just seen this, quite good

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Points
226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
Yep good gadget that. Nice and neat.
 

5harp3y

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
Joined
Jul 10, 2015
Points
168
Location
Basingstoke
Model of Z
2.8
$45!

That's a lot of money for something you can make with a dremel and USB socket from maplin
 

littlefeller

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Points
168
Location
evesham
yes it is pricey, i have found a small black box on ebay to step down 12v to 5v (designed for cars) and as you say the socket itself is cheap as
 

Lexybhoy

Zorg Guru (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Scottish Zeds
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Points
98
Location
Glasgow
Model of Z
2.8
I bought one of these from Amazon to run an fm transmitter and I'm not sure it was a good idea for my application.

I ran the fm transmitter via the cigarette lighter socket initially just to test it and it worked crystal clear as did the handsfree phone function.

I don't like having wires trailing about so opted to hard wire the supply via the usb sockets and because the voltage has been stepped down, not only is the music quality suffering, but the handsfree function is now useless.

It'll be getting removed and connected directly to the 12v me thinks. Yes/no ?
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
USB sockets are usually around 5v I believe. I have hard wired my head up display and dash cam via a 3 into1 cig/aux adapter connected to ign. fed 12v feed.


Tony.
 

littlefeller

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Points
168
Location
evesham
5v 3a = 15 watts is not much but ok for charging, most cig lighter sockets are at least 20a so 12v 20a =240w a big jump. assuming you have 12v, most car battery's are 14.7v this pushes it to nearly 300w.
 

littlefeller

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Points
168
Location
evesham
I bought one of these from Amazon to run an fm transmitter and I'm not sure it was a good idea for my application.

I ran the fm transmitter via the cigarette lighter socket initially just to test it and it worked crystal clear as did the handsfree phone function.

I don't like having wires trailing about so opted to hard wire the supply via the usb sockets and because the voltage has been stepped down, not only is the music quality suffering, but the handsfree function is now useless.

It'll be getting removed and connected directly to the 12v me thinks. Yes/no ?
yes, if your device has a built in amp then yes it would require more oomph, not only is the voltage stepped down but the amps are also limited, 15 watts is too low, but i would have thought an FM transmitter is only about 100ma so is well within the capability's of a usb socket, did the device come with a cig socket adapter, there should be a sticker on the side showing the output of the adapter.
 
Last edited:

Lexybhoy

Zorg Guru (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
Scottish Zeds
Joined
Jan 11, 2015
Points
98
Location
Glasgow
Model of Z
2.8
yes, if your device has a built in amp then yes it would require more oomph, not only is the voltage stepped down but the amps are also limited, 15 watts is too low, but i would have thought an FM transmitter is only about 100ma so is well within the capability's of a usb socket, did the device come with a cig socket adapter, there should be a sticker on the side showing the output of the adapter.
It did indeed come with an adapter @littlefeller. A dual usb outlet, 1amp and 2amp outlets.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Hi, Ok got one of these, I had hoped to fit to a blanking switch but feel i wont be able to fix it securely enough, so looking to have the sockets just dangle down by the cargo net. Any suggestions on where to take power from?

many thanks
I can help later with power supply Simon, busy till teatime.

Tony.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Thanks Tony, Z Legend as usual
Hey mate, sorry late replying but this may be useful. I was watching someone fitting a dashcam on Youtube last week end and he quoted using an "Add-a-fuse" to connect a power supply, not knowing of these I had a look on eBay and found these. I didn't know which size fuses my car has so I bought one of each.
008.jpg

001.jpg

What you need to do is go into the fuse box and locate a fuse which becomes "live" with ignition on or all the time depending on what you need. You then remove the fuse and replace it with the add-a-fuse connector. Put the original rated fuse in the place nearest to the blades and then you connect your wire into the blue crimp sleeve and place what size fuse into the other place (the same fuse rating or less than the original fuse) Hope this makes sense, great little item I think.:thumbsup:

Tony.
 

littlefeller

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Points
168
Location
evesham
try to avoid using those scotch blocks in the top left corner of the pic, there an electricians nightmare.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
They came with an item I bought last week, that's why they're still there and it's soldered in!!;):thumbsup:

Tony.
 

littlefeller

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 18, 2015
Points
168
Location
evesham
i understand why they are supplied with some parts (ease of install, simplifies it so it can be sold as no tools needed, im guilty of this in the past) oooops
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
To be fair IF they're used in the right conditions and used with the correct size for the wires involved they're "ok". But you can't beat soldered joint with heat shrink tube on if you can.

Tony.
 
Top