Change original lighter socket to usb

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by DriftingBear, Jan 11, 2021.

  1. Hi, I want to change the existing original lighter socket to usb for charging laptop etc. Can anyone give me a dummies guide to what I need to do?! Thanks :)
     

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  2. Easy route... Plug one of these into it.[​IMG]

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  3. That looks like one of the original Westfalia plugs. Quite sought after - do you really want to get rid of it? You can wire a USB charger in somewhere else (like under the dash).
     
    PanZer likes this.
  4. If it works, keep it. Quite a few useful things have plugs to go in to a socket like that.
    I’m actually going to install one for that reason.


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  5. Little Nellie

    Little Nellie Supporter

    Probably a good idea, but my radio has USB socket so easy way out - I also intend to start smoking - I’ve heard it’s good for you
     
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  6. Thanks, I’d like to keep it, but wondered if there was something that plugged straight into it. Will that Griffin adapter plug straight in?
     
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  7. Yep, it fits standard cigarette lighter sockets and looks almost flush once in place too.

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  8. If your plug is the Westfalia DIN-style plug, a standard fag lighter won’t fit into it.
     
    Iain McAvoy, paradox and Adrian1975 like this.
  9. Ah, apologies.. I had no idea they were not standard!

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  10. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor

    As your dash is munched I would just swap that directly for a usb, much more useful, straight fit to the wiring that power that one
     
  11. It's a bit of Westy oddness. They are much better than the standard wobbly fag lighter things, tho'
     
  12. You will struggle to charge a laptop via USB. I have a few USB sockets in my bus now, they're really really handy with family and friends in the bus, but only really for phones, fans, disco lights :) etc It is possible to charge a laptop via USB, and I do it myself with my Surface Pro 3 laptop, but I needed to buy a special lead and adaptor for the laptop which cost me £40.

    If you want to power your laptop, might be easier to buy a simple power inverter (you can buy from halfrauds or ebay etc) as it converts 12v to 240v, and gives you a normal household plug, then you use your normal charger. A small 100W inverter should be ok. Laptops generally draw around 20W-50W.

    An inverter will plug into your lighter socket, but I'd be scared of the original wiring, so just buy one that simply attaches to the leisure battery direct.

    Hope that helps.

    Jim
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  13. A laptop will charge at about 500mA, which is pretty weedy.
     
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  15. I have a DIN type socket in my bus, looks factory fit or at least contemporary, early 70s - which is maybe a bit odd as mine was a kombi, converted by Devon. Anyway, this is the set up I use, it's maybe a bit vulnerable to knocks but for me it's the best of all worlds in that I get to keep some 'originality' plus have the option to use either the std 12v DIN, cig lighter socket or 5v USB.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  16. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Laptop charging via USB - the chargers using USB3 cables will generally have power converters in them that talk to the laptop and then wind the voltage up to 19 volts to get the power through without burning out the wiring.

    In the old days you could buy "flight adaptors" that stepped up from 12 volts to 19 volts for more traditional laptops that just take in 19 volts. These plugged into the cigar lighter sockets provided on some planes so you could light your cigarettes without using naked flames...

    Although it is inefficient to step up and step down again, its much easier to provide an inverter.

    Its just a pity that the 600 watt inverter/ 10 amp leisure battery charger / 12 volt supply I have in my bus which cost £65 is no longer available it seems. It has a mains socket on both ends - if you put mains in, it connects that to the output socket, and charges the 12 volt leisure battery. If you turn on the inverter switch, it produces 230V AC regardless of whether the hookup power is connected, either charging the battery or draining it depending on the presence of hookup mains power . All in one box.
    It was called a "Solar Power Inverter" . There are bigger, heavier, more expensive solutions on eBay these days..
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Sin...368808?hash=item4d92eb30e8:g:xAgAAOSwHjNV~BA~
     
  17. I had a 500mA adaptor and the phone barely charged at all overnight.
    It's best to get a QC (Quick Charge protocol) adaptor / socket. This allows compatible devices such as smart phones to charge much more quickly and safely.

    [​IMG]
     
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