Adding Auxilary Power DIY

Most people will be able to take a couple looks at the end results and be able to see what's been done, but I've tried to take a lot of pictures so that anyone could follow along exactly if they don't feel confident in figuring it out. modifications like this, are definitely at your own risk, and it's definitely your own fault if you somehow mess up your car trying to follow these instructions.


I've had this idea for a while now, and finally made some progress on it.

I have a Garmin and hate having the cord to charge it strung across the car, and hate having to remember to charge it as well.

to fix this, I've added a power cord directly between a fuse box and the Garmin, with the wires tucked away.

I've also added a USB hub inside of the storage compartment between the seats.

I didn't want to cut into any of the actual adapters, so the only reel thing that I've cut into was a cheap pigtail cigarette lighter multiplug and the inside of the storage console.

I'll try to describe the garmin power first and the USB hub in a separate post.


things I used

adapter that came with the garmin
cheap cigarette lighter splitter multiplug
add a circuit/ fuse tap
wire to send to the ground
electrical tape
electrical eyelet/ ring terminal for the ground wire

first step would be to disassemble the cheap cigarette multiplug


after I had the female ends of the plug free, I attached the middle positive wire to the fuse tap wire.

I like my garmin to sit on the left of the instrument cluster, so the wiring will be running from the door rubber to the fuse box just below that area. I used a guide wire to help get it strung through


then I stuffed the adapter part of the cable into that opening connected to the newly modified end of the cigarette lighter plug.



then I connected some wire to the negative section and strung it to the floor board so it could meet a screw that is currently the ground for a number of other electrical things.

Added: Jun 27, 2014 3:34 AM
after connecting the ground, I connected the fuse tap. that fuse box conveniently has the fuse for the cigarette lighter, so by using that one, the garmin will only get power when the car is on and won't drain my car battery. this picture DOES NOT SHOW THE RIGHT FUSE TO USE. I fixed it after I noticed the power was constant for that one.
Added: Jun 27, 2014 3:34 AM

finished result!


sorry for the sideways pictures!

YES! I absolutely hate how the cupholder seems to be in the worst place in our cars.

I had put a USB hub inside the storage thing between the seats for that, but I need to redo the wiring. ( something fried )

I've been thinking for the last year about how I can fix our terrible cupholders. if you have a drink in there, it will block your charging cables and the storage box, or block your radio if you have it put in there. if you try to move the cupholders up to where the original radio is set, the drinks will then block the air vents.

my idea is to cut up the plastic directly in front of the shifter, and find a way to dremel in a couple of these



I'm aiming for the big kind, but from what I can see, I may need to cut the fins on both sides of that center console. I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that yet.

+1 i hate where they put the cigarette lighter connector in the worst spot ever....

I had an idea to do something like this a while back when i use to use my dads gps