DIY hardwire USB port

[Aubrey64]

I have been wanting to figure out a way to hardwire my charger for a while now, I had seen ways to do it with other phones, but never an iphone. I mount my iphone next to my drivers side A-pillar and so I really hated how whenever I charged my phone, the cable would be hanging across my lap. I also wanted something that could charge my phone even when the car was off. Well after searching around, I finally figured out a way to do it! It is really easy and should only take 1-2 hours, so here is a DIY! Here is a picture of the finished product: The install may vary depending on USB type, but as a whole it should be pretty similar to how I do it


How you do this, is you are going to make a harness out of a cigarette USB, and this is what the harness will look like when finished

Materials needed:
1) Extra wire
2) Female Terminal or Add-a-circuit (depending on method of install)
3) Shrink tubes or electrical tape
4) Soldering equipment (Again, may not need this depending on method)
5) Spade terminal for grounding
6) USB cigarette charger


1) First what you are going to do is take apart the USB, this normally involves just splitting apart the 2 halves and maybe unscrew a small screw.



2) Now that it is disasembled, you really only want to use the main USB portion of the adapter, so the portion of it that has the USB slot, the motherboard...etc. Here is a picture of mine to give y'all and idea



3) Now we are going to solder our positive and negative wires to the appropriate place. I attached a picture of where I soldered mine, but this again, may vary depending on USB. Soldering may not be necessary depending on how your USB is laid out, but for mine soldering was the best option.



4) Now that you soldered it, I cut off the metal tap that isn't attached to the negative wire. It was just unnecessary so I cut it off, but you don't have to.

[Aubrey64]

5) Now that the harness is almost complete, I wanted to make sure that everything was working properly. So I attached my harness to 2 9V batteries. Once I did that, I plugged in my charger and tested it with my old phone. Once I was sure everything was working fine, I continued with the install


6) Next, you either are going to add some shrink tubes or some electrical tape. This is just to make sure that the wires won't come apart and just to protect the soldering job, and to make everything compact and together. I originally planned on using shrink tubes but accidentally got the wrong size, so I used electrical tape instead. I wrapped each wire individually and then wrapped the entire USB after that.



7) Now you need to attach a spade terminal to the negative wire for grounding, and depending on which fuse you use you may need a female terminal or a add-a-circuit. I plugged my harness into the empty fuse spot, so I just used a female terminal, and a 2A fuse to power my accessory. After you do this, the harness is finished! I chose not to put mine back into the case, because I wanted something small, and the case was just too clunky. I also took out the LED that was on the USB.


8) Now for the install. I used the empty fuse, because it was just convenient considering I wanted constant power. But it may vary for you depending on what you want the USB to do. I also grounded it to the black screw that is placed near the fuse box


9)Now just plug it in and ground the negative


10) Now I plugged in my charger, and cleaned everything up! I had a lot of extra wire so I zip tied it, and I used velcro stick my USB port to the side of my Fuse box cover


Now you are finished! I then fed my charger up to my dash, and so it now sits right next to my a-pillar like this



This was a really easy DIY mod, and I definitely recommend it! I was a little concerned about having constant power to my charger, as I was worried it would kill my battery, but I have had it on for 3 days, and have had no problems! If I find that it does kill my battery, I will just move it to a a different fuse. I hope this helps, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[SROD]

good job!

[Caddyroger]

Is your a daily driver. If not start the car up or unplug the charger. I only drive my car may once every 3 or 4 days. I had mine set that way but on the 4th day the battery would be dead.

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by Caddyroger

Is your a daily driver. If not start the car up or unplug the charger. I only drive my car may once every 3 or 4 days. I had mine set that way but on the 4th day the battery would be dead.

Yeah mine is my daily driver, so it isn't an issue. But you can always just plug into a fuse that isn't a hot fuse

Originally Posted by SROD

good job!

Thank you!

[Caddyroger]

Originally Posted by Aubrey64

Yeah mine is my daily driver, so it isn't an issue. But you can always just plug into a fuse that isn't a hot fuse




Thank you!

Yes I switched my around but now the cell phone battery gets low because of the way I drive. Only one day a week for 10 miles round trip not even enough time to charge the cell phone battery.

[jeepguy_1980]

I used one of these

As seen here.

Edit: You would need this too for an iPhone.

[Aubrey64]

So I went on a snowboard trip for 4 days and I kept my USB plugged in to see if it would kill my battery and it didn't! I started it up this morning and I had no issues what so ever

[con10der]

Much appreciation to all! Thank you for the ideas and comments. I think I know what I'll do now. To answer a few of the previous questions:

I like to mount my RD just left of the rear view mirror, which is powered.

My Droid 4 will be mounted center dash via a ProClip bracket that snaps in under the center spreaker trim and just below the center dash trim piece.

I am also installing the center dash ABL light tube that GM conveniently forgot to include in the 2010's. So I figured thats where I'll run the Phone power line with inline charger to the fuse box and utilize an empty fuse socket.

As for the RD....you guys have convinced me not to tear down the overhead console, so I'll route a line over and down the pillar.

QUESTION: should I run separate lines to separate fuses? Or tie the two to one fuse port? (I am thinking each should have its own....)

Thanks Guys.....

[Aubrey64]

I think it all depends on what you are wanting to accomplish, if you wall want all the devices to have the same type of power, (like on all the time, on when the car is running...etc) then I don't see why you couldn't run them to the same fuse as long you found a fuse that would be the appropriate amount of amps, otherwise doing separate fuses should work.

[SgtPickles69]

Wow! Thanks for the idea and tutorial OP

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by SgtPickles69

Wow! Thanks for the idea and tutorial OP

Glad you liked it!

[blink]

So which fuse is the "empty" fuse? I haven't opened the driver's side fusebox yet so I'm not sure. It is numbered? Thanks

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by blink

So which fuse is the "empty" fuse? I haven't opened the driver's side fusebox yet so I'm not sure. It is numbered? Thanks

I'm not sure if they are numbered or not, but once I get home from school I'll take a picture of my fuse box and point out the empty fuses