Wiring USB to glovebox (or elsewhere)?

JustAnotherSaver

One for those with a bit of interest in cars & I.C.E. I suppose. I'm in need of a bit of help.

Currently own an Alpine CDE-126BT. My new car takes a double DIN which is what i'm looking at getting. I got in touch with Alpine with what i'm looking at but unfortunately they do nothing in my £300ish budget. The closest they have is up at £700.

A lot of these new units have music played from devices via bluetooth or connect devices via aux cables - neither of which i'm a fan of for the simple fact that the device doesn't charge this way.

I also wonder if you can use steering wheel controls with these methods?? Not sure.

Currently i have a rear USB connection on my existing unit. This allows me to connect my iPod classic (old school i know), control it via the steering wheel controls and just simply forget about it - it stays charged all day everyday. I wont get half way through a journey and have the device die on me.

So i was considering having a USB socket of sorts installed in to the glovebox where i could connect my iPod (which would have to also be connected via aux) or another device that could play via bluetooth.

I wouldn't be doing this as it's beyond me.

1) Is it doable? Is it an intensive job or not so bad?

2) Will my theory work - that it'll remain charged while also playing via aux/bluetooth?

3) Do you get USB units with different charge rates? As the 12v USB i currently have charges extremely slowly. Wondered if there was anything that did it at a reasonable speed?

4) Anyone have any photos of installs like this?

Aside from this all i'm looking for in a unit is bluetooth connectivity for calls and the possibility of something like Google Maps / Waze on the screen although the latter isn't totally vital.

Lomast

There are multiple options if you are handy with a soldering iron but not sure what you will be able to get with paying an auto electrician.
Do you mean a usb socket to charge the device but connect via Bluetooth or aux? If so plenty of 12v usb sockets available. Charge time depends on current on normally 2.1 amps is fast charge 1a is slow.

AdrianC

JustAnotherSaver said:

3) Do you get USB units with different charge rates? As the 12v USB i currently have charges extremely slowly. Wondered if there was anything that did it at a reasonable speed?

USB is always 5v. The original spec was for 0.5A (6w), but over the years variations to that have brought it up to 5A (60w).
Some devices will adapt their charge speed to the current available, others simply won't charge from low current outputs.

JustAnotherSaver

So how do these 2.1 amps, 1a, 5v, 0.5A and 5A's all stack up against each other? Electronics is probably literally the worst field for me. I am likely to have a greater chance of nailing hieroglyphics in a day. I don't know if some of those numbers are like comparing kilometres and miles or what as i just see the numbers and there's a fair difference between 0.5 and 5.0 to me.

I'm not handy with a soldering iron, no. I have soldered but it was a royal mess and i was probably just lucky i didn't fry the circuit board.

What i mean is a USB socket that will allow me to charge the device so i don't need to worry about it losing power.

There's the 12v near the handbrake in a MK3 Mondeo but this is on show - which i don't like. In the glovebox would be hidden.

In the MK3 there's also an aux port already installed to the glovebox.

If i stay with my iPod Classic then i'd connect via aux while it's charging. Failing that, if i'm going the bluetooth connection route then it would have to be a different device as the iPod Classic doesn't have that feature.

Can you use steering wheel controls with aux connection?

Norman_Castle

Something ike this would supply the power. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-To-USB-5V-3A-15W-Power-Converter-Regulator-Step-Down-For-Car-GPS-Phone/303638264062?hash=item46b24038fe:g:hjIAAOSwbqZfKRUq Easy install by either a fuse tap or tapping into a switched live.

I'd suspect the aux connection is audio only. Can't you put the old Alpine into the new car?

facade

If you are happy with the Alpine CDE-126BT, take it out and buy a double din to single din converter to fit it in the new car.

Only about a fiver, and you get a useful cubby to keep the cloth for wiping the windscreen.

AdrianC

JustAnotherSaver said:

So how do these 2.1 amps, 1a, 5v, 0.5A and 5A's all stack up against each other? Electronics is probably literally the worst field for me. I am likely to have a greater chance of nailing hieroglyphics in a day. I don't know if some of those numbers are like comparing kilometres and miles or what as i just see the numbers and there's a fair difference between 0.5 and 5.0 to me.

Well, yeh. It's 10x...
A is short for amps.
Watts (W) is Amps (A) x Volts (V)

There's nothing you can do about the current the head unit can supply. Just... if it's important, look at it on the spec sheet.

As far as getting USB from the back of the head unit to the glovebox - all you need is a normal M-F USB extension lead that's long enough.
I'd be surprised if 50cm wasn't enough.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M4SA342/

JustAnotherSaver

Yeah i guess i could use the 126 and transfer it across. Sort of doesn't help me out with getting a new double DIN unit though which is what i'm looking at I'll do it at a push but ideally i want a new one.

Adrian - i think you've misunderstood me. I'm not necessarily looking for USB to come from the rear of the unit. It does do in my case but many don't have this. The one that Alpine recommended is £700+ so no go for me.

I was then trying to think of workarounds. I liked USB from the rear because it ticked 2 boxes - 1) kept the device charged and 2) was discreet while also ticking a 3rd i suppose of 3) steering wheel compatibility.

Since many don't have USB from the rear i was thinking of wiring in a USB port to the glovebox from the cars own wiring somehow (or rather getting someone to do it if it's something that could be done nice and neat). The existing 12v socket could be converted in to a USB socket but then this doesn't tick the box of being discreet as it's totally on show. I'd have to remove the device each time.

AdrianC

Ah, gotcha.

No, you don't have to remove the ciggy-to-USB. There are many which are totally flush to the socket. Nobody looks twice at them.

basill

Its worth searching for dashcam install forum threads for your car, they usually have good instructions and photos for sources of 12V, use of fuse taps etc.