DIY extra power outlet
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DIY extra power outlet
What do you all think of my little idea on adding an extra power outlet to the console. It always bugged me that with my radar detector plugged in, I never had an outlet for my cell phone charger or my laptop. So last week while browsing Majestic Honda's site, I ordered the parts to install another OEM outlet in the car. Not bad for $25.99 !!
Here's the link to the site to order the parts. You will need 1 ea. Cap Assy (item #5) and 1 ea. Socket Assy (item #6):
Majestic Honda parts breakdown
Take the lower center cover out by removing the two plastic clips on the side of the center console and pushing down hard on each corner to expose the screws that hold the lower center cover in place. Remove the two screws and then pull hard to take the lower center cover out. Disconnect the connector that plugs into the back of the existing power outlet so you can take it out of the car and work with it. I located a spot exactly in between the foglight switch or dummy switch panel and the existing power outlet and drilled a 1" hole for the outlet, got a dremel with a barrell sander bit to enlarge the hole just a hair (1/32) to get a good tight fit. The cap assy has a small square notch for alignment that you can file the plasic down with a small square file. The black cover just snaps in the hole and the socket inserts into the cap assy. The socket has two male spade connectors, so I made 6" pieces of wire with a female spade on one end and scotch spliced it into the wiring for the existing outlet. Took all of 30 minutes !!
Here's the link to the site to order the parts. You will need 1 ea. Cap Assy (item #5) and 1 ea. Socket Assy (item #6):
Majestic Honda parts breakdown
Take the lower center cover out by removing the two plastic clips on the side of the center console and pushing down hard on each corner to expose the screws that hold the lower center cover in place. Remove the two screws and then pull hard to take the lower center cover out. Disconnect the connector that plugs into the back of the existing power outlet so you can take it out of the car and work with it. I located a spot exactly in between the foglight switch or dummy switch panel and the existing power outlet and drilled a 1" hole for the outlet, got a dremel with a barrell sander bit to enlarge the hole just a hair (1/32) to get a good tight fit. The cap assy has a small square notch for alignment that you can file the plasic down with a small square file. The black cover just snaps in the hole and the socket inserts into the cap assy. The socket has two male spade connectors, so I made 6" pieces of wire with a female spade on one end and scotch spliced it into the wiring for the existing outlet. Took all of 30 minutes !!
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From: OKC, Oklahoma, US
Rep Power: 0 That is a pretty good idea .... and he just said why so he can plug his phone and radar detector or lap top or whatever at the same time... oh why dont you check out the mega diy thread in tech and just hard wire your radar detector?
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From: TEXAS, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 I always drive with my radar detector plugged in one socket. And want to have an extra outlet for the cell phone or laptop for when I travel. I would have hard wired the radar detector to the dome light power, but it's an Passport 8500 and has that smart cord. I'm still trying to work that one out.
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From: BAY AREA, California, US
Rep Power: 0 if i were u, id figure out a way to just splice a power wire going through your dash, and just splice the power wire to the radar detector power wire. seems much cleaner look, and if u get creative, u can figure out a way to have a quick release plug feature if u decide to unhook ur radar detector. just my $.02
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From: TEXAS, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 BLUENVY01 - the Passport 8500 has a smart cord that has the mute control and an alert light in the plug. I looked at hard wiring the power, but would loose the mute and alert function of the plug. They do however make another power plug setup with the remote alert and mute function. I'm looking at modifying that setup.
ASIANPRIDE - I located a spot exactly in between the foglight switch and existing power outlet and drilled a 1" hole for the outlet, got a dremel with a barrell sander bit to enlarge the hole just a hair (1/32) to get a good tight fit. The cap assy has a small square notch for alignment that you can file the plasic down with a small square file. The black cover just snaps in the hole and the socket inserts into the cap assy. The socket has two male spade connectors, so I made 6" pieces of wire with a female spade on one end and scotch spliced it into the wiring for the existing outlet. Took all of 30 minutes !!
ASIANPRIDE - I located a spot exactly in between the foglight switch and existing power outlet and drilled a 1" hole for the outlet, got a dremel with a barrell sander bit to enlarge the hole just a hair (1/32) to get a good tight fit. The cap assy has a small square notch for alignment that you can file the plasic down with a small square file. The black cover just snaps in the hole and the socket inserts into the cap assy. The socket has two male spade connectors, so I made 6" pieces of wire with a female spade on one end and scotch spliced it into the wiring for the existing outlet. Took all of 30 minutes !!
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From: TEXAS, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 SatinSilver2K1 - you like my wood trim ? I just got some treated fence pickets and glued them on ![IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
Actually the only digital camera I have attaches to my palm pilot and you have to be in full sun for it to even work, so I figured I'd hang it on the fence to get the shot.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
Actually the only digital camera I have attaches to my palm pilot and you have to be in full sun for it to even work, so I figured I'd hang it on the fence to get the shot.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
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From: Toronto, home of the Leafs!!!, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 mine is sorta like an extension type...
one plug o-------------------this is a wire btw--------------oooo four outlets
get it?
[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
one plug o-------------------this is a wire btw--------------oooo four outlets
get it?
[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] 
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 << mine is sorta like an extension type...
one plug o-------------------this is a wire btw--------------oooo four outlets
get it?
[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] >>FOUR outlets?!
Dang....what the hell would you need four outlets for? cell phone..... and 3 vibrators?! 
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From: Toronto, home of the Leafs!!!, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 ya I am... I didn't bother about hardwiring them before... I might consider doing that... actually, the plugs on two of them has a switch so it's not that inconvenient
when you say I ought to, do you mean I ought to because it's more convenient or because it's safer?
when you say I ought to, do you mean I ought to because it's more convenient or because it's safer?
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From: TEXAS, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 conveinence (one on-off switch) and for looks (hiding wires and such). I don't think that they are pulling more power than the socket can handle, so there isn't any electrical hazard.
The Nightraid crew - Sensible Ownage
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From: West Lafayette, Indiana
Rep Power: 316 It's not a bad idea...seems a bit pricey tho...especially since you can get the whole thing at Wal-Mart for like $7...or you can just get the extra lighter for $5...but that's just me.
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HEY! You're all making it a lot more difficult that it should be! A simple 5 minute installation of a 1-4 adapter is what I put in my car to add extra outlets. I ran the wire for the adapter right underneath the center console. So, there is a plug in the outlet, then the wire is tucked into the space between the dash and center console. If you need to access it fairly frequently, you can just tuck it back behind the center console panel on either side by the driver's or passenger's feet. I have mine connected to neons, so it goes back inside the center console and is sitting right next to the e-brake, inside the console.(that piece of th econsole is held in by tabs, so a good wuick pull will pop it off, just need the e-brake pulled up). e-mail me at manahoonie@yahoo.com for pics!
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From: SoCal
Rep Power: 0 Also frustrated by power outlet location.
I did this a while back since I hated it when couldn't use my power outlet with a drink in my cup holder. Also, there are times when I like to use more than one accessory, and needed another plug but wanted something cleaner than a multi outlet adapter. The only place I could find that would somewhat appear to look like a factory install with enough room for the hardware was in back of the center console above the rear cupholder.
