# Car Geeks how would you do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664 "2013-11-11T19:09:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664/1 "2013-11-11T19:09:28Z")
I have a “standard” 2013 Rav-4 with the basic radio/cd. It has one USB port in the seat console and two 12V ports one in the arm rest one in the dash. What I want to do is add 3 USB outlets for power only providing 1. USB port in Glove Box 2. USB port in top of dash by windshield 3. Second USB port in seat console Anyone have suggestions on where to go? I was looking at [this hub](http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Mountable-Rugged-Industrial-ST4200USBM/dp/B001H7AFO6/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1335139549&sr=1-6) unless there is a better alternative. With this setup I want to be able to charge my passenger’s phone, an android phone mounted to the window, my iPhone 5s and my iPad. The 5s is connected over BT to my radio because it’s in a Morphie Juicepack enclosure so the port on the phone can only be used for power. I would have to hire someone to do the installation because I have no faith in my skills to do this myself. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664/2 "2013-11-11T19:17:10Z")
Something like [this](http://diggloving.com/product_info.php?language=en¤cy=USD&products_id=1762). Or [this](http://www.focalprice.com/IP4154B/Cactus_Design_4.2A_3_USB_Ports_Car_Charger_Black.html) if you want some cute factor. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664/3 "2013-11-11T19:20:07Z")
In my younger days I would have done something along the lines of what you’re thinking, but I seem to get constantly burned by shifting technology. I built a custom cradle for my wife’s iPod classic. Two years later it was useless. So now my solutions tend to be minimally invasive. To that end, I would get something like [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CMKS3E6/ref=s9_simh_gw_p422_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0XVGC3402SK0SJ23FY05&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1630083502&pf_rd_i=507846) that you can just plug into your armrest. Measure how long you need your USB cables to be and then pick some up on monoprice. Run them as best you can without dismantling the dash completely. ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664/4 "2013-11-11T19:56:39Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > In my younger days I would have done something along the lines of what you’re thinking, but I seem to get constantly burned by shifting technology. I built a custom cradle for my wife’s iPod classic. Two years later it was useless. So now my solutions tend to be minimally invasive. To that end, I would get something like [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CMKS3E6/ref=s9_simh_gw_p422_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0XVGC3402SK0SJ23FY05&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1630083502&pf_rd_i=507846) that you can just plug into your armrest. Measure how long you need your USB cables to be and then pick some up on monoprice. Run them as best you can without dismantling the dash completely. That’s perfect. I just need to find someone who can do the install on it. I’d have it put behind the dash with a second 12V outlet spliced in then the USB cables run to where I want them. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-geeks-how-would-you-do-this/673664/5 "2013-11-12T04:14:12Z")
> [@MannyL](#): > > That’s perfect. I just need to find someone who can do the install on it. I’d have it put behind the dash with a second 12V outlet spliced in then the USB cables run to where I want them. Check the current draw before you do this as a plug in. I’ve blown the fuse on the power outlet and discovered (at 4 am on the highway) that the engine computer was also on that fuse.