Convenient Phone Charging Solution for Van

[kingoftheroad]

My wife uses her phone quite a bit, sometimes in the early hours, so I'm about to fit a socket more conveniently positioned in the van, to allow her to plug her Samsung phone charger into. The new socket will be wired/powered by the inverter. However, can you wire up a 12v USB type socket, powered from the leisure battery, instead of going through the inverter, or is what I'm planning, just as easy

 

[Figaro]

Yes, much better to wire in a usb socket to the 12v circuit, put a switch and fuse on it too so it can be isolated when not in use.
Your wiring in a Hymer will be blue for positive and brown for negative, best to use a multimeter to confirm this.

 

[HarryML7]

My wife uses her phone quite a bit, sometimes in the early hours, so I'm about to fit a socket more conveniently positioned in the van, to allow her to plug her Samsung phone charger into. The new socket will be wired/powered by the inverter. However, can you wire up a 12v USB type socket, powered from the leisure battery, instead of going through the inverter, or is what I'm planning, just as easy

Save the hassle of fitting a socket by getting a small power bank.

 

[kingoftheroad]

Save the hassle of fitting a socket by getting a small power bank.

We had one of those, last holiday but it didn't last though

 

[kingoftheroad]

Yes, much better to wire in a usb socket to the 12v circuit, put a switch and fuse on it too so it can be isolated when not in use.
Your wiring in a Hymer will be blue for positive and brown for negative, best to use a multimeter to confirm this.

Sounds like you did this, where did you pick up the cables/feed from within the van please

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[mitzimad]

I've got 4 dotted around the van all on 12v

 

[TheBig1]

I would fit a standard 12v cigar socket and use a normal car charger like you would in the cab. Been very disappointed with the rubbish Chinese usb outlets. They are also prone to overheat dangerously.

 

[kingoftheroad]

I've got 4 dotted around the van all on 12v

sounds like, this is the way to go then

 

[GMLS]

Why not see if you can incorporate a flush mounted wireless charger somewhere.

 

[Guigsy]

Get a USB C PD charger like this one:
Car USB Socket QC 3.0 36W 12V Car Power Outlet Waterproof Double Car Charger Socket with LED Voltmeter for Marine, Boat, Motorcycle, RV, ATV, Truck (Green) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NV6XT41/?tag=mhf04-21

They'll charge a phone really quickly and will even charge a laptop. It charges my 15" laptop while I'm gaming (albeit slowly).

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[Richard n Ann]

These are the ones I've fitted. Made of aluminium and don't get warm. When switched off they use zero power.

12V-24V QC3.0 Car Dual USB Charger Quick Charge Socket Power Outlet & Voltmeter | eBay

USB output: DC 5V / 3A; 9V / 2A; 12V / 1.5A. This item have 3 months warranty. Fits for DC 12V-24V car, boat, marine, motorcycle etc. Car Accessaries. LED Light Bars. Special Promotions. Motocycle Accessaries.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Googlebot]

Another vote for cigarette lighter sockets here. You can change from USB A to C to B and then plug something else in completely.

 

[philann]

I changed the over bed reading lights for ones that had a built in usb socket around £26 from Amazon

 

[Northernraider]

I changed the over bed reading lights for ones that had a built in usb socket around £26 from Amazon View attachment 874664

I have those same ones £8.49 from ebay . Touch control , mine seem haunted as they often switch themselves on

 

[VXman]

We had one of those, last holiday but it didn't last though

Get a decent one and it should last years like any lithium battery. We have one about the size of a phone and it will last weeks on one charge.

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[Figaro]

I have those same ones £8.49 from ebay . Touch control , mine seem haunted as they often switch themselves on

Probably one of the dogs wafting a tail past it

 

[dunnah01]

Just be careful of wire sizes and USB power. A twin USB socket can demand 6A+ nowadays so wiring of any length will start to get fairly beefy.

 

[tonka]

If she is a heavy user, there will be a good chance of not wanting to wait hours for it to charge.
May be worth looking at the power rating of the sockets you plan to install and fitting heavier amp for faster charging depending on the phone she has. Also allows for any new phone that may have fast or turbo charging in the future.

My Burstner has the Berker range of fittings, when i wanted a new matching USB socket there were loads of 2 amp online. I found they had a new range of 3 amp and in fact was cheaper than most were selling the older model. Combined with a decent charging cable and my new phone having turbo charging it takes very little time to get a full charge.

 

[Guigsy]

If she is a heavy user, there will be a good chance of not wanting to wait hours for it to charge.
May be worth looking at the power rating of the sockets you plan to install and fitting heavier amp for faster charging depending on the phone she has. Also allows for any new phone that may have fast or turbo charging in the future.

My Burstner has the Berker range of fittings, when i wanted a new matching USB socket there were loads of 2 amp online. I found they had a new range of 3 amp and in fact was cheaper than most were selling the older model. Combined with a decent charging cable and my new phone having turbo charging it takes very little time to get a full charge.

If the charger supports USB C PD, it'll charge much faster. The charger will be limited to 12v input, which means it can only go to about 30 watts (USB C PD can go all the way to 19v now to get over 60w I think?). But 30w is more than enough for most phones. Like I said, it's enough to run and slowly charge a large laptop.

 

[Geistguy]

Power bank every time for me, get a good make like Juice, been using mine for years and can charge phone and tablet even while using, great bit of kit.

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[Richard n Ann]

Another vote for cigarette lighter sockets here. You can change from USB A to C to B and then plug something else in completely.

I favoured those at first as there were no decent quality usb sockets available, they were all plastic low powered and failed regularly. The new generation of twin QC3 sockets are very good though, and I think much neater looking. I always strive for a factory fitted look

Also they don't wobble outwards and lose power sometimes.

 

[Googlebot]

I favoured those at first as there were no decent quality usb sockets available, they were all plastic low powered and failed regularly. The new generation of twin QC3 sockets are very good though, and I think much neater looking. I always strive for a factory fitted look

Also they don't wobble outwards and lose power sometimes.

View attachment 874766View attachment 874767View attachment 874765

Absolutely!

Get a good make, some of the cheaper ones are awful.

Talking of checking the polarity, I had a very expensive (relatively) USB multiport charger. When I put extra sockets in my Hymer, I plugged it in to check all was well and a sizzle, puff of smoke and death to the thing occurred.

Cursing I thought I must have shorted it in the socket. So I put another quality smaller one in and the same happened…….

Yup, always check with a multimeter.

They really don’t like reverse polarity.

 

[kingoftheroad]

Get a USB C PD charger like this one:
Car USB Socket QC 3.0 36W 12V Car Power Outlet Waterproof Double Car Charger Socket with LED Voltmeter for Marine, Boat, Motorcycle, RV, ATV, Truck (Green) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NV6XT41/?tag=mhf04-21

They'll charge a phone really quickly and will even charge a laptop. It charges my 15" laptop while I'm gaming (albeit slowly).

Thanks fo link will take a look

 

[kingoftheroad]

Thanks for replies everyone , got a few links and info to get my head around now

 

[kingoftheroad]

I favoured those at first as there were no decent quality usb sockets available, they were all plastic low powered and failed regularly. The new generation of twin QC3 sockets are very good though, and I think much neater looking. I always strive for a factory fitted look

Also they don't wobble outwards and lose power sometimes.

View attachment 874766View attachment 874767View attachment 874765

Your set up look good, what make is this please and is it just a case of positive and earth straight from the battery, with an inline fuse

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[Richard n Ann]

Your set up look good, what make is this please and is it just a case of positive and earth straight from the battery, with an inline fuse

Don't know what make they are... Link in post 11

Yes just the 2 connections, positive via a 10a fuse

 

[Shrimp]

Ours are always charged from USB even when on hook-up!

 

[Lenny HB]

I would fit a standard 12v cigar socket and use a normal car charger like you would in the cab. Been very disappointed with the rubbish Chinese usb outlets. They are also prone to overheat dangerously.

The 3C aluminium incased ones are much better.