USB charging without the chaos

[inkey$]

So I want to power my Android phone discreetly where it will be mounted on the windscreen to the right of me in the car. I’m now connected to bluetooth via the CD changer module, but power to my phone is obviously needed and Im looking for advice.

Bear in mind I’m am creative and in no way electronically minded, so talk of in-line fuses, splicing etc will largely be lost on me. I once fitted a dashcam and piggy-backed it to the fusebox, so thats the kind of level I’m capable of. Also, in a moment of self-confident-lockdown madness, I also own a soldering iron. It has never left the packaging.

What I want is the following:

- Closed ashtray
- Power to the drivers side of the car through USB C cable
- Hidden cable routing ideas that I can hide the end of when not in use

I also have a spare ashtray/centre console unit from an old Z4 I used to own if that helps. Complete with lighter socket and wiring.

What would you suggest?

 

[Darkangelv2]

I always found it annoying that cars, during the era of portable Sat Navs (Tom Tom etc), never 'innovated' the addition of a power socket on the drivers side.

 

[minimental]

I was looking for a way to charge and hold my phone neatly, i also have the music through bluetooth, i was going to mount a wireless charger/holder in front of the ashtray which isn't the solution you were going for but for power i was going to use something like this:
https://tinyurl.com/y48eqspf

likely you can just piggyback that into cigarette lighter wiring then you can just run a usb cable straight from there without the clunky converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter

 

[inkey$]

Thanks. Now that looks like something even I couldn’t screw up :lol:
Other than calls and music, I use my phone for Waze/GMaps in the car, but ordered an updated map for the built in nav, so theres a slight chance I may use that when required. This would mean the phone could be located somewhere else. Might see how that works out first before deciding. Just want a slick, aesthetic, OEM looking result.

 

[minimental]

Thanks. Now that looks like something even I couldn’t screw up :lol:
Other than calls and music, I use my phone for Waze/GMaps in the car, but ordered an updated map for the built in nav, so theres a slight chance I may use that when required. This would mean the phone could be located somewhere else. Might see how that works out first before deciding. Just want a slick, aesthetic, OEM looking result.

Yes this was my thinking, i don't have Nav so don't have that option, i thought for the odd occasion i use nav etc placing it in front of the ashtray might be the most "oem" look, i am going to try 3d printing something that mounts on the module holder part of the ashtray assembly, mostly this is down to me not liking phones in windscreens but that is my own weirdness!

 

[Calps]

I use a dash mounted wireless magnetic phone holder in both my cars, which leaves a wire-free setup to the phone (so no plugging/unplugging each time) but the charger is wired. I need to tidy up the wires in my Z, but will eventually tap it from the rear of the cigarette lighter, and have the wire emerge from the edge of the trim (or maybe drill a hole through it if feeling brave enough).

Main caveat is that, if you have a cover on your phone, it may impede how sticky the magnet hold is (is magnety a word?). It can also get quite warm due to the inductive charging (which pauses the charging), but I just point the vent towards it with cold air when that happens.

There's some pics of my setup in both cars on this thread: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=125046&p=1782520#p1782520
Like you, I use maps via android auto regularly as well as music etc, so I have it positioned just to the right of the steering wheel so it can be controlled at finger reach, without having to lift hands of the wheel.

 

[Chris_D]

Or you could always upgrade your android phone to one with a decent battery (4000maH+)
My xiaomi Mi 'whateverthefkitis' phone has an average screen-on time of 2 days between charges.
I used it for approx 5 hours travelling in the zed the other day and had enough charge the following day to get me back to my origin point.
Hence, why bother recharging in the zed? I just have a decent vent holder.
:wink:

 

[inkey$]

Thanks. Now that looks like something even I couldn’t screw up :lol:
Other than calls and music, I use my phone for Waze/GMaps in the car, but ordered an updated map for the built in nav, so theres a slight chance I may use that when required. This would mean the phone could be located somewhere else. Might see how that works out first before deciding. Just want a slick, aesthetic, OEM looking result.

Yes this was my thinking, i don't have Nav so don't have that option, i thought for the odd occasion i use nav etc placing it in front of the ashtray might be the most "oem" look, i am going to try 3d printing something that mounts on the module holder part of the ashtray assembly, mostly this is down to me not liking phones in windscreens but that is my own weirdness!

Bizarrely I also did most of this 10 years ago
Pics no longer there but it was a clean solution for the roadster I had at the time.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18538&p=267619#p267619

 

[inkey$]

I use a dash mounted wireless magnetic phone holder in both my cars, which leaves a wire-free setup to the phone (so plugging/unplugging each time) but the charger is wired. I need to tidy up the wires in my Z, but will eventually tap it from the rear of the cigarette lighter, and have the wire emerge from the edge of the trim (or maybe drill a hole through it if feeling brave enough).

Main caveat is that, if you have a cover on your phone, it may impede how sticky the magnet hold is (is magnety a word?). It can also get quite warm due to the inductive charging (which pauses the charging), but I just point the vent towards it with cold air when that happens.

There's some pics of my setup in both cars on this thread: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=125046&p=1782520#p1782520
Like you, I use maps via android auto regularly as well as music etc, so I have it positioned just to the right of the steering wheel so it can be controlled at finger reach, without having to lift hands of the wheel.

I love a magnet connector, but I charge my phone wirelessly at home and get annoyed at having to change cases to one with a metal tab in the back if Im using in the car.

 

[inkey$]

Or you could always upgrade your android phone to one with a decent battery (4000maH+)
My xiaomi Mi 'whateverthefkitis' phone has an average screen-on time of 2 days between charges.
I used it for approx 5 hours travelling in the zed the other day and had enough charge the following day to get me back to my origin point.
Hence, why bother recharging in the zed? I just have a decent vent holder.
:wink:

I have an S20 with a pretty good battery. Am sure it would be fine too. Alas my OCD needs a fully charged or charging phone to align the rest of the stars in my day :lol:

 

[Calps]

I love a magnet connector, but I charge my phone wirelessly at home and get annoyed at having to change cases to one with a metal tab in the back if Im using in the car.

Fortunately I haven't needed a specific cover on the phone for it to stay in place. I like to protect my phones, but dislike when covers take away from the aesthetic of a device, so I've got one which provides some basic protection, but is also thin enough not to ruin the lines or impact the magnetic attraction. The outside of the charger surface also has a rubber surround, which helps hold it in place.

(I did have a thicker cover previously but it kept sliding of with that. If placed on it without any cover, it's incredibly stable)

There's also the quad lock option: https://www.quadlockcase.eu/products/quad-lock-car-mount?variant=13718370680941
Pricey, but it certainly won't dislodge anytime soon!

 

[inkey$]

Dont think my S20 is made of material that would work on a magnet without a case and metal insert. Thats my issue really, as the wireless charger at home doesn’t like metal in the way of where it conducts. Ive tried all sorts of solutions including metal in different areas of the case and away from the internal battery (not good for landscape in the car as the metal tab is at the top or bottom of the case), plus if you get it wrong it can get very hot very quickly!

 

[Jakg]

This isn't the neatest setup, or the most creative, but IMO is the most practical for me.



Brodit holder.
USB Lightning cable comes out of the panel just underneath the climate control unit - you can't see it when the phone is in place.
A 12v USB hardwire socket lives behind the panel.
This is connected to the cigarette lighter (because the car came with something else already connected there and this was easier) but could alternatively (and probably should be) connected using a fuse-tap.

If you spend a bit more £ Brodit do an "Active" holder that holds the cable too so you just drop it in and it's on charge rather than plugging it in.

Benefits:
Brodit holders are ace and fit perfect,
Charges quickly (2A USB charger - you could use a USB C one but I've not seen a hardwire kit that offers USB PD to charge any quicker so you'd be looking at hiding a 12v socket in the dash which isn't ideal) - or at least charges at all (the USB port in my 335d, or on the double DIN unit on my Megane only seem to do 500ma/1A so the phone doesn't actually charge when used, it just doesn't discharge),
Easily visible but not actually in the way.

 

[inkey$]

Nice, simple setup, Jakg. Those Brodie holders are Great aren’t they.

I’m currently pulling together various bit and pieces to create a few options. Then I’m going to see which one offers the simplest solution with minimum fuss and probably go for that.

I have a 12v - 5v step down kit with fuse tap, but how easy it it to wire into the cigarette lighter?

I also have a spare ashtray unit complete with door - and a Dremel, so could experiment in a relatively risk free way in creating some sort of dock

 

[inkey$]

Like the ashtray phone position. Slightly turned towards driver in portrait mode or flat front-on in landscape.

Portrait on my S20 may not lean back too far though due to size of the phone vs heater controls. Landscape would look most at home as its the width of the ashtray area anyway.

Need to figure out a way to either hold in place with something in the ashtray, but still able to close over when phone not in use - or a magnetic charging dock that can still stow away under the ashtray lid. Have this spare unit in the pics from my old roadster, so can easily get busy with the Dremel if need be :lol:

Plan to hardwire a power source too, so charging can happen from behind or underneath the ashtray itself int he form of a USB C dock or magdock.

Additional thoughts on stable docking and wireless charging?

 

[inkey$]

Little update. I’ve ditched the dock-in-ashtray idea as it the angles and position just werent going to be right for nav/spotify etc. So I’ve ordered a Brodit mount and universal holder. Going to add a hardwired USB port under the passenger side somewhere and route a short cable up to the Brodit to the left of the centre controls.

 

[NeilP]

Sharing what I've ended up doing - I used a breakout fuse from the fusebox behind the glovebox to a cigarette lighter socket.(Used a dual for dash cam as well). Mounted it all behind the fusebox for no wires on display (I also have a Brodit holder)

This has meant that my normal cigarette lighter is still free!

 

[Rucky]

Try a hard wired USB charger?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=hardwired+12v+usb+charger&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=12v+usb+charger

 

[inkey$]

I’m fusebox-hardwiring the USB charger (mounted somewhere covert).

Hardwire Kit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Car-Charger-Double-USB-Port-Dual-Cigarette-Socket-Lighter-Power-Adapter-UK-/324330164316?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

USB Adaptor
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Z4S36GV/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_gHF7FbVEEZ3TF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[inkey$]

So I have delayed this job until I could get around to it - which is going to be soon.
Does anyone know which fuses would be best to tap into that are powered with the ignition?