USB Ports in Smart

[letsgoskatepool]

hey cube, any update?

[ck_az]

I think this product or anything similar would be pretty easy to adapt.
Belkin : Flexible USB Cable Adapter

$8.99 at Fry's electronics. You would need to cut a hole just large enough to fit and then find a way to secure it. Not sure about glove box removal but you could just make some type of back for this and glue it to the back of the box or make 2 pieces and screw it in. I don't own an iPod, yet, so I am not super motivated to figure this out. I did buy this Belkin adapter to look at though. Color will almost match the glove box color. Making a small plate out of metal shouldn't be to difficult. If and when I ever complete this project I will post the results.

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by letsgoskatepool

hey cube, any update?

Actually, working on it right now. Posting from garage. Delay is due that I didn't like the way AC outlet is come out. Working on redesigning one.
Hopefully will have update in the next few days.


CUBE

[letsgoskatepool]

Sweeeeet. Thanks for being a guinea pig!

[cubefx]

Not DIY yet, but work in progress.....


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CUBE

[letsgoskatepool]

so nice... any reason the plastic cover thing does not cover the grounding hole? Also, quick ? about the USBs. Do both go to the radio, or is one for charging only?

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by letsgoskatepool

so nice... any reason the plastic cover thing does not cover the grounding hole? Also, quick ? about the USBs. Do both go to the radio, or is one for charging only?

This socket was not designed for use with 3 prong plugs. I did have a choice to make short adapter cable or just add grounding hole. I might modify lid to cover the hole. One USB port is just for charging.


CUBE

[ck_az]

Originally Posted by whalepirot

Do any of you USB wizards know if either of these can power an external 2.5" drive that will feed a radio USB input? The radio does not have enough current in the 5VDC supply to run anything more than a stick.

I know USBs can be daisy chained, but does that mean the power connections are separate and will not interfere with other, combined function, USB connections?

Thanks in advance.

Which radio? My Kenwood DDX512 is powering a 2.5" drive that I pulled from an old laptop and put into a case. I did have 1 cable that didn't provide enough juice. Strange but true. Only problem right now is that it is too d@mn hot in Phoenix to run the hd at the moment. I can use it when leaving the garage but after the car has been parked the thing is too hot. I have my mounted on a flat plastic piece under the dash to the right of the cigarette lighter. If you USB drive has the option for the usb plug and power maybe you can run it off of the cigarette lighter. Look at my previous post with the dual USB charger.

Fry's had a 8gb flash drive for $30 so that is my backup for now.

Good luck!

[ck_az]

While CubeFX takes it to another lever here is my simple install.

This is using the Belkin USB adapter from my previous post, $8.99 at Fry's Electronics.

Parts List:
- USB Adapter
- Scrap aircraft aluminum to create back plate
- two small screws

We cut the hole in the glove box, CAREFULLY with a Dremel grinding bit, just slightly smaller than the actual USB port. We then hand filed everything to make it smooth.

Sorry that I don't have a picture of the bracket we make. All we did was cut a hole in a piece of aluminum to fit the port. We then bent the metal around the port to secure it. We flattened the curve in the metal so there would be a smooth flat surface for the screws to go into.

We pushed the port from the back to the front and then drilled the screw holes. These holes are counter sunk by hand.

Put the screws in and you are done.

It is nice and secure so you don't have to worry about pulling or pushing a device into the port.

Pretty easy job and took less than an hour to complete. In the future I might make a faceplate to give it the 100% clean look. However, since it is in the glove box you really don't see it.







More boring pictures can be found here.

Slightly more details instructions can be found on my site: My Smart Web Site

Keep the ideas coming!
Chris

[arturo.vega]

Good Job!!!