DIY: Add wireless charging pad in the cabin for your smartphone

[xxaarraa]

I just completed installing wireless charging pads for my smartphone and wanted to do a write-up to share with you guys.

Requirements / Baseline:

• I use my smartphone quite a bit for navigation in the car and wanted a seamless, hard-wired solution for it to be charging while being used (GPS use sucks up a lot of juice)
• Even when not using GPS, I wanted to be able to dock the phone and not have to fiddle with a cord I had to plug in each time. Docking should mean charging, with zero effort.
• I am constantly picking it up and taking photos or talking etc. and plugging/unplugging each time proved to be a huge hassle (which prompted this whole project in the first place).

Here are the parts I ordered:

• Proclip vent mount. ProClip Center Mount*-*ProClip USA
• Proclip universal device mount (medium). Medium Universal Adjustable ProClip Holder T1*-*ProClip USA
• Dual USB cigarette lighter adapter. Amazon.com: iFlash Dual USB Car Lighter Charger Adapter with 3A Output - fast Heavy Duty Ouput - Black Color: Cell Phones & Accessories
• Aux twin power outlet (for hardwiring) Amazon.com: Custom Accessories 10242 Auxiliary Twin Power Outlet: Automotive
• QI wireless charging pad (mini) for phone. http://www.ebay.com/itm/400562881904?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
• Random wire splitters, connectors, 18 gauge wire, zip ties, etc.

Installation Notes:

• I am not covering the steps on how to install the Proclip vent mount - pretty straightforward.
• I wanted the whole setup to be modular. i.e., have the ability to swap out the charging pad later on for different voltage/design, swap out cables in case I go to a device that is not micro-USB, as well as have the ability to swap between 2A and 1A outlets on the USB charger socket.
• I wanted it all to be hardwired so I that I don’t have to fiddle with cables and plugging in each device each time I get in and out of the car.
• First, I spliced the cigarette lighter socket and juiced my dual aux input tray.

• Then I just tucked the dual outlet tray behind the center console

Also, clearly, for this to work, your smartphone/tablet needs to support wireless or induction charging. Many of the modern devices do nowadays (except apple, cough cough), but in case they don’t here is a neat solution that I used on my old phone (Galaxy S4 mini):

Qi Wireless Universal Charger Receiver Pad Coil with Micro USB Head for Samsung | eBay

Edited November 23, 2013 by xxaarraa