USB ports for power only?

[jimmirehman]

If i buy one of those PCI slot USB port things for computers (the ones that have a cable that runs from the motherboard) can i some how piggyback them off of something in my PT cruiser to simply provide power? I would rather install USB ports in my cruiser for chargeing devices rather than buying a bunch of stupid coiled car chargers for everything. any advice? I was thinking in that aera of the 07 cruiser's middle section where the hazard light button is. any thoughts instructions etc?

[jimmirehman]

for instance, i wanna take somethin like this and mount it into the cubby in the center dash and somehow have it draw power from the power outlet's power

[giantrobot]

No need to use a pci card. Get one of those cheap usb hubs ($18) and a car usb adapter($15). Wire it right in. Either mount in the dash if you want to cut or double sided tape under.

[zapwizard]

giantrobot has it right, either a external USB hub, or a internal drive-slot model as you have shown an image of will work. (They are the same electronics, different form factors)

The catch is that those need +5volts to work, and your car is 12 to 13.5volts.
So you need a 5-volt car adapter to run the hub. You can buy a RadioShack 5volt adapter that can put out about 1amp which is about what you need if you are charging 4 devices. I have taken them apart before and hardwired them into the car, rather then plug them into power outlet.

[jimmirehman]

This 5 Volt adapter at radio shack, it is a cigarette styled plug? can i some how use the unused molex connector (for another power outlet) found in the passenger window controls section to gain power to a USB hub then cut a whole in the center console and mount the USB hub that way?

[giantrobot]

I would just splice into one of the existing accessory lines. Cutting the dash could go good or bad. I would recommend having it done professionally.

[fritz_t_coyote]

Before you start feeding an unregulated 5 v 1 amp current into those Little Bitty rechargeable batteries...

You might want to install one of these:

DataSheet_AutoFX

Best bet is to start with a car usb charger , then feed the hub.

[giantrobot]

Originally Posted by fritz_t_coyote

Before you start feeding an unregulated 5 v 1 amp current into those Little Bitty rechargeable batteries...

You might want to install one of these:

DataSheet_AutoFX

Best bet is to start with a car usb charger , then feed the hub.

? Wasn't that what we were talking about? maybe I'm confused.