12v socket in Drivers glovebox

[supersubby]

Hi all
I have just bought a 2013 Berlingo Enterprise and I am starting to fit back in all the stuff you need these days (phone charger sat nav etc)
I am not a great fan of the included smartnav (too many delays waiting for it to 'dial up' to re-route) so i am looking at a Garmin unit.

But my original question is has anyone attempted to fit a 12v socket in the drivers glove box (the one on the dash in front of the steering wheel)
This looks like a great position for a 12v socket as all the wiring to the accessories could be lost/hidden in the glovebox.

It all depends on how easy it would be to remove a panel to get access and if theres enough space for the socket to recess into.

i would be interested to know if anyone has tried this.

[Tonyash]

Awaiting reply on this myself, have thought this a good idea for some time, especially if fitted with a continuous live feed.
Hope solutions / answers come flooding in.

[DavethePestMan]

In order to keep this thread alive in the hope that someone can help, I've recently removed the lower trim sections and have run a power feed from the existing cigar socket over to the driver's footwell...but I'm a bit stuck getting it up into the glovebox. It looks like there's some clips inside this 'box that would (might?) allow it to come out so I can drill it for the cigar socket / power feed - but I'm not sure.
Anyone?

[ntm1275]

I would assume there is probably space for the cables to route to the underside of the compartment, but as you said "how do you get the box out" to get at the cables

Have you thought about doing it the other way round to save having to take out the dash/compartment?

Drill your hole for the socket and then attach your wires to an straightened out coat hanger or something similar and feed it through the hole until you can grab the cables
You may need to juggle the coat hanger around a bit until it finds a path that eventually leads you to where you can grab it
Then route them to the existing socket

Just a thought

[DavethePestMan]

I would assume there is probably space for the cables to route to the underside of the compartment, but as you said "how do you get the box out" to get at the cables

Have you thought about doing it the other way round to save having to take out the dash/compartment?

Drill your hole for the socket and then attach your wires to an straightened out coat hanger or something similar and feed it through the hole until you can grab the cables
You may need to juggle the coat hanger around a bit until it finds a path that eventually leads you to where you can grab it
Then route them to the existing socket

Just a thought

It'd certainly work but I'd be happier if I knew my new pair of wires were sure to be clear of any metal edges - there's a few of 'em down there and I'd rather avoid any chance of one shorting out because the insulation wears away due to vibrations.

[ntm1275]

Fair enough

The other option would be to slide some kind of protective sheath over from the top once the wires are available down below

[jamesg]

Have been thinking about doing something similar and adding USB sockets in both glove boxes. So watching with interest!

[DavethePestMan]

That's my intention James - but I found it was easier to simply buy an extension cigar socket & twin USB adapter from Maplin than is is to build my own convertor & fit USB ports!

[jamesg]

I have one of these that I was going to use.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-to-5V-Mini...3cccf7d764

But for some reason it wouldn't charge my phone (which is also my sat nav), fine with everything else I tried.

I had thought about connecting it to the fuse board with a piggyback fuse. Would still need a -ve from somewhere.

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Had my eye on these too, would look reasonably oem, but a little more pricey.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250919776652?_...EBIDX%3AIT

[DavethePestMan]

I like the dual port idea - that's neat and would look good mounted in the glovebox(s). Not so keen on the hardwired version: I'm using micro USB for the phone and this is a mini - what do you do when your next device changes to micro as well? Also, you're up a creek should the cable get damaged....

If you're looking for a -ve, try any metalwork you happen to come across in the car - it's all earthed back to the battery and seeing as you're not carrying audio or anything fancy, you won't suffer from earth loops or other abnormalities.

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By the way, I was going to use one of these:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12-24v-in-car-...r-1a-n97jz
and simply plug it into a flying cigar socket (also available from Maplin: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/car-accessory-socket-fe42v). This would then be left in the glovebox or, perhaps, velcroed to the wall of the box.