USB Car Charger to suit Polo

[Hilal]

I thought I'd share this with you all.

I've purchased several off eBay but all of them wouldn't let me close the flap when it was installed, this is the only one that I've had success with;

Mini CAR Cigarette Lighter TO USB Charger Adaptefor I Phone 3G 3GS 4 4G ON Sale | eBay

Its very similar to the Belkin one, not compatible with iPad but everything else! Enjoy!

For $1, cant go wrong.

[VW VR6]

I have same in my car from e-bay and work perfect.

[flat6]

Yep that will work fine, I have a similar one

Eventually when i get time im going to mount a USB charging port under the dash or glove box, just a matter of tapping into the back of the cigarette lighter and hooking it to a 5v 1amp fuse

[mikk]

i wouldn't bother with the fuse, the cigarette lighter circuit already has a fuse. not much point having a 2nd fuse in a hard to get to place.

[flat6]

You'd need the fuse to convert the 12v output to 5v, these plug chargers run the same internals

[noone]

A fuse to convert voltage?

The part listed above does just that, you could crack open the housing and use the guts to do it properly. The main issue with low voltage devices is they need a decent current (I think the new ipads use 2A). cheap electronics are not going to pass 5V at 2A, so charging takes longer with the newer toys.

[Guest001]

Yep that will work fine, I have a similar one

Eventually when i get time im going to mount a USB charging port under the dash or glove box, just a matter of tapping into the back of the cigarette lighter and hooking it to a 5v 1amp fuse

The unit would need 12V in and puts 5V out otherwise working on your theory you would only need a 5V fuse to get the conversion and save buying the unit. If you put a fuse in the line it will need to be a 12V 1.5 amp fuse as it says on the Ebay listing it draws up to 1.2 amps
If you intend just to run a USB socket off the Ciggy circuit you will still need a stepdown to get 5 volts.
Otherwise you may end up with a cloud of smoke and not much else.

Usb sockets in computers come off the 5v rail as does some of the power for HDD,s

[csimpson]

I use one of the Belkin ones - got it free - and it's a perfect fit under the cover. Works fine to charge my phone, I just keep a cable in the ashtray, and works fine to power the USB 3G wifi stick I have with me all the time. This is a bargain at $1...

[pontiff]

I use one of the Belkin ones - got it free - and it's a perfect fit under the cover. Works fine to charge my phone, I just keep a cable in the ashtray, and works fine to power the USB 3G wifi stick I have with me all the time. This is a bargain at $1...

I too have had success with belkin ones, they seem to be the most reliable from the myriad that i have also tried. RRP they are not cheap if you walked into JB or whatever to get them, but if you can find one cheap (a real one, not a knock off) then you will be set, and they sit nicely.

[JustCruisn]

Try this recent thread

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f128/can-you-install-diy-built-usb-charger-84170.html