Phone Charger?

I'd install a cigarette lighter socket and install a dual high powered USB charger. 

Having the socket allows other accessories to be used, it's more flexible than a dedicated USB port. 

Something similar to this will work.

http://amzn.to/2bqmdVF

I would just run the positive wire with 12 guage, directly to the battery with, fuse as close to the battery as possible.

-=theron

You could also get a classic looking one... Knobs will match lighter, and install under the dash.  ( mine came with a simple L shaped bracket for simple install...  As Theron said...simple install

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...ode=ACC%2DC10%2D1263

I may have a picture of my install... Will look for it and revert later today.

you can also find these at your local Napa/autozone/ O'Rileys... With a simple black lighter button or black cap ( no lighter)... Saving your self shipping cost.

good luck.

This is helpful. Thanks.

Theron, I suspect you've already brought wiring to the cabin to get to the radio. Should I really add another set of wires? Or daisy chain onto the radio wires?

rmac posted:

This is helpful. Thanks.

Theron, I suspect you've already brought wiring to the cabin to get to the radio. Should I really add another set of wires? Or daisy chain onto the radio wires?

You really should wire the charger directly to the battery with 12 gauge wire and an inline fuse. That way if you want to run anything heavier than a charger you can.

I wired my power port primarily for a heated blanket for my wife who gets cold much faster than I do. The blanket draws more power and will overload a charger installed with wires that are too small or jumped over from the radio.

The heavy wire is easily brought into the cabin via the hole where the hinges are at or there may be an existing hole in the wall between the cabin and the frunk (front-trunk). It's a simple two-wire install with the hot lead going directly to the battery and the ground going to a good ground or the battery.

Don't forget the fuse!

An unfused heavy gauge wire led straight to the battery will come back to bite you. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but some day when you least suspect it.

It may not be a bad idea to run this wire through a heavy-duty (20-30 amp) relay that's switched on and off from the accessory position on your ignition switch. That way the power port isn't hot when you leave the car, and you won't kill the battery if you forget to unplug whatever you've plugged into it.

Yep, run a separate line from the battery with it's own fuse.

My VS came with a lighter socket. I didn't even ask for it.

It was mounted back under the dash a little and you cannot see it unless you look under there so maybe you already have one?......Bruce

That is how I mounted mine. It's far enough under to not be so noticeable, but close enough to be useful.

Found an old picture of the lighter instal.....

mounted under the dash, 5" to the right of the radio. ( though the angle of the picture makes it look closer. ), screwed right to the steel cross beam.  Tapped two small holes to attach with the small L braket that came with the lighter.

lighter socket is spray painted black to make it less visible... high temp engine paint, flat.   Knob matches all other VW car knobs.  You really can't see it unless you are looking for it under the dash.

I hard wired it to the battery, through the ignition accessory position, with a fuse.  ( so when the key is off, the lighter is not hot.)

Good luck!

There are two ways of looking at how you wire in an auxiliary outlet like this.

One way is how Luis did it, with the outlet dead when the key is "off", so that when you get out and walk away, you don't have to worry about whether anything is still "on".  Peace of mind is a good thing.  That is how I have my power point wired and when I use my old, tired-battery GPS it works fine when driving, but goes dead when ever I leave the car.  I've learned to live with it, but it also can not be used as a place to attach a trickle charger.  Keep that in mind if you store your car over the winter.

OTOH, you could wire it as "always on" with a fused line, and then the power point could be used as a charging point for a trickle charger.  If you're not comfortable with that, most of the trickle chargers come with a selection of attachment accessories like a cigarette lighter plug, a pair of alligator clips and a 2-pin connector with pigtail leads.  I installed one of the 2-pin connectors as an "always on" connection to provide an easy attachment for the charger.  Best of both worlds.

Mine is wired hot so I can pre-heat my right-seater's electric blanket on cool nights when we go out for dinner.  Before the bill comes I step out and plug in the blanket. By the time we pay the bill and come out the blanket is warm. I still need to let the car warm for a few minutes before we leave but those blankets can take some time to warm up.