Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Hi all. My front 12v socket has been playing upon my 53plate 1.8 tdci Focus, so I thought it about time that I took this I hand. The usb adapters keep switching on and off with every bump in the road. When I bought the focus, the first thing I did was fit my cheap Kenwood stereo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 This is the fascia adapter - Nightmare for my stubby little fingersomething trying to prise anything from the bottom recess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 I did something similar years ago with one from the pound shop in my old Astra, for the rear passengers, but now I need something more powerful. So I found a 2.4 amp x3 USB adapter, total 7.2 amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 And some 26mm A4 ABS sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Hardwired the USB adapter. Soldered wires directly to both earth connectors and live on the usb adapter. Made safe with heat shrink and electrical self amalgam in tape (I hate cheap sticky electrical tape as the glue melts) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Firstly I made a template from card. The inside gets narrower as it gets nearer the bottom, and the front isn't square versus the inside, so everything is at a slight aNike. Cut the ABS sheet to fit across the gap in the fascia adapter with a Stanley knife and a cutting disc. Finished edges with files and the due of the Stanley knife. Cut slots, so the bits slot all together. Bent it to shape using a (paint striping) heat gun. Glued it with Pipe weld glue. I don't normally get on well with glues, but this was spot on and it set solid. It's a solvent cement type glue so effectively melts the bits together - nicely of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Testing the fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Make room for the cables to pass through the fascia adapter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Test fitting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Finished fitting. Wiring - power - it was easy to run a cable behind the fascia,around the air pipes, back to the fuse box behind the glove box. For earth I tapped into the stereo earth. Just waiting for delivery of a piggy back fuse, for ease of wiring to the fuse box. Tip - test the terminals on the fuse box first to the make sure the piggy back is fitted the right way around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Total cost? About £10 -£15 (Less than a fiver if using a usb adapter from a pound shop) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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