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MG TD TF 1500 - USB adapter for the TD.

I am working on an adapter to provide a USB outlet on my TD.
My plan is to fabricate something that plugs into the inspection lamp socket and uses an OTS 12V to USB (cigarette Lighter type) driver.
I am looking for some information on the the pins, that insert into the inspection lamp socket.
Diameter? Length? and any slots?.

Thanks
Jim B.
JA Benjamin

http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/usb-connector-pinout

Just get any usb extension cable and chop off the male end and strip the two power wires (red and black). Don't forget to check the polarity of your inspection lamp socket to make sure red is + etc.
Christopher Couper

Thanks Chriss, but I was looking for information on the pins that go into the inspection light sockets.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Well of course you can just get this:

https://abingdonspares.com/products/plug-for-inspection-socket

Christopher Couper

I looked at all the options and decided it was too easy to get things wrong with the socket on the dash.
So I got a USB socket from Amazon and connected it to the 12v behind the dash which is switchable from the ignition switch and went with that. Made the small panel to hold the heater control bigger and so far it works fine and not too conspicuous. I can use my phone with a GPS app all the time and the phone battery does not go flat

Rod Jones

I saw those Chris.
I don’t understand them.
The brass end
Seems to be threaded. I know the inspection socket takes smooth pins.

Jim B
JA Benjamin

I used a cigarette lighter socket mounted under the dash (easy wiring) and a plug with a usb conversion. The GPS usb plugs straight into this.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I agree with Rod that it is too easy to plug the traditional inspection plug in wrong. Doesn't matter on an incandescent bulb or on most things from the '50s but not good for modern electronics. I mounted two insulated accessory (cigarette lighter) sockets under my dash. The passenger side is for my navigator's Garmin, the driver side has a digital volt meter with two USB ports. My car is still positive earth so I wired the sockets backwards and made sure they are well insulated from any part of the car. I use the inspection sockets to power my heated gloves for winter driving. If it's dry and I can keep my hands and ears warm, I'm good to go.

Jud
J. K. Chapin

Just be aware that the standard USB supply voltage is 5 volts. Hooking just a USB socket to 12 volts will cause a major problem with any standard USB device you connect. A better solution is to use a USB charger, such as is used on a vehicle to charge a cell phone.
Lew Palmer

That is why wiring in a 12V cigarette lighter socket and using a plug with a usb conversion works, as it drops the voltage to the correct value.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Lew,

Many of the USB adapters are made to be supplied by higher voltage.
This is the one that I am using.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GKK9HZT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mort
Mort Resnicoff

Mort,

Yes, I understand. Yours has a voltage converter that drops 12 volts down to 5 volts. The original posting seemed to indicate that he was connecting a USB socket directly to the 12 volt battery supply. I was just warning against a direct connection.
Lew Palmer

I have added a standard cigarette lighter socket to my TF and located it in the back of the passenger glove box. I adjusted the wiring to be correct by wiring the ground go to the casing of the socket. The box being fibre is not connected to the body metal. I run either my GPS or the cell phone for charging with no problems. I also did the same thing in my 1934 Ford Pickup which is 6 volt and positive ground. Also no problems. I use the standard plug-in for a USB in a cigarette lighter socket
Cheers, Byron.


JB Warwick

I put a 12 socket in the TF and went to a dollar store and bought a plug in usb charger, it works very well charging the phone, under 10 bucks. PJ
PJ Jennings

This thread was discussed between 23/06/2019 and 09/07/2019

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