Cascade Crew

DBL_TKE · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:37 am Post subject: Hardwired iPhone charger?

So I'm going to be hardwiring my radar detector within the next couple weeks in order to clean up the dash area. I hate unnecessary wires when they could be hidden. It really doesnt help that the cigarette lighter/power source is right in the up high in the middle of the dash, so whenever you have something plugged in the wires are always in the way. This is almost worthless unless I can hardwire a USB charger for my iPhone too. However I haven't seen anything available for such an install. Has anyone ever done this? Whether it be an off the shelf kit or custom install, this is something I'd like to do.

Alphius · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:56 am Post subject:

I would do this and just plug an iPhone cord into it:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/12v-usb-charger-that-s-not-a-cigarette-lighter-plug-t467609.html

The stereo in my Subaru has USB ports on the back, so I used USB extension cables and routed them through the trim to the center console and to the glove box. They charge/play music from my iPhone with no problem.

iansane · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

I did the cigarette lighter inside my center console thing, stuffed everything in there. Wouldn't be hard to wire a usb cord there as well.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

Yup. I've used the end of a USB cig lighter to get the USB connector and the transformer and then taken the nose off and wired the 12v and ground. Secure it someplace hidden and run a USB extension of your choice to the location of your choice.

Al Hasse · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:21 pm Post subject:

My satellite radio receiver takes only 5vdc through a supplied cigarette lighter accessory plug. I couldn't just cut off the plug and hardwire that way because the plug contains a stepdown transformer to convert to 5V. I bought a cigarette lighter socket with the pigtail and hardwired that behind and under the radio and plugged the satellite receiver into it. Similar to Paul's solution, works like a charm.

Alphius · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:31 pm Post subject:

But you could have chopped up the lighter plug and soldered to the 12v input to direct wire it. The approach of just wiring an additional lighter socket is much less destructive though. Wink

BluFbdy · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject:

Take a iPhone car charger, plug it into a female cigarette lighter, you can get them as a single or a double socket, tap power on the side with the male spade and ground with the ring terminal, ziptie it up, route your wires and enjoy

It's pretty simple

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:26 am Post subject:

Do you use your phone for music? I would get an iphone certified stereo that uses the docking plug to connect, and also charges the phone. Then cut up your ash tray to make a dock. That is my plan for in my car, then I can dock the phone, play music or pandora, and also charge as needed.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:55 am Post subject:

iansane · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:10 am Post subject:

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject:

I just discovered this headunit...

http://www.oxygenaudio.com/o-series/363-o-car.html

The Oxygen O-car. It uses the iPhone itself as the display and also has built in handfree capability that will mute music and play your phone call through the cars speakers. And yes, it does charge the phone as well. It's a bit more than I was looking to spend but it may be worth it. It's a dock/charger/handfree/radio unit all in one.

BluFbdy · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject:

App radio does the same thing, gotta cut for a double din though even uses the iPhone for navigation and boosts the signal

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:34 pm Post subject:

Another that uses the iPhone as the control head....

http://www.iroconline.com/iRoc/

chevymad · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:37 pm Post subject:

But when the new iphone comes out this year, and its supposed to be bigger.. These look like you'd need to buy a whole new receiver to match your phone when you upgrade.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:40 pm Post subject:

Kinda funny it's an iRoc.....

blue89 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject:

This is what I run and I absolutely recommend it to everyone.

http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=217088964&sellerid=10004001

No CD player, built in iPood tray with mass media support. I plug in my MP3 player, stuff it in the tray, and never worry about wires. EVER.

Alphius · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject:

iansane · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject:

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:12 pm Post subject:

Yeah but I need to be able to see the phones screen easily for navigation and my iRadar app. It looks like the o-car or the IROC are nearly exactly what I'm looking for. The IROC has a cd player but I really don't like the way it mounts the phone sticking out. I almost prefer the o-car just because of how much better it looks.

BluFbdy · Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:40 am Post subject:

I hate to say it but Sony has turned it around in recent years. Kenwood has the kivbt901 that's a mass media player no cd, all Han driven with Bluetooth a2dp capability, only headunit on the market to accept Ian hubs and safely run a full hard drive on, and for anyone who still rocks a zune it fully controls that as well. It my number one deck I am a flash drive guy, never use cds anymore so storing music on a flash drive or a hard drive is great for me, and it has a built in drive to save music to as well. Dbl_tke I think if you get something with a2dp and use a deck that controls the iPhone you will be fine, short of using an app radio you're kinda stuck with an ipod cable. That iroc thing is a joke from what I've seen I've pulled 3 out already for an app radio swap

Just throwing this out there but that o player looks like a revamped soundstream deck so idk.