The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Added USB port in glove Box

Added USB port in glove Box , I needed a place to charge my phone when I'm out all day. I added some heavy plastic to each side of Glove box, did not want it pulling through the card board box if I would pull to hard on the cable when unplugging.

Clever idea and clean execution. Do you also have the original cigarette lighter functional?

The cart I drove in college had a special accessory in the glove box. The windshield washer hoses were routed there, and the glass jar washer reservoir I scavenged from an early-1950's Oldsmobile was filled with Vodka. Just add a bottle of orange juice, a Dixie cup. and a push of the washer button- - - - -instant screwdriver! Did I mention the car was a Rambler station wagon with the fold-down seat backs? Kind of a weekend party wagon!
Jerry

. . . Rambler station wagon with the fold-down seat backs . . .

Fond memories . . .

Yup, had one without the "Special" windshield washers.

Have been meaning to fix my ciggy lighter so I can have a USB charger as well. Thanks for the reminder.

I have a cap where the lighter goes in my Truck. I would have had to enlarge the original lighter hole a lot to get the USB port in., plus I didn't want it showing.

My 12-v radio now sits in the glove box. I'd have to use someplace else for the USB.

The old radio face w/ repurposed bezels, plugs up the original hole.

One could probably put in a USB port inside an ashtray port as well. you could keep the charging cable inside the ash tray. Modify the assembly so that your phone slides in and is out of sight. Unless you are a smoker.

Concerning my radio in the glove box (above), I could get a modern radio with a USB port for really cheap. I might do that.

For optional equipment they call it a cigar lighter, cigarettes might have been too dainty.

A couple years ago I stumbled across this replacement cigar lighter at Oreillys. It fit like it was made for '51 and the black plastic cover does a good job of hiding the upgrade to the 6 volt truck. I carry a two port plugin charger and it works like a champ (phones only require about 5.5 volts to charge). One step I did take was to wire it to a constant hot so I didn't have to have the key on to charge. No pics but can throw one up if anyone is interested.

moparguy,
Did you have to enlarge the hole in the dash for this lighter? That would be awesome if I didn't have to do that to my '50.

No need to enlarge. Fit like it was made for my ‘51.

Thanks. Picked one up at my local OReilly's. Just checked the diameter of it vs one of my retired old ones and they're identical. Now, as soon as it stops raining.........

Adding a USB charger is a great idea. I think these devices always draw a small amount of power even if nothing is connected to them so I would connect it to switched power instead of the always hot cigar lighter circuit.

Make sure that your USB charger puts out enough power for your device. Some USB sockets (possibly a radio's USB port) only supply 0.5A but aftermarket chargers commonly supply at least 1.0A and often 2.1A. If you're using your phone for navigation, I would consider looking for a charger with at least one port with 2.4A or, even better, a QC 3.0 USB port.

See Quick Charge 3.0 explained: what you need to know and Navigation.

Thanks, fraso

Now I will remove my lighter USB port when I am not driving (or, when I will not be driving for any long period of time).

I just installed my new lighter for USB usage. Added it to a switched circuit just for this reason. I charge only when I'm driving the turd.

To the OP, if you are charging all day, I like the idea of the phone, cable & usb outlet are all hidden while in the glovebox with it's door is closed. Maybe installing an auxiliary battery under the seat to help minimize the wear on the house battery?

I wired mine to the accessory circuit. Only has power to the USB port when Truck running or key is turned to accessory position. Like Craig said , I like having my phone and cable hidden in the glove box.

I strongly considered the glove box for all the stated reasons. However I couldn't bring myself to give up that precious storage space. Hence the repurposed cigar lighter. When I'm not using the plug-in charger, I just slip it out, snap the cover back in place on the cigar lighter and pop the charger into the very small console box that lives on the bench seat. It's not mounted and is easily removed and provides a convent arm rest and small amount of storage.

I added power ports to both of my AD's also. I decided to make them switched hot through automotive relays.
On the GMC it was somewhat easy as it was already converted to 12v. neg gnd. I decided to wire all the switched load through the relay and only use the key switch to control the relay. I run a Garmin for it's speedometer and fuel tracking option and it's power plug has 2ea built in USB ports.

The Chevy being 6v called for a different solution. I added a 6vdc to 12vdc power converter so I could run some 12v accessories but still maintain the trucks primary 6v system. I left the 6v circuitry alone but added a 12v automotive relay to isolate & switch the 12v circuitry. Currently the 12v circuit only powers a small tach and a power port.

The two power ports I picked up at a local Mom & Pop auto parts fit in both dash holes perfectly. Both are fused.

Both relay circuits are fused and I carry spare fuses and relays for just in case.