Replace cig lighter outlets with what?

I no longer own any cig plug chargers. I have a USB on the front of my stereo that charges my phone in a lot less time than the 110 charger.
I can charge everything from USB's and it takes a lot less equipment.
No need to carry chargers anymore, just a USB cord.

dockmasterdave wrote:
I no longer own any cig plug chargers. I have a USB on the front of my stereo that charges my phone in a lot less time than the 110 charger.
I can charge everything from USB's and it takes a lot less equipment.
No need to carry chargers anymore, just a USB cord.

While that might work, I would be very careful on what CURRENT the USB devices CAN draw. I would suspect that a stereo with a USB port is really designed for a USB FLASH MEMORY DEVICE which will typically be much less than 500ma.

Many phones, tablets and such often draw 1A (1000ma) upwards of 2A (2000ma) and can easily blow out a standard 500 ma USB port if they do not sense what the port capacity is.. When those devices are connected to a PC USB port they will typically drop the draw down to standard USB port current of 500 ma. When that happens it will take considerably longer for the device to charge.

I suspect however a stereo port may not be detectable by the device and you will be taking a risk of a dead USB port on your stereo..

Cig lighter USB chargers are a dime a dozen and extremely cheap (as low as $2), buy a few and throw them in your RV drawer and in your vehicle glove box.. Car stereos, not so cheap or easy to replace..

My truck has one dash socket, a socket in the center console and one in the back side of the console for the second seat.

The dash one turns OFF when the ignition key is pulled and times out. The other two remain hot all the time. I also have a small digital meter size hole in the dash for something. Have no idea what you are suppose to carry in it... I always hought I would get 12VDC digital meter and either velcro or glue in that hole. My truck does not have a DC VOLTAGE indication anywhere. My older truck at least had one in the console menu display but not my newer truck.

I used the dash socket for my plug-in solar trickle charger on my older truck but since this one turns off I can't use it for that anymore.

My dash already has two USB sockets built-in. I did plug-in a dual USB for the rear seat area to use.

My dash 12VDC socket has a nice knob loking door cover so I will leave it as is. The other two will be additional USB sockets...

The socket inside the center console is used sometimes for one of those RADIO SHACK multiple DC VOLTAGE adapter plugs. That has come in handy a couple of times for charging...

Roy Ken

Power Werx has several distribution choices for power poles....I have one on my desk in the house for 12v...For USB chargers you have to watch the current as indicated by others....

To answer one of your questions, a 12V to USB port will indeed have a parasitic draw as the voltage regulator in it is always hot. You could install a switch next to it to turn it off.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-Charger-Socket/dp/B0082CXEI8

I installed one of the above years ago. I pull its fuse when I am not going to use it for a while, but it is pretty much on 11 months a year.

Many older USB ports are limited to .5 amps
Android phones require upto 1 amp to charge at max rate
Some tablets require 2.1 amps to charge at max rate

The BlueSeas USB charger socket above can do 3.1 amps total if both plugs are used.

I've pretty much given up on Ciggy plugs, on devices which can draw more than 2 amps. My laptop DC to DC converter( upto 7.2 amps) melted 3 ciggy plugs before I said Eff it and wired some 30 amp powerpoles.

What is nice with ciggy plug is one handed insertion from odd angles. While I can mate a powerpole one handed, sometimes it is difficult and I use both.

BUt the heat generated by a ciggy plug passing more than 5 amps is simply wasteful of battery power, and I will never use them for anything more than 2 amps ever again.

With all the stuff using them, you're dreamin if you think they'll go away any time soon. Myself, I don't mind them a bit, never have trouble w/ them. If you hate them, they will always give you trouble.

But whenever I can, I use the "2 pin" plugs, which are becoming more and more standard,....like on almost all battery chargers.

I use Andersons for a lot of stuff...

I started by ordering a couple of Rig-Runners from West Mountain Radio, along with the proper crimp tool and some power poles. I also got a couple of 12 volt "Outlet" type adapters from them. for things I could not convert.

All in all I like them very much.

ONE WORD OF CAUTION: you do, from time to time, need to unplug and re-plug them to keep them clean, if you leave them connected for very long periods of time you can loose connection.

Don't see any surface mount Anderson Power Poles for through the wall mounting.
Do they exist?
Water proof, Outdoor Surface Mounts?

brulaz wrote:
Don't see any surface mount Anderson Power Poles for through the wall mounting.
Do they exist?
Water proof, Outdoor Surface Mounts?

They do have several methods of mounting including adapting duplex receptacle plates and boxes.

Powerpole Accessories