Dash Clock to USB?

I was recently thinking over the dashboard layout of my first gen and I decided to replace the dash clock with a magnetic wireless charger for an iPhone. It works great, but I don't like running the USB cable out of the dash trim and into a cigarette lighter USB socket. My thought is that I could tap into the 12V for the dash clock to power a USB socket that I could hide behind the dash. Any thoughts on this? Has anyone done a similar mod, ie. replacing the dash clock with USB ports?

 

Remember you have constant voltage for the clock memory and switched voltage for the display.

Figure out which one you want and which pin is ground and your good to go.

Want to charge with the truck off go with the constant voltage.

 

I made a mount for a Mophie magnetic mount/charger that goes where the passenger airbag switch goes. This obviously only works with the Mophie cases, but it solved the problem of having to plug my phone in since its a mount and wireless charger in one.

The mophie charger block has a micro usb port on the bottom and uses a double T slot for mounting, so I was able to make it like a dock for the charger block. I can just slide it upwards to remove it. I will be redesigning it in the future so that I can remove it and then use it as a normal micro usb dock for my phone without the mag mount. This will take some more precise measurements to make it work for both.

I got a 12v to 5v converter that could do higher amperage (the mophie charger takes a lot of power) and tapped it into the 12v outlet circuit. I good way to do this is to use a spade jumper on the back of the cig lighter or 12v ports like this

$7 DZS Elec 30pcs A.W.G 12-10 16-14 22-16 Crimp Connector Kit PVC Semi-Insulated Piggy Back Spade Quick Splice Male/Female Wire Terminals

https://www.amazon.com/DZS-Elec-Con...?keywords=spade+jumper&qid=1582292125&sr=8-10
I believe one of the spades is smaller than the other, I think one is 1/4" and the other is 3/16", but you should measure them to verify.


Previously I had made docks that went in the same location so that I didn't have an exposed cable that needed to be plugged in each time. I put these on thingiverse, but like most things in technology, they are outdated now.

This was for an iPhone 4/4s https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:40147


And here's one for a 5/5s/SE https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:40254

 

https://www.ebay.com/i/273951593149...MIkLvX-Ori5wIVx5-zCh0GLga6EAQYDCABEgIlRvD_BwE

 

^^ I have one of those in the smaller Gen 2 lower console size. I’ll be installed as temperatures imcrease and plastics get more flexible.

Has anyone seen a small/sideways version that might fit in our Gen 1 lower console switch blanking holes?

 

This is a great point. I found the pin for the constant 12v, I'll go with that.

We are thinking along the same lines here. Your Mophie install looks nice! My 1996 doesn't have the airbag switch, instead its the flasher button. So that's why I'm installing it in the clock! Can you direct me toward that 12v to 5v converter?

 

Can you even see the phone in the clock location? lol

I did a simple universal phone mount in the switch blank where the airbag key usually is (I have a doublecab, so no switch). I really like the location, but I agree that the usb cable from the lower 12v plug is a little obtrusive.


I also did the 12v hot all the time mod, so my 12v plugs are... hot all the time... (see jumper at bottom of pic) But I kinda like repurposing the clock space since I can't see it anyway. Might as well make it useful.

 

this is the one I used, but there are a ton on Amazon that are basically the same.

12v to 5v Converter, DROK Waterproof Usb Charging Adapter Voltage Regulator DC DC Buck Converter 12V 24V to 5 V 9V 12V 4.2A Power Supply Transformer Step-down Module QC 3.0 for Vehicle Phone Charge

12v to 5v Converter, DROK Waterproof USB Charging Adapter Voltage Regulator DC DC Buck Converter 12V 24V to 5 V 9V 12V 4.2A Power Supply Transformer Step-Down Module QC 3.0 for Vehicle Phone Charge

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072JC1DQF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_butuEb3CJ533R

 

Cool thanks for that!

 

I also cut the fuse holder off of it since I was already wiring it into a fused circuit
I think I just picked that one because it had the best reviews and could do 4.2A

 

Nice!! I will actually be able to charge my phone!