Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

12V USB Socket Panel for Rear Seat Area

JMT

JMT

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Does anyone have any good ideas for where to locate a 12V USB Outlet Socket Panel for the rear seating area? I really don't want it in the trunk area because I want to put my cooler where the rear seat is and be able to plug it in while wheeling. And when I have the rear seat in I want people to be able to sit there and charge their phones. Something like this is what I'm thinking about. I considered the back of the center console above the cup holders, but the sockets are about 2.25" deep and in the non-Rubicon console that will cut into a storage area where I keep recovery gear. It's not totally impossible perhaps, but if anyone has any better ideas I'd be interested.
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dbbd1 said:
I was thinking on the back of the center console with these surface-mount units.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09SFRYWTS?tag=wranglerorg-20
Click to expand...

Hmm, ok, that's interesting. That's super low profile and I love that. It would solve the phone charging problem. I might put one near my parking brake for my phone!I still need a 12v socket to plug my cooler into though.
YonderNorthwest said:
I think the back of the center console makes sense, but I also agree that cutting into the limited space you have there is not ideal. How about building a small enclosure or pop-out on the back of the console to house this?
Click to expand...

Or I could build the pop out on the inside. It wouldn't be large, but it would at least be out of the way and unseen. Might be difficult to get in there. If I had a 3d printer I could possibly do it. I think there is one at the public library I could try out.

Another thing I thought of was to lose the cup holders and re-work that area so I could put them there, but cup holders are kinda important.

I can't remember right now, but if I remove the rear console maybe I can take the white liner out and modify it and then re-install with some space for the backs of the plugs.

LIke a lot of things on a TJ, they are very minimalistic. I just want a 12V in the rear seat, a dome light up front, and another in the back.
 
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Maybe I could mount something on the wheel well. Just not convenient for a person sitting on the other side of the Jeep by the other wheel well. Main thing is the cooler though.
 
What about a custom mounting plate that goes somewhere like one of these options?

Keep the wires up against/tied in with the factory harness and they'll be out of the way for almost everything, while still being accessible regardless of rear seat position.
Screenshot 2024-12-12 152806.jpg
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Also, I'd make the mounting plate out of Kydex so it could be molded, bent, drilled, cut, reshaped, etc. very easily.
When finished it has surface texture and could even appear like factory more than an add-on.
 
If you have access to a 3D printer, the sky is the limit on where you can get a power socket and USB plug to fit.
You can keep the panel size down even more if you wire up an ASE bulkhead connector like this instead of an actual cigarette lighter plug.
1734051016052.png


You'll need the appropriate plug for your device though.
 
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JMT said:
Hmm, ok, that's interesting. That's super low profile and I love that. It would solve the phone charging problem. I might put one near my parking brake for my phone!I still need a 12v socket to plug my cooler into though.


Or I could build the pop out on the inside. It wouldn't be large, but it would at least be out of the way and unseen. Might be difficult to get in there. If I had a 3d printer I could possibly do it. I think there is one at the public library I could try out.

Another thing I thought of was to lose the cup holders and re-work that area so I could put them there, but cup holders are kinda important.

I can't remember right now, but if I remove the rear console maybe I can take the white liner out and modify it and then re-install with some space for the backs of the plugs.

LIke a lot of things on a TJ, they are very minimalistic. I just want a 12V in the rear seat, a dome light up front, and another in the back.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly certain that the white liner on the inside of the console can be removed, but you may need to remove the console to do so. Not sure how much dead space there is between the larger unit and the white interior, but running your cable between the two of them would be clean even if it doesn't equate to big space savings on the interior or exterior.

Maybe you explore a solution that doesn't tie the USB phone outlets with the barrel plug fridge outlet. Fridge plug could be someplace unobtrusive in one of the rear corners or in a wheel well while you minimize the space impact of the USB ports into the center console.
 
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macleanflood said:
These work great...I've got singles and triples in three places on mine.

https://powerwerx.com/one-hole-panel-mounting-pod

-Mac
Click to expand...

Man, great idea. I think I can make this work attached to the rear cup holder between it and the carpeted tub. Definitely ordering one!
YonderNorthwest said:
I'm fairly certain that the white liner on the inside of the console can be removed, but you may need to remove the console to do so. Not sure how much dead space there is between the larger unit and the white interior, but running your cable between the two of them would be clean even if it doesn't equate to big space savings on the interior or exterior.

Maybe you explore a solution that doesn't tie the USB phone outlets with the barrel plug fridge outlet. Fridge plug could be someplace unobtrusive in one of the rear corners or in a wheel well while you minimize the space impact of the USB ports into the center console.
Click to expand...

This is the way. Thank you for great ideas!
red02tj said:
I don’t think you’d have to loose the cup holders. Stick something like this in the spacer between the cups. And you can use that open space.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082D8WKNW?tag=wranglerorg-20

View attachment 578883

View attachment 578884

View attachment 578885
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More good stuff. This could solve a lot of problems!
 
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I have several things in my cart at Powerwerx. I loved the idea of splitting the barrel plug from the usb phone chargers. I also want a switch so I can wire this directly to the battery and turn it on and off when needed.

I’m going to put the switch and the usb phone charger directly in the console in front of the parking brake handle. I’m not as worried about people in the back charging their phones. They can always use the front port.

In the rear just behind the console I’ll attach a 2-hole panel mounting pod with the barrel plug for the fridge and a volt meter. Looking forward to this setup.

It will be nice not to have to charge anything from the dash since that means wires are draping everywhere.

IMG_5078.png


IMG_5079.png
 
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JMT said:
I have several things in my cart at Powerwerx. I loved the idea of splitting the barrel plug from the usb phone chargers. I also want a switch so I can wire this directly to the battery and turn it on and off when needed.

I’m going to put the switch and the usb phone charger directly in the console in front of the parking brake handle. I’m not as worried about people in the back charging their phones. They can always use the front port.

In the rear just behind the console I’ll attach a 2-hole panel mounting pod with the barrel plug for the fridge and a volt meter. Looking forward to this setup.

It will be nice not to have to charge anything from the dash since that means wires are draping everywhere.

View attachment 578941

View attachment 578942
Click to expand...

Be sure the 12v socket you order is up to the requirements of your fridge. I went with a 3 way that can support 5 amps per plug for my Engel fridge and lights. If I remember correctly the Engel can pull up to 2.5 amps when the compressor kicks on.
 
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