rob_bell
Well-Known Member
I’ve already posted my favourite interior mod on the forum in another thread, but this seems like a sensible place to repost 
It’s a USB charger that replaces one of the unused electric mirror blanks in the centre console - finished article below:
The charger is one of many that are available currently on the bay of fleas - I can post the listing if needed
The idea was inspired by an LRO article. It’s reasonably straightforward to do:
1. Buy a switch with the backlighting colour of your preference. I chose green as all the switch backlighting is that hue and this is not too bad a match.
2. The switch I got (and I think this is true of all the options available, although I may be wrong) was too large for the aperture in the console: the width is perfect, but the length too long. I sanded the switch down to match the switch’s back plate (you can confirm the dimensions by comparing to the blank switch you can remove from the centre console).
This will leave exposed, unpainted plastic. This will illuminate when the ignition is on and I thought looked unsightly anyway. I therefore painted the white sanded ends in satin black paint.
3. The switch aperture in the centre console will need enlarging. Easy to do with a file as the plastic is pretty soft. The hole needs expanding in all directions. I did this a little at a time with multiple test fits.
4. Before fitting the new USB, we need to wire it up. I got some suitable black and purple cable (make sure you use wire of a suitable grade to take the anticipated currents - likely around 3.1A for a smart phone). I put spade connectors on one end to the USB charger and then ran the cable to the back of the rear cigar lighter.
5. I pulled the cigar lighter plug apart and soldered the black wire to the back cigar lighter connector and purple to the purple switched live connector and then reassembled. I’d left the wires long enough to run comfortably around the periphery of the cub by box and clear of the handbrake mechanism. I also heat shrink insulated all the connectors so that it is both neat and tidy and most importantly, safe.
6. Now the USB can be pushed into the console and connected up
The USB charger illuminates green the whole time. I thought that this might be annoying, but it’s location means that it’s out of sight most of the time and easy to find when you’re looking for it. Plus it charges my iPhone 8 perfectly, so I’m a happy bunny
It’s a USB charger that replaces one of the unused electric mirror blanks in the centre console - finished article below:
The charger is one of many that are available currently on the bay of fleas - I can post the listing if needed
The idea was inspired by an LRO article. It’s reasonably straightforward to do:
1. Buy a switch with the backlighting colour of your preference. I chose green as all the switch backlighting is that hue and this is not too bad a match.
2. The switch I got (and I think this is true of all the options available, although I may be wrong) was too large for the aperture in the console: the width is perfect, but the length too long. I sanded the switch down to match the switch’s back plate (you can confirm the dimensions by comparing to the blank switch you can remove from the centre console).
This will leave exposed, unpainted plastic. This will illuminate when the ignition is on and I thought looked unsightly anyway. I therefore painted the white sanded ends in satin black paint.
3. The switch aperture in the centre console will need enlarging. Easy to do with a file as the plastic is pretty soft. The hole needs expanding in all directions. I did this a little at a time with multiple test fits.
4. Before fitting the new USB, we need to wire it up. I got some suitable black and purple cable (make sure you use wire of a suitable grade to take the anticipated currents - likely around 3.1A for a smart phone). I put spade connectors on one end to the USB charger and then ran the cable to the back of the rear cigar lighter.
5. I pulled the cigar lighter plug apart and soldered the black wire to the back cigar lighter connector and purple to the purple switched live connector and then reassembled. I’d left the wires long enough to run comfortably around the periphery of the cub by box and clear of the handbrake mechanism. I also heat shrink insulated all the connectors so that it is both neat and tidy and most importantly, safe.
6. Now the USB can be pushed into the console and connected up
The USB charger illuminates green the whole time. I thought that this might be annoying, but it’s location means that it’s out of sight most of the time and easy to find when you’re looking for it. Plus it charges my iPhone 8 perfectly, so I’m a happy bunny
