So... I want to wire in a female USB 2/3 socket above the HAZARD / Warning lights button in the centre of the dash, anyone done this, anyone got any tips on how to safely and where to wire it into in the car? The cigarette lighter is too far away for my satnav / mobile phone wires, want it closer to the window. 

A few on here use one of the blank switches just below. Worth considering instead of chopping up dash/trip maybe.

Agree with Matt, also you can buy a replacement for a couple

of quid and easily return to standard. I'd run a wire from the existing cigar

lighter beneath the centre console and up and behind heater controls and stereo.

I too would go for one of the blank switches rather than above the hazards.

What fit a usb into one of the blank sockets? Are there just plug in usb kits available online? Anyone got a link if so please? Cheers 

I would concentrate more on it being out of sight. Nothing annoys me more than the USB wire coming out of the front of my stereo.

Being lazy, I just use one of these to extend the 12v power to the passenger footwell

Great idea, I noticed that the lighter socket on the Fabia is pretty far away so was wondering about satnav power. Would something like this China-goodness do the job spliced in from the lighter cable in the centre console and shoehorned in to a blank switch?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-to-5V-3A-15W-Step-down-Converter-Regulator-to-2-Female-USB-Output-for-Car-/321125580536?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4ac4937ef8

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-12V-to-5V-3A-15W-Step-down-Converter-Regulator-female-Panel-mount-USB-for-car-/271266538422?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3f28bee3b6

Also, remembered my satnav will think it's connected to a PC when used with a plain USB cable, could maybe use something like this with a mini to usbA adapter though?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Garmin-nuvi-200w-205w-250w-255w-hardwire-car-charger-/190444415932?pt=US_GPS_Chargers_Batteries&hash=item2c575f2bbc

 

Not hundred percent sure the adapter would be an issue, but I think a resistor in the power supply lets the unit know that it's not a PC, so could work. Or I could get a new smarter satnav, but old Nuvi works fine and cables are pretty cheap.

Edited 6 December, 201312 yr by seaweasel

Isn't the Fabia 12v socket permanently live. if so will there not be some current drain?

I just put a longer cable on the sat nav