iPod and TomTom, not enough power outlets!
Discussion
The inside of my car is starting to look a bit like mission control, with a Belkin iPod dock, TomTom and Parrot 3200 car kit all cluttering things up. Problem is, I bought the iPod dock in the USA and only realised after getting it home that it will take up the cigarette lighter socket that the TomTom needs.
A double adapter in the socket is not really an option, but perhaps hardwiring the TomTom to the car's wiring loom (picking up on where the phone kit goes in) might be an option. Short of buying a genuine TomTom cigarette lead and chopping it up has anyone got any other ideas how to do this?
I don't want to chop my existing lead as the unit does get used in other cars by the way.
Thanks in advance!
A double adapter in the socket is not really an option, but perhaps hardwiring the TomTom to the car's wiring loom (picking up on where the phone kit goes in) might be an option. Short of buying a genuine TomTom cigarette lead and chopping it up has anyone got any other ideas how to do this?
I don't want to chop my existing lead as the unit does get used in other cars by the way.
Thanks in advance!
Not permanently, but when I go on the EuroHoons and I need power outlets for bullet cam, video cam, TomTom etc I purchased from maplins 1 x male 12v socket and about 4 female ones......I then run the cable from the one male in the car's socket to the foot of the passenger well and there plug in everything. It's not mega tidy, but it does the trick.
Perhaps you could do something similar but a bit more permanent?
Perhaps you could do something similar but a bit more permanent?
Ive got one of those 4 into one adapters too, about a tenner in Halfords.
Cut off the end that goes into the cigar lighter and wired it into the radio input so it only goes live when the ignition is on. The 4 outlets are secreted behind the panel under the steering wheel. All the gizmos are then plugged in normally with wires running out near the A pillar. All goes off when the ignition is off so no battery darin and also the orginal cigar lighter is still available.
If I need to use anything in another car its just a minute to undo and drop the panel and unplug.
Cut off the end that goes into the cigar lighter and wired it into the radio input so it only goes live when the ignition is on. The 4 outlets are secreted behind the panel under the steering wheel. All the gizmos are then plugged in normally with wires running out near the A pillar. All goes off when the ignition is off so no battery darin and also the orginal cigar lighter is still available.
If I need to use anything in another car its just a minute to undo and drop the panel and unplug.
Hello mate...problem is the iPod dock has a rubber collar that fits tightly round the male part of the connection and snugly in the female bit to keep it upright and stop it flopping about (and if you can think of a way to write that without it sounding pervy be my guest!) So it must be in the car dash and not in an adaptor.
Not my car here but you get the idea...
Not my car here but you get the idea...
Heh heh I see......
I have the same problem with the Ipod. The Tomtom and Snooper etc are all powered off the arrangement under the dash. I use one of those Griffin Road Trip things which like yours has to sit in the cigar lighter.
The only way I could figure to move it from there was to permenently fix another 1 into 4 adapter on the passenger side of the centre console and again wire it into the radio circuit . The adapter I got did come with heavy duty double sided sticky things and pop out eyes to put screws through if you wanted to make it more permenent. I did size it up but it looked messy so didnt bother.
I have the same problem with the Ipod. The Tomtom and Snooper etc are all powered off the arrangement under the dash. I use one of those Griffin Road Trip things which like yours has to sit in the cigar lighter.
The only way I could figure to move it from there was to permenently fix another 1 into 4 adapter on the passenger side of the centre console and again wire it into the radio circuit . The adapter I got did come with heavy duty double sided sticky things and pop out eyes to put screws through if you wanted to make it more permenent. I did size it up but it looked messy so didnt bother.
Moreymach that's not a bad idea actually. In fairness at the moment the iPod is very close to my left knee and that's putting it as close as I can so it does not obscure the Bora's rather cluttereed centre console.
If the adaptor does fix permanently to the dash I could put it over the passenger side out of the way, plus as you say if you wire it to the radio then the belkin power and the TomTom power lights will go out, thereby not inviting theives to have a poke round even if the expensive bits have been removed.
PH collective saves the day again!
If the adaptor does fix permanently to the dash I could put it over the passenger side out of the way, plus as you say if you wire it to the radio then the belkin power and the TomTom power lights will go out, thereby not inviting theives to have a poke round even if the expensive bits have been removed.
PH collective saves the day again!
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