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Jerry L
03-18-2017, 06:33 AM
I know there are a lot of us that wish there were more than one power outlet in these little cars. I was always struggling to swap around the plug-in for my phone charger, radar detector, GPS, and then if I had a passenger that needed to charge their phone, well, it was bedlam! The purpose of this post is to show how I added a four circuit AUX fuse box to my car and hard-wired some of my devices to it, and then added another power outlet in the center console. The parts I bought were all sourced at the local Autozone store. I had most of everything else. (The connectors, wire, etc)

Parts list.

1 Four circuit fuse panel. (Could be more if you need more)
2 12 volt relay. (Like for a horn or something with a lot of draw is best)
3 Add-a-fuse tap. (You've seen these just about everywhere for adding accessories to your OEM fuse box)
4 12 volt power outlet. (Like the old cigarette lighter socket)

That's it!

There isn't a lot of room in these little cars, but I found a bit of space behind the dash. There is a panel that pops off on the end of the dashboard when you have the drivers door open. I ran a pretty heavy wire to the battery and fused it right at the terminal, & then ran it thru the firewall to that location behind the dash.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c286694b1a00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112747326.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Above is the battery connection. Obviously, I removed the fuse during construction to prevent any smoke from escaping the circuitry. :)

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c244464b5400000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112703967.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Above is the new fuse box.

I wired up the 12 V relay to the new fuse box like so... The new fuse panel shuts down when the key is turned off since the trigger wire, from the "add-a-fuse" is wired into the OEM fuse box in a location that is switched. Through trial & error I found one that worked the way I wanted it to work.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c349602ba000000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112711751.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I have my radar detector mounted between the seats where that useless little "air blocker" thingy lives. I removed that thing and mounted my radar detector there. I can hear it there just fine, even with the top down, but it's hard to reach the power off button, so I added a 12 V SPST lighted switch in the dashboard where the passenger airbag switch lives. I just popped out the blank and popped in the switch. It was too bright, so I added some red nail polish to darken it a bit. Kept adding coat after coat until I was happy with it.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c3ff60aacb00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112642025.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

And...

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c286ef4b9c00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112641419.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Just cram it all in there behind the panel...

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c354de6b8800000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112623569.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The next thing I did was install the new power outlet in the center console. I won't bother with explaining how to get the center console out since it is probably already covered elsewhere in this forum. Suffice it to say, the window switches were b1tches! :D

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c3d7412bce00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112614434.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c238684b4400000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112557603.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

While I had my center console out I thought it best to mount my RAM mount ball for my GPS cradle. Yeah, I'm not using a smart phone for a GPS. I already had this Garmin Zumo 450 that I was using on my Goldwing, it still works great, it was expensive, and I'm not going to just toss it out. Deal with it. :mrgreen:

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c3229b6bf600000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112531340.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Here's a shot of it in a finished state...

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c3db5f2bd600000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112424710.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

And the radar detector... (Valentine One)

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c32620ea7f00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112452133.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2cf30b3127ccef1c3d290eab500000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120121111112351200.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I am using the V1 "remote display" mounted front and center just above the "oh-so-useful" oil pressure gauge. I can still see it well enough.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6db29b3127cceec44f0ef62d800000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120160508235311754.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

V1 Mounting tray. It was removed from the Wing and modified to fit here.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6db29b3127cceec459f67838300000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120160508235228314.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The best part about having it mounted here is that nobody expects it to be there so it goes mostly un-noticed. With the top down, no one sees it there, and with the top up, it is virtually invisible. (Got a pretty dark tint on the rear glass)

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6db29b3127cceec45f53a83eb00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120160508235317306.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Ya can't even see it, right?

So to recap, the four new circuits supply power for the V1, the Garmin, the new outlet in the center console and the last one for my GMRS radio.

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6d720b3127cceed569de47d5a00000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120160901103810929.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

It took a little work but was able to mount the magnetic base right here...

https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6d720b3127cceed568b12fc9700000030O00AYtXLhu2bsW wPbz4W/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00601767895120160901103803339.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

That's all there is to it! Enjoy!:8):

tsingson
03-18-2017, 09:16 AM
Awesome write up. I know this will definitely help out a lot of people.

NCGreasemonkey
03-18-2017, 04:29 PM
Love all the write-ups Jerry!

Glad you are here with us!

Peace fellow nut!

Jerry L
03-18-2017, 04:31 PM
Love all the write-ups Jerry!

Glad you are here with us!

Peace fellow nut!

Thank you, sir! Glad to be here!