Phone charger area, best place and manner to drill a hole for wiring?

I'm thinking of mounting a blue sea systems 4366 in the top of the little phone cubby area of the center console, with power routed from an aux battery. I would be mounting it directly underneath the factory accessory 12v port.

Before I begin tearing apart the center console to find what areas have hollow cavities I could easily drill through, what area would usually work best and won't present a significant challenge to drill or cut through? I'm just trying to picture placement before I order stuff.

Dual cab, automatic transmission.

 

Tear it apart and leave the console out while you decide. It can be driven without that lower console.

 

I assume I'd need to remove the arm rest and center trim to access that area?

 

No to the arm rest. Look for videos of that area. 400 Watt anytime inverter comes to mind.

 

Ah those I've done, both with the anytime mod as well as replacing the cupholders.

I didn't recall that exposing the sides or back wall of the cubby area though. I'm trying to remember if the top side of the cubby is accessible with the front lower dash panels and radio taken out. Which could allow me to get a right angle drill bit up there to run the 12v wire.

 

I currently have my glove box out and can see the whole row of lower switches just fine. I have a switch mounted to the top side of the cubby - a bit hidden. While there, if you like, you can disconnect the cubby light. It is tight.

Removing the piece where you remove the shifter and the parking brake will allow you to see under the cubby. You can explore the sides to see if there is room for your endeavor.

 

What I'm thinking of doing is tearing the dash apart so that I can pull the lower switch panel out and get cables clear and then use a shallow drill bit and right angle to drill through the top of the cubby space from underneath

 

Oh that might work! Is there enough clearance to slide something down on top of the switch panel or tug some wires out of the way to prevent you from drilling into a harness?

 

I'm thinking of mounting this down there and then running a cable from above

$108 Rago Fabrication The 12 Volt Accessory Panel Mount Compatible with Blue Sea Systems 12v Accessory Panel | Bolts to Molle Panels & Flat Surfaces | Made in The USA

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This is looking from the glove box. The row of switches and the top of the cubby. Below the CLA plug my switch can be seen between the ribs, the ribs which beef up the top of the cubby.

 

To drill my hole for the switch, IIRC I just hand turned a sharp bit by hand - no power drill at all. Did have to do a good job of measuring so I did not hit one of those ribs. My hole was close to 1/2" and then I finished it up with a file.

 

Thank you, is the silver thing the factory 12v outlet then?

 

Yes, the silver thing is the Cigarette Lighter Adapter (CLA) with the purple and white wires.

The two red wires lead to my custom switch. Once again, the switch is mounted to the top of the cubby.

Not missing the ribs will send the drill bit off to where you don't want it to go and worse.

 

I've disassembled that area for various projects.




It's easiest to hit from the top by taking out the climate control module. It's also easy to approach from the shifter. The buttresses from the sides are hollow and will easily conceal wiring, but to do that not-blindly, you do have to take everything out to access them. Or you can leave them in place and drill blindly. There's nothing in them, so chances are you won't hit anything if you drill the sides.

The big caution is behind and underneath the phone charging panel. Do not drill down and towards the front of the dash. The SRS brain lives there, and bad things will happen if you disturb it. You can see a lot of yellow in my picture. Do not disturb the yellow area.

Hence, I recommend not drilling blindly.

 

Thank you everyone, I'm going to remove the glove box tommorow and see what sort of access I have, maybe the climate control if I absolutely have to. Ive ran 14awg from the BSS fuse panel to the passenger side footwell, tommorow I'll see about getting it ran into the dash, where I plan to terminate it to a female surface mounted SAE connector which will give me some flexibility for accessories.

Initially I'll just plug this into it which I'll mount to the side passenger side of the center console.

$15 12V USB Outlet Cigarette Lighter Socket with Power Switch: PD 36W USB C and QC3.0 USB Port Car Charger with LED Voltmeter, 180W Socket Adapter Panel for Car Boat Marine RV ATV UTV Van

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I ended up surface mounting a female SAE connector, which fill give me a lot of flexibility. 14awg, @3m. I could likely get away with 20a but I have it fused at 15.

I have some white text on black labels coming to make the label a bit easier on the eyes.

 

As a followup, I'll then just use this (with a SAE connector spliced onto it) when I need the ports.

$29 EUGIZMO 12V Cigarette Lighter Socket Splitter, 200W 3 Socket Multi Port Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter Plug Splitter USB Charger Auxiliary 12 Volt Power Outlet with Eyelet Terminal

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGL458WD