So I'm going to be hardwiring my radar detector within the next couple weeks in order to clean up the dash area. I hate unnecessary wires when they could be hidden. It really doesnt help that the cigarette lighter/power source is right in the up high in the middle of the dash, so whenever you have something plugged in the wires are always in the way. This is almost worthless unless I can hardwire a USB charger for my iPhone too. However I haven't seen anything available for such an install. Has anyone ever done this? Whether it be an off the shelf kit or custom install, this is something I'd like to do.

 

if you're looking to be a bit hands on, i'd grab a usb cigarette adapter, gut it, hardwire one end to a 12v source and the other to a panel mounted usb plug. that way you're not stuck with a proprietary connector type and can charge a variety of other devices too. and since the usb port itself is pretty compact, you can hide it just about anywhere (center console comes to mind)

 

I had one of these hardwired in my truck, and will be installing it in my car sometime this weekend. Haven't figured out where to mount it yet (Preferably somewhere hidden out of sight), but it has a USB port that conveniently charges any number of devices.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Car-Ciga...-/260826458735

 

Could you wire this in http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Car-Ciga...-/260826458735 to the radio and come on with the ignition and hide it inside the center console. Not sure how well that will help but an idea.

 

You can either cannibalize a 12v cigarette adapter or get an adjustable usb board off of eBay.

eBay USB Adjustable Board

I bought two boards, had to run a resistor on the input + side (to step down from 12v to 6v for the board), used a dremel to make cutouts on the pass side of the console and mounted them. You just have to make sure that (for the iPhone), it needs to be 5v @ 1 amp. At this threshold, many different USB chargeable devices can be plugged in no problem.