USB socket in dash solutions? show me yours!

**seventynine** · 05-18-2009, 12:59 PM

after putting a connects2 device to my golf, i want to run a USB socket either on the dash or in the ashtray.

i searched and found this:

http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=7299

which looks alright for the astray but i wouldn't want it mounted on the dashboard.

what have people done in the past? is it a simple case of getting a hole cut to the right size and glueing it behind the panel? surely theres something better out there?

**Santanya** · 05-19-2009, 01:54 PM

Indash isn't that hard really. It just consists of cutting the right sized hole somewhere that you can get the hardware behind.

What I did was take the front connector package off a standard computer. This included 2 audio connections and 2 USB connections. In addition, I stole the wiring that connected it all. I then just hooked inline 1/8" stereo jacks onto the audio connector wire, and a USB cable end onto the end of the usb. After epoxying the little board in place, using a little filler and paint, it ended up looking like this:

**phuz** · 05-19-2009, 02:01 PM

The round bubble (because I know some people will ask!) is my re-located IR sensor for the touch screen, so I could retain use of the remote control, if need be.

**seventynine** · 05-19-2009, 02:16 PM

how did you mount the socket to the back? something like this would be prone to breaking off right?

**Santanya** · 05-19-2009, 02:20 PM

I was lucky enough to have the little tray there really with my install. The board fit down flush against it, then I just mixed up some epoxy and poured it all around it. There's about a 1/4" of epoxy in the piece to hold it in.

That said, its probably overkill. You want a good strong glue to hold it in. Elmer's won't cut it.

I would suggest the epoxy route though. You don't have to go overboard, just get a strong connection.

**phuz** · 05-19-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by seventynine

how did you mount the socket to the back? something like this would be prone to breaking off right?

I roughed up the back of the plastic, and used 2-part epoxy. Trust me, it's not going anywhere!

**seventynine** · 05-20-2009, 06:50 AM

it would have been nice to have a one stop solution, something that looked factory out of the box. i don't mind digging out the fiberglass and texture paint but it never looks like it should have been there in the first place

**Curiosity** · 05-20-2009, 01:53 PM

There's always the easy solution

http://store.mp3car.com/Automotive_M..._p/com-040.htm

**seventynine** · 05-21-2009, 05:58 AM

that would be perfect, but i still occasionally use the cigarette lighter for things like satnav n stuff. plus the location of mine would mean that i couldn't close the ashtray with an MP3 stick in it. and that was ideally what i wanted.

i'm a fussy swine really