Hardwire phone charger cable?

[AlanS]

2006 XC70. Just got a new phone. I have it on a mount next to the radio....I HATE the charging cable hanging around and plugged into the cigarette lighter. How can I direct the cable into the dash (I can drill a nice hole along side the mount) and hardwire it to the power...thus the mount is always on (the mount is a magnetic mount- charges via the magnetic connection between phone and mount).
Now, in the ole days, I would just grab a wire behind the radio, and job done. However, this is not 12V...its a phone charger...whatever that voltage is. Any ideas? I just want a neat appearance and not have the darn cable crossing the dash up to the phone. I think you get the idea. A.

[chrism]

You could wire-in an auxiliary cigarette lighter socket somewhere inside the dash, or wherever you would prefer, and plug the charger adapter into it. Then run the wire out the of the dash near where it’s needed to charge the phone.

[velorider]

IMG_20230206_225943323.jpg (389 KiB) Viewed 1242 times

I posted this picture of USB ports I added under the rear 12v charger a few days ago In the "What did you do today'" thread. I choose this placement because it keeps the wire out of the way and had a near by 12v source. But you could be place it anywhere.

You need a 12v to 5v step down convertor. There are many ways to accomplish this. This might be the easiest if you have a USB-C port on your phone.

Screenshot_20230224-235914.png (456.16 KiB) Viewed 1242 times

If you want to add ports, like I did, the step convertor is identical but with different wiring. Search Amazon for "12v to 5v step down converter car"

The basics are to find a 12v source to wire the step down to and the other end is 5v safe for USB charging.

[abscate]

When you buy a wired USB port for an auto the 12 to 5 volt conversion is built in. It’s done with DC to AC conversion , step down , and rectification. It’s cheap and horrriblr electronics and often a large source of electrical noise.

Buck circuit per velorider below. The cheap ones are crappy

Stick with the names like Belkin , Blue Sea

[velorider]

When you buy a wired USB port for an auto the 12 to 5 volt conversion is built in. It’s done with DC to AC conversion , step down , and rectification. It’s cheap and horrriblr electronics and often a large source of electrical noise.

Stick with the names like Belkin , Blue Sea

I don't know where you got that information. This device is a buck convertor, it does not convert DC to AC. If you are referring to switching, that is not AC. Brand names don't have any special technology, they all use off the shelf IC for step down conversation. Also, whether it's hard wire or not doesn't influence how the voltage step down is achieved.

There so much wrong with this statement I don't know where to begin explaining the theory behind step down converters. But AC and rectifying is not involved.

[abscate]

Yeah, i was on crack writing that before coffee. Thanks for keeping the internet clean/