As above really.

 

Had a search but couldn't find any real info.

 

Next year going to be doing a long road trip in the Fabia to the alps and beyond and will need sat nav as well as phone chargers etc.  Whats the best way to fit additional sockets on or around the dash to allow for more devices?  Ideally I will be using the socket near the hand brake for heated seat covers due to the cold weather.

 

Any help would be great.

Something like this will be easiest as a temporary thing: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7406030.htm

 

Plenty of others on the market

Something like this will be easiest as a temporary thing: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7406030.htm

Plenty of others on the market

Link isn't working for me, but I assume it is a 1 to 4 car charger or something similar? The only problem with those kind of things is the output is halved/quartered, so charging a phone would take all day!

JRJG

It doesn't half/quarter the output. You will have a maximum current and if you go over it, then the internal fuse on the multiway will blow. If you're below the maximum current everything will work at full power...

 

I have no idea how many watts the heated seats require but a couple I've found online are around 50W so ~4A at 12v.

A phone charge will be maybe 0.5A at 12v (assuming 1A at 5v with some losses.

Satnav shouldn't be any more than 0.5A either.

 

Even if the multiway is rated at 10A you could probably get away with running al the above from a single outlet.

 

You should also check what the fuse on the 12v socket of the car is to make sure you don't exceed that value either

Something like this?

One problem is its permanently live! So I incorporated a switch, where the old socket used to be 

Edited 10 December, 201510 yr by SkUG

Use radio switched live to pull coil of a relay, which supplies 12v straight from battery via a fuse to some extra 12v sockets, available on ebay. Simples

I made a box similar to above to go under the heater controls. Ran live from a piggyback fuse in the dash-end main fuse box, ran earth to the nearest bolt/screw into the framework. Fitted a switch I had lying around with an LED... The USB bucks are rated 5V 3A each.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=ADD+A+CIRCUIT-+FUSE+TAP+-+PIGGYBACK+FUSE+-+STANDARD+FUSE+2+YR+GUARANTEE+%3A+AFH50&_id=251650492205&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=1pc+5V+USB+DC+7V-24V+to+5V+3A+Step+Down+Buck+KIS3R33S+Module+Arduino+LM2596&_id=161431330648&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Car+Boat+Light+LED+DC+12V+20A+Toggle+ON%2FOFF+Black%2BSilver+Switch+Blue+Lights+ItS7&_id=121346766175&&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2658

 

If I had to do it again I'd buy a bl**dy box rather than making something fancy out of MDF.

 

Obviously, posible to incorporate a number of USB and/or 12V sockets in a fascia under the heater controls. Another popular option is to bond a socket into one of the spare dash buttons.

 

J.

I've got one of these in my Fabia: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391000580597

 

 

As I've got a Connects2 AUX adapter too, I've extended both with this cable to put it where the cigarette lighter used to be: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321903306539 

 

Luckily i have a usb slot on the cd player, and i bought a cheap 4x cig lighter adaptor, for when i drove 400miles last summer. Needed the 4x cig lighter adapter for a, length to the back to run car dvd player for the little lad to watch peppa pig etc, was ideal really the extra length too it to the side of the hand break, so was a good place to double sided tape it down lol, it was only ever a temporary fix for extra long journeys.

I have a USB socket on the stereo however this has a memory stick in with music on.

 

Seat heaters I am not sure on the ampage etc below is a link to one of the first ones I found.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281487891928?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

Currently I have a USB addapter plugged into the socket and then a long extension cable running under the centre console and out from the side of the glove box as its easier to use the sat nav. 

 

Maybe it would be easier to get this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-RMS10-Twin-12V-Socket-with-Twin-USB-Sockets-Can-Style-/291515803739?hash=item43dfb2285b:g:CRkAAOSwPhdVLPmQ

 

I can then have the seat covers plugged in and then keep the long USB cable going to the glove box to then get one of these:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Speed-White-4-ports-USB-2-0-Hub-splitter-adaptor-for-PC-Mac-Laptop-/201196639026?hash=item2ed8411332:g:VUUAAOSw5ZBWF4w~

 

So would give me 2 x 12v sockets between the seats and then 4 x USB ports for sat nav and phones etc.

 

Only issue is I did not know how much power the standard socket can take however a couple have advised it can take more than I expected.

I may be wrong, but the spec for those seat heaters seems to be 45W for both, which seems very little power.

I would imagine that you will find the heating performance of those slow and disappointing.

Rather like those nasty little windscreen demister fans that plug into the lighter socket and only just barely warm the air to the point you can feel that they're working at all.

Link isn't working for me, but I assume it is a 1 to 4 car charger or something similar? The only problem with those kind of things is the output is halved/quartered, so charging a phone would take all day!

JRJG

I have used these - they are very flimsy and a great deal cheaper if bought from china on ebay - but I wouldnt recommend it. I use an adapter that plugs into cigar socket and provides...another cigar socket surrounded by 4x USB sockets. I have been tempted myslf to borrow 12V from the back of the radio and fit a usb socket in one of the blank switch sockets e.g. heated rear screen. Again ebay would provide the required 12v to 5v hardware for pennies.