USB Power Sockets

irlcwill · Mar 20, 2016

I have being looking for additional 12v power sockets in the van for a while now then realised most devices I have use USB ...... so, just finished fitting a double USB socket in the dash powered off the spare fuse in the leisure battery circuit. Worked out ok and can easily be reversed by fitting new blanks. That was the best USB socket i could find .....

jts46 · Mar 21, 2016

Where did you get these from please?

John

irlcwill · Mar 21, 2016

Hi, I got it on ebay, they are from a Toyota vigo i think it was. Search for Toyota USB socket or similar on ebay. The switch is just a standard rocker switch for switching it on and off ..... the only other item was a small fuse for the fuse box. Can't remember what cable size i used but googling that should tell you. Hope that helps.

jts46 · Mar 21, 2016

irlcwill said:
Hi, I got it on ebay, they are from a Toyota vigo i think it was. Search for Toyota USB socket or similar on ebay. The switch is just a standard rocker switch for switching it on and off ..... the only other item was a small fuse for the fuse box. Can't remember what cable size i used but googling that should tell you. Hope that helps.

Thanks.

John

bxl_lad · Mar 23, 2016

...and, does it work well?
Been looking at similar 'switch' based usb sockets, was thinking to do the same...
Saw this option on fleebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-24V-Mo...386677?hash=item1ead2c64f5:g:HekAAOSwP~tW534I

J0Xd4E · Mar 23, 2016

Wouldn't it be easier to replace the 12v socket with a USB socket?

Something like this:

http://campervanculture.com/shop/blue-sea-dual-usb-charger-socket/

irlcwill · Mar 23, 2016

Will be using it properly this weekend so will know then, but short tests on a phone are good. Reason i didnt want to just replace lighter socket as i wanted something off the leisure battery when parked up .... maybe i just have too much time on my hands !

J0Xd4E · Mar 23, 2016

irlcwill said:
Will be using it properly this weekend so will know then, but short tests on a phone are good. Reason i didnt want to just replace lighter socket as i wanted something off the leisure battery when parked up .... maybe i just have too much time on my hands !

Good point, I hadn't realised it was off the leisure battery.

irlcwill · Apr 4, 2016

Back from our time away and i can confirm it worked well and charged my Samsung S6 successfully each night.

Am now considering wiring the ligher socket off it rather than the starter battery. Cable is plenty big and it was nice not having to worry about a flat starter battery ....

2into1 · Apr 4, 2016

If you are able to get leisure battery power to the dash, then isn't a double plug in socket (into the 12v cigarette lighter) a simpler solution? Better brands are available. The shop here did sell them.

pabloalfa76 · Apr 4, 2016

I have two sockets fitted in mine, 1 on the dash, and 1 by the table.

One was from Campervan Culture ( quite expensive ) the second was from co-star, very happy with the quality and price.
http://www.co-star.co.uk/prod/3853/usb-power-supply-twin-port-panel-mount.html

irlcwill · Apr 4, 2016

In hindsight yes, it would havevbeen much easier just to rewire the cigarette lighter, but where is the fun in that ...... With the amount of phones, tablets, cameras etc we have, i reckon you could never have enough usb sockets !!

T4WFA said:
If you are able to get leisure battery power to the dash, then isn't a double plug in socket (into the 12v cigarette lighter) a simpler solution? Better bands are available. The shop here did sell them.

View attachment 13041

irlcwill · Apr 4, 2016

That looks really nice, tho' I was trying not to cut any holes in the van, where did you locate the socket in the rear ??

QUOTE="pabloalfa76, post: 140100, member: 3939"]I have two sockets fitted in mine, 1 on the dash, and 1 by the table.

One was from Campervan Culture ( quite expensive ) the second was from co-star, very happy with the quality and price.
http://www.co-star.co.uk/prod/3853/usb-power-supply-twin-port-panel-mount.html[/QUOTE]

WelshGas · Apr 5, 2016

I use one of these plugged into the Kitchen 12v socket with USB plugs to power an iBoost Router and charge 2 x phones and iPad. Didn't want wires plugged into the Dashboard sockets.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-12v-C...954638?hash=item3ce9b4718e:g:TRAAAOSwU9xUNAEi

J0Xd4E · Apr 6, 2016

pabloalfa76 said:
I have two sockets fitted in mine, 1 on the dash, and 1 by the table.

One was from Campervan Culture ( quite expensive ) the second was from co-star, very happy with the quality and price.
http://www.co-star.co.uk/prod/3853/usb-power-supply-twin-port-panel-mount.html

Do you get any radio interference with either of those?

pabloalfa76 · Apr 6, 2016

Hi,
I don't get any radio interference, very happy with both sockets.

Maxi-Mizer-T6 · Jun 5, 2022

For anyone stumbling upon this when trying to replace the kitchen's 12v socket with USBs, I've put together a detailed guide on how I did that on my T6: https://medium.com/@maxi-mizer/replace-vw-california-kitchen-12v-outlet-with-usb-ports-f5f6394d7993

I hope it helps! This is what my sockets look like now: