Small Project Electrical (Help)

JamesAndTheSahara

JamesAndTheSahara

TJ Addict
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
May 22, 2017
Messages
2,164
Location
Auburn, AL, United States
Hey! I am undertaking a project of working towards getting all of my usb wires hidden inside my dash. I have 3 micro-usb cables & 1 lightning cable. I need to find a way to properly wire 4 USB ports into my TJ... I know USB is 5V and my TJ has a 12V supply. Listed below are the ways I see I could feasibly run this:
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > 12v to 5v Transformer > 4 Port USB hub (5v)
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > Relay > USB 12v to 5v power adapter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XDSA82Q/?tag=wranglerorg-20)
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > Common automobile power inverter (Would prefer to not go this way but I understand this is an option).
  • I could hot-wire the cigarette lighter port but I'd rather not try to run 4 always running USB devices off of it.
Misc: What gauge wire do I need to use? How would I determine the appropriate fuse size?

You can see I'm trying to learn here but really don't know what to do...
 
JP98 said:
Do you know the max wattage of each of the 5v devices?
Click to expand...
Not specifically but it should be 5W for each device
  • Lightning Cable for charging personal iPhone - 5W
  • Micro USB Cable for forward facing dash cam - Should be 5W
  • Micro USB Cable for rear facing dash cam - Should be 5W
  • Micro USB Cable for Sirius XM Handheld - Should be 5W
I checked the user manuals but can't find the exact wattage for some of the devices. They all can run off a typically usb port from a computer, they aren't like a higher output USB charger like an tablet charger.
 
Ok. If they are all 5W then you would only be pulling a total of 4 amps. If it were me, I would use the second set up option you have listed and fuse the with a 5amp fuse each. The power supplies are marked for 3A.
 
Do you not want to use a multiple (dual?) USB adaptor in the cig. lighter socket?
It seems like a quality USB adapter would get you where you want to go without reinventing the wheel.
I'm using a Blue Sea adaptor that has worked flawlessly both on and off road for about three years. Not the cheapest choice but seems good quality.

My 06 LJ has both a lighter socket and a "power port" that is always powered.

IMG_0453.webp


My set up would be easy to either jumper or re wire to have both sockets powered the way you want

This is the location where a friend of mine added another socket on his LJ. Sorry for the crappy pic

IMG_0451.webp


Maybe I'm not understanding exactly what you are trying to achieve.
 
JP98 said:
Ok. If they are all 5W then you would only be pulling a total of 4 amps. If it were me, I would use the second set up option you have listed and fuse the with a 5amp fuse each. The power supplies are marked for 3A.
Click to expand...
I don't think i'm following, I would need to fuse each usb? Could I not use the two of the products in the link and just fuse those(2)?

jgaz said:
Do you not want to use a multiple (dual?) USB adaptor in the cig. lighter socket?
It seems like a quality USB adapter would get you where you want to go without reinventing the wheel.
I'm using a Blue Sea adaptor that has worked flawlessly both on and off road for about three years. Not the cheapest choice but seems good quality.

My 06 LJ has both a lighter socket and a "power port" that is always powered.

View attachment 21580

My set up would be easy to either jumper or re wire to have both sockets powered the way you want

This is the location where a friend of mine added another socket on his LJ. Sorry for the crappy pic

View attachment 21581

Maybe I'm not understanding exactly what you are trying to achieve.
Click to expand...

I have an early TJ where I only have one cigarette lighter socket, so using that to run 4 usb devices may not be feasible. The draw of charging all 4 devices seems like it would be too much. I could tap into the wiring in the rear of the socket and add something to allow 4 usb's in the rear if that wouldn't overload the socket.
 
JamesAndTheSahara said:
I don't think i'm following, I would need to fuse each usb? Could I not use the two of the products in the link and just fuse those(2)?

You could fuse them together but I typically try to limited the number of outlets/output points to a few as possible on a fuse. That way you don't have any issues with one item over drawing and blow the fuse which stops the use of multiple items. Just don't oversize the fuse too much.
Click to expand...
 
Do you have the 2 spare 12V power spares behind your glove box to the right. If so just pick up one of the wires (I used the unswitched lead) and run it to your console. I feel that you are overthinking this as the power draw is minimal.
 
TJ4Jim said:
Do you have the 2 spare 12V power spares behind your glove box to the right. If so just pick up one of the wires (I used the unswitched lead) and run it to your console. I feel that you are overthinking this as the power draw is minimal.
Click to expand...
I have no idea how to check. More than likely, which fuse numbers would they be?
 
gps12_socket_wire_02.webp
JamesAndTheSahara said:
I have no idea how to check. More than likely, which fuse numbers would they be?
Click to expand...
There should be 2 loose wires that are tagged "switched" and "unswitched" behind the glovebox and to the right. Pull the glovebox out and scan the area. They should be right there as they were on my 99' and my son's 00'. The pic is not my Jeep but the wires were tagged just as in the pic.
 
Last edited:
TJ4Jim said:
View attachment 21584
There should be 2 loose wires that are tagged "switched" and "unswitched" behind the glovebox and to the right. Pull the glovebox out and scan the area. They should be right there as they were on my 99' and my son's 00'. The pic is not my Jeep but the wires were tagged just as in the pic.
Click to expand...
I don't think this will apply to me.
IMG_5813.webp


Ranger_b0b said:
5 amps is nothing. I think the Cig adapter is fused at 10 or 20. If you want to run a new circuit, I'd skip the relay. You could use 18 ga wire... I check this site for wire sizes, following the "chassis wiring" column.

https://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
Click to expand...
Ok I am going to lay it out later but I believe I have a solid handle on it.
 
JamesAndTheSahara said:
Hey! I am undertaking a project of working towards getting all of my usb wires hidden inside my dash. I have 3 micro-usb cables & 1 lightning cable. I need to find a way to properly wire 4 USB ports into my TJ... I know USB is 5V and my TJ has a 12V supply. Listed below are the ways I see I could feasibly run this:
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > 12v to 5v Transformer > 4 Port USB hub (5v)
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > Relay > USB 12v to 5v power adapter (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XDSA82Q/?tag=wranglerorg-20)
  • Battery (12v) > ATC Fuse 20 > Common automobile power inverter (Would prefer to not go this way but I understand this is an option).
  • I could hot-wire the cigarette lighter port but I'd rather not try to run 4 always running USB devices off of it.
Misc: What gauge wire do I need to use? How would I determine the appropriate fuse size?

You can see I'm trying to learn here but really don't know what to do...
Click to expand...
This is what I installed.
Is this something that would work for you?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018ES4Y2E/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 

Similar threads

WesRJ86
USB port wired to battery question
Replies
10
Views
2,189
TJ General Discussion
WesRJ86
WesRJ86
P
Help needed with rocker switch wiring
Replies
5
Views
9,671
TJ General Discussion
PSUlion01
P
bagpiper22
Can a phone charger designed for a motorcycle be connected to a car battery?
Replies
4
Views
941
TJ General Discussion
jjvw
jjvw
N
No start issue
Replies
2
Views
637
TJ General Discussion
Nick344
N
Moab
Question for battery gurus
Replies
4
Views
1,250
Off-Topic
pagrey
P
Jeep Wrangler PCM and module repair and replacement
Top Bottom
Back