and you shouldn't have any problems. Also, if you to be 100% sure before hooking up your expensive gadget and probably fry it out, plug in any cheap USB device with indicator light, a unused flash drive for example. If the LED lights up for few minutes without any smokes or some shit, you're good to go :thumbup:

[Civic Accord Honda]

radioshack fails... rode my bike down there to get one and they didnt even have a place for it ftl

[Tomisimo]

why? why do you need it at all, just get an iPod adapter and you good to go.

[Tdurr]

why? why do you need it at all, just get an iPod adapter and you good to go.

fuck Ishits.


but i like this thread! im gonna put one in my car in the near future!

[Civic Accord Honda]

why? why do you need it at all, just get an iPod adapter and you good to go.

not everyone has a ipod.. and it looks fresh to chrage phone and mp3 player



well since radioshack failed i did this today
http://www.3geez.com/forum/showpost.php?p=957206&postcount=468
going to put the usb ports right next to it when i get the regulator