Cigarette light to USB plug?

Choccygirl123

Right....finally had time to look at JJ's link. Its the wrong way around. I think i've got you all confused too.

I have a newish mazda with no cig socket only usb socket and a dash cam that has a cig socket end.

I was hoping to find a usb plug with a cig hole - which would be the easier option. I'm not sure about the v or w. I've spent a bit of time trawling amazon and ebay but not found a usb end with cig lighter and there lies the problem. Hubby doesn't think they exist! I'll dig out the camera later and see if I can find any online info about it.

googler

Choccygirl123 wrote: »

I have a newish mazda with no cig socket only usb socket and a dash cam that has a cig socket end.

Follow the suggestion above to install a proper 12v accessory / cig socket. There may not be one on the dash, but 99% certainty the wiring WILL be there, behind the dash but not connected to anything. If the maker offered the car with or without the 12v socket as an option when new, I'd say it's a 100% certainty.

The dash panel with the socket might be a direct swap for the one without, and you may be able to source this on eBay or similar so that you can install it without drilling

What model of Mazda is it?

RumRat

It might be time to buy a new dashcam......Probably as cheap as ruining the car by drilling a hole.....Just saying....;)

chrisw

Or buy a hard wire kit eg:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Vehicle-Electronics/Dash-Camera-Vehicle-Hard-Wire/B01M66LJKH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483015947&sr=8-1&keywords=hardwire+kit+for+dash+cam

spadoosh

Choccygirl123 wrote: »

Right....finally had time to look at JJ's link. Its the wrong way around. I think i've got you all confused too.

I have a newish mazda with no cig socket only usb socket and a dash cam that has a cig socket end.

I was hoping to find a usb plug with a cig hole - which would be the easier option. I'm not sure about the v or w. I've spent a bit of time trawling amazon and ebay but not found a usb end with cig lighter and there lies the problem. Hubby doesn't think they exist! I'll dig out the camera later and see if I can find any online info about it.

Actually found one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARECORD-USB-A-Male-to-5V-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Female-Converter-Best-Pa-/122237307935?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

Problem being the suitability will vary depending on the USB socket.

See if you can find any info about the USB socket, there should be something along the lines of output = 5v 1a or 5v 0.5a. In your case the higher the amps the more suitable it will be.

You will also need to look at the dashcam to see what power requirements that needs (should be 12v but hopefully considerably lower amps).

Thats the expensive option. And will cause problems powering anything other than a low powered device (most tablets wouldnt charge very well on it)

I dont know car electrics particularly well but i imagine the usb socket will have a 12v supply with a dc to dc converter stepping down to 5v for the USB. I would assume any fuses are connected before the converter. So i think you would be able to remove the USB (hopefully it will have a circular pop out that will take a lighter socket). Disconnect the dc to dc converter (which should be something like a box with two wires going in and 2 coming out to the usb. Then connect the two wires going in to the converter to a 12v socket.

Make sure you disconnect the battery first.

Buzby

That link shows the cable only supports 5v. If the dash cam is 12v or uses a plug the drops the voltage TO 5v, then it's not going to work!

takman

A usb Socket will only provide 5 V a "cigarette lighter" socket is 12 V so no adapter is going to function correctly.

You need to look at what plug is on the dash cam. My dash cam has a mini USB Socket for charging it so I have got a mini USB to USB lead to power my Dash cam. Your camera will likely have a similar Socket so you just need a new cable and not any kind of adapter.

neilmcl

Choccygirl123 wrote: »

Right....finally had time to look at JJ's link. Its the wrong way around. I think i've got you all confused too.

I have a newish mazda with no cig socket only usb socket and a dash cam that has a cig socket end.

I was hoping to find a usb plug with a cig hole - which would be the easier option. I'm not sure about the v or w. I've spent a bit of time trawling amazon and ebay but not found a usb end with cig lighter and there lies the problem. Hubby doesn't think they exist! I'll dig out the camera later and see if I can find any online info about it.

Newish Mazda what?

I'd be very surprised if it doesn't have a 12v socket somewhere. Also, what dashcam do you have? As mentioned, unless the cable is hardwired to the dashcam all you might need is a new micro usb to usb cable.

spadoosh

Buzby wrote: »

That link shows the cable only supports 5v. If the dash cam is 12v or uses a plug the drops the voltage TO 5v, then it's not going to work!

Linked the wrong one, had two up.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARECORD-USB-A-Male-to-12V-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Female-Converter-/322321347283?hash=item4b0bd972d3:g:DnEAAOSw5cNYIal3 (dont knwo whats happened with that link but it goes to the right place?!

As for functioning correctly i was always taught if it does the job its working correctly. Like using a iphone charger for an ipad or vice versa. Or charging your phone using your computer (most older computer use 500ma) far from ideal but it works. Ok you might need to turn your phone off or disable certain apps to help with the charge but its still putting juice in the battery.

paddyrg

spadoosh wrote: »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARECORD-USB-A-Male-to-12V-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Female-Converter-/322321347283?hash=item4b0bd972d3:g:DnEAAOSw5cNYIal3...

That's a massive bodgebit if ever there was one. There are a lot of 'It depends' things going on here - it's not the same as using an iPhone and iPad charger, there has to be active circuitry to convert the DV level and that means a current loss. If the USB socket in the car is 500mA (actual USB spec) then the 12v will be at 200mA or so - and that's next to nothing. Maybe it can supply more, but then as the spec for the bodgebit suggests a maximum of 12v800mA then that's 2A the car socket would have to provide.

Seeing as to do this, it's being converted 3 times, there's almost certainly a better answer (you always get loss in a conversion).