12v to USB?

[HipGnosis]

I'm thinking of getting an MP3 player that recharges it's battery via a USB cable.
Is there a USB cable / unit that connects directly to 12V for that or do I have to 'butcher' a cig.lighter to USB device?

[jjbluemech]

I have a 12v to usb adapter.  The adpater gets 12v power from a 3 plug adater hard wired into the tail if my bike.  For the USB I just plug an extra long usb cable into.  The power is in the tail and the GPS is powered on the handlebars.  I believe i purchased the adapter @ office max or some place like that.  It was like $4.  Good luck.

[Wockman]

Probably can be found (or made yourself) much cheaper.  But you mean something like this?  http://powerletproducts.com/product/PPC-015-DB/258

[torags v2]

I'm thinking of getting an MP3 player that recharges it's battery via a USB cable.
Is there a USB cable / unit that connects directly to 12V for that or do I have to 'butcher' a cig.lighter to USB device?

I have a hard device that plugs into the BMW outlet. I'll have to take a look at it for the brand. I used it for charging an old apple shuttle

Rags

[Avigar]

I'm thinking of getting an MP3 player that recharges it's battery via a USB cable.
Is there a USB cable / unit that connects directly to 12V for that or do I have to 'butcher' a cig.lighter to USB device?

You can buy a generic Blackberry 12V to USB charger from Walmart that will work. If I'm not mistaken, the average USB connector puts out 5VDC at about 0.75A. The converter portion is usually part of the 12V plug.

[chornbe]

I'm thinking of getting an MP3 player that recharges it's battery via a USB cable.
Is there a USB cable / unit that connects directly to 12V for that or do I have to 'butcher' a cig.lighter to USB device?

You can make your own for about $3 from Radio Shack.

If you don't mind bleeding off the converted voltage as heat, you can simply buy a 7805 voltage regulator and hard wire it to a switched 12V in, and get some nicely filtered 5V output. With 12V, you don't need too much of a heat sink, either. No, it's not the most optimum, but it's cheap, it's ridiculously simple and easy to make.

$.02

[sscully]

Another option ( if you are not set already ) is Best Buy has the iPod car chargers.  This is a Cigar lighter plug, with a USB output.  You would just need your mp3 player specific usb cord.

[Croak]

Or just about any Motorola phone USB cig lighter charger from 2004+, OEM or aftermarket.  Dime a dozen these days.

Just be sure to use a fuse if you hack off the plug.

[jahoobob]

Walmart has some:
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=usb+charger&Find.x=2&Find.y=12&Find=Find

[slowduc]

i'm getting ready to hack into a motorola cig lighter charger to hard-wire to my battery to power my garmin gps.  i'd like it to be fairly weather-proof since I don't have much in the way of weather protection on my bike.  would it be bad to pull the innards out of the plug and shrink-wrap it once i've finished the retro-fit?

[beatnikmike]

Universal USB 12 Volt Adapter  $3.99 at Harbor Freight

I have several and have picked them up for $2 on sale....

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96515

[HipGnosis]

i'm getting ready to hack into a motorola cig lighter charger to hard-wire to my battery to power my garmin gps.  i'd like it to be fairly weather-proof since I don't have much in the way of weather protection on my bike.  would it be bad to pull the innards out of the plug and shrink-wrap it once i've finished the retro-fit?

Make sure it works first.  And put in a fuse holder.

[slowduc]

Make sure it works first.  And put in a fuse holder.

i've already successfully used said gps with the charger and it will be run from an auxillary fuse block under the seat.  my main worry is whether the shrink wrap will cause the charger internals to overheat without the little airspace inside the plug.  maybe the wrap will act as a heat-sink and i'm worrying about nothing.