Hey I know people mod there radio bezels on here for extra fog light button but I was wondering if anyone has integrated USB plug into there bezel?

Here's my setup right now:
https://www.ranger-forums.com/member...ed-stock-boot/

Obviously you can see the wiring mess I have going. I would really like to get that 2 USB DC 12v charger integrated into the radio bezel so I can A. Free up my lighter socket. B. Get it and the charger wire out of the way.

Anyone done this?

 

That's an easy one...

Buy something similar to this:
CLIPSAL 3 USB TO USB COMPUTER OR CAMERA WALL PLATE - eBay (item 230542157057 end time Dec-22-10 23:39:47 PST)


Remove the USB from the wall plate and mount it behind the bezel (you'd need to cut the rectangle where you want it tho).

Use a USB extention cable to connect to the cig lighter adapter.

Buy and hardwire an extra cig lighter behind the radio.

Connect the cig lighter adapter to the hidden cig lighter.

Done.


DOWNFALL:
You'll see the two screws holding the flushmount USB on the bezel. I haven't thought about how to hid those yet.

 

I have pretty much the same things sitting in my drawer right now. My idea was to just mill out the opening for the usb and then attach the actual plug to the back of the bezel and find some way to secure it. Maybe I'll get to it one of these days

 

Until this thread popped up, I never thought about it, but it's a damn good idea...

Many of today's electronics can be powered/charged through USB. I might have to do this.

 

I did it a few months ago... I just replaced the 12v outlet on the right side of the bezel and put one in there.

 

^ Now that i like!

 

I've used it more than I expected I would. I charge my iPod, GPS, camera... and didn't have to buy any car chargers for any of them!

 

Did you make that your self or did you find that someplace?

 

I bought it at Canadian Tire. I'm sure there's something similar down where you are... I had to do a little trimming (to the USB, not the bezel). It wouldn't be in there if I had to trim the bezel!

 

This is what I used... I think it was on sale for $6 or so when I got it.

USB 12V Auxiliary Power Outlet | Canadian Tire

 

woah. I'm buying one tomorrow. haha. thats such a good idea!
did you trim off that mounting plate?

 

You just unthread the back part and the mounting plate slides off... I had to trim that piece that unthreads because the bezel is thicker. It's hard to describe but you'll understand when you see it in person! If I remember right I trimmed one of the notches off the actual USB part in behind so it fit into the plastic ring that the 12V outlet was in, and then popped it back into the bezel. I remember making something to hold it tight from the back, using a big washer and a bolt. It doesn't look pretty but you don't see it!

That probably didn't make any sense... some day I can get some pics if you need them.

 

I'll probably swing by CT tomorrow and pick one up, if I have questions, I'll bug ya! thanks a lot

 

awesome. great response.

 

What would be even better is if you could wire it to the stereo so that it operates as both a charger and input.

 

Fullscale's mod is clean, but after seeing that, I'd rather have it in my center console... less wires dangling from the bezel.


I might mod a 4-port USB hub to fit in my center console.

 

Not a bad idea man, i may try this also :)

 

I ran out of room in my bezel, but I had an idea for the Explorer center console...
I removed the vents/controls from the rear panel & did a little modding...







I took an old USB2.0 hub that had 1 broken port & disassembled it to get the ports off the PCB. Cut rectangles for the usb ports, re-wired them to the PCB & connected it to one of my switches to control the usb ports.

The ports are only supply 5v power, no connectivity to the head unit or anything, but I'm sure it wouldn't take too much more work to connect them to a head unit's usb.

I've also got a couple small cig adapter plugs with a usb port that just plug into the cig ports if I happen to need to plug in more usb devices.

 

looks good bugman, only thing i dislike is the paint on it :(

 

Yea,
I had to use black gloss Fusion, it's not that shiny now....I couldn't find any good plastic paint in gray.

The usb ports come in pretty handy... I've got some of those flexy usb lights that are used for laptops that I use to find the junk in my armrest console.

 

Humm I like Adams idea but I can't find anything like it in the US. I found one for $40 but obviously that isn't gonna happen.

 

How about something like...
THIS

 

That would be ok. No way to mount it and the back needs to be a power and a ground wire instead of another USB.

 

DERP!
Wrong link... I'm stupid & now I can't find the link for the plug-in I have.
I've got one that's a cig plug on the back & usb on the front, slim mount so it looks a lot like a cig plug cover. I've seen them with 2 or 3 usb ports on the front, just for charging though.
They have them on daily deals all the time for a couple bucks or less.

 

Here we go....
try this on for size LINK