Hardwired USB Supplies

[Citroënbender]

I was unsure if this should go here or in the electrical sub-forum.

Want to put in a hardwired supply, single USB 2-3A off a new, separately fused aux circuit. It’s got to be reliable and durable; not IP68 or anything but doesn’t flake out when our summer temperatures are roasting in the cabin of a parked car.

Everything is Chinese. But maybe something has given a dependable result - keen to hear.

I’m looking at both closed modules, eg https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264676886619

And open boards, eg
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/401368374755

(Both randomly selected from the thousand-plus on offer.)

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I was unsure if this should go here or in the electrical sub-forum.

Want to put in a hardwired supply, single USB 2-3A off a new, separately fused aux circuit. It’s got to be reliable and durable; not IP68 or anything but doesn’t flake out when our summer temperatures are roasting in the cabin of a parked car.

Everything is Chinese. But maybe something has given a dependable result - keen to hear.

I’m looking at both closed modules, eg https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/264676886619

And open boards, eg
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/401368374755

(Both randomly selected from the thousand-plus on offer.)

I have tried the type you quoted with poor results as they can cause electrical interference with car radio reception.
I ended up using a few of the under dash USB sockets from Jaycar with quality purchased USB leads with excellent performance.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/under-dash...ocket/p/PS2016

Cheers

[ford71V8]

Some of the closed module types you are looking at will be ruggedised with a goop (technykal term) poured over encapsulating the components which will be an advantage over the unprotected board in auto environment. The unprotected PCBs are cheap enough to buy a few replacements though....


We have noticed recently at work that even buying similar little boards (not quite what you are looking at) from same eBay seller, and within a close time frame, there were still differences with things like firmware that are not included in their descriptions, so we tend to buy a good handful.

[pcman]

i have 4 of these installed in a vehicle https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Auto...oAAOSwKGRdd0~2

2 are powered 24/7 the other 2 are switched, 3 years running with no issues at all

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

I have tried the type you quoted with poor results as they can cause electrical interference with car radio reception.
I ended up using a few of the under dash USB sockets from Jaycar with quality purchased USB leads with excellent performance.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/under-dash...ocket/p/PS2016

Cheers

This - people being gifted dash cams and wanted them hardwired in, goodbye AM radio reception for all you old fogies (you lot should be listening to 3AW on DAB+ now anyway).

I've used this in the past - works well:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/THUNDER-...sAAOSw63Re8ppw

Suits those typical switch blanks you come across in Thailand Specials

http://www.lvautomotive.com.au/p/893...b-socket-.html

http://www.lvautomotive.com.au/p/893...b-socket-.html

These work well too

LV stuff is available through Burson or JAS Oceania.

[Citroënbender]

So, what introduces the noise? A particular component, or shabby build quality? What’s actually different inside the round units?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

So, what introduces the noise? A particular component, or shabby build quality? What’s actually different inside the round units?

Could be the power conversion stuff inside to bring it down from 10-15V DC down to 5V DC - what ever that cheap crap is inside can introduce noise that instantly stops AM radio from working, same with dash cams.

There might be a capacitor or some other filter inside the 12V aux plug on the dash cams for noise filtering - I've experienced it with dash cams being hardwired and USB accessory sockets.

It was like on/off in a Hilux, the moment you took the dashcam out of the car the AM radio came back.

The moment it went inside the door, no AM radio again.

[Citroënbender]

More curiosity - if you powered the USB converter supplying the noise-generating device off a separate battery not connected to the car, did it still introduce radio interference?

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

So, what introduces the noise? A particular component, or shabby build quality? What’s actually different inside the round units?

In my case I found the shielding was inferior and in another unit just cheap and nasty circuit/components.
Both caused RF interference not power induced interference.

[Citroënbender]

So far the round ones seem to be doing what they say on the tin. Fitted three, have ordered up more. Bought them from “Frillneck Products Pty Ltd” on Fleabay.

[oldel]

^ Good to know, easier than making my own.

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

This - people being gifted dash cams and wanted them hardwired in, goodbye AM radio reception for all you old fogies (you lot should be listening to 3AW on DAB+ now anyway).

True, especially bad on utes with crappy defroster antennas. Also I've got heaps of the cheap junk in my ute, so bye bye radio (don't miss it).
My dash cam is powered from the USB output of the cheap aux in radio cable I bought from ebay. I abandoned the aux in part, but kept the cable plugged in just for hard wiring the dash cam.
Also have 2 USB ports on the aerpro fascia I installed to upgrade the head unit when I abandoned aux in.
Lots of noise now.

If I cared about radio I'd planned to either buy a name brand USB stepdown (like from rs components or something). Or make/modify my own.

http://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2015/02/a...er-supply.html