Hi All,
I just fitted a Motorola T605 bluetooth kit, and wanted to eliminate the cigar lighter power for the phones.

This is how I did it.

Go to walmart at pick up a twin USB plug for $13.00 (brand name Griffin)
Get some black and red 18AWG wire about 12" of each
2 male spade connectors
2 female spade connectors
6" of shrink wrap 1/4" diam.
1" of shrink wrap 1" diam.
1" diameter screw clamp
Soldering iron
Crimpers

I disassemled another USB plug and tried to solder to the board, it did not work, so that's why I did it this way.



Solder the black wire to the ground lugs
Solder the red wire to the power end

Shrink wrap the power connection

Shrink wrap the body with 1" shrink wrap

Dis-assemble the center console (4 screws) and lift out.
Then push out the rear air diffuser.
My '99 car did not have the cigarette lighter installed (I did that a few years ago) but newer cars have it installed. or find the plug.
Assuming you have a cigarette lighter.
Cut a 3" piece of wire from each color.
Crimp one male spade to the red wire from the USB plug.
Crimp one female spade to the black wire coming from the USB plug.
Crimp one female spade to the short red wire
Crimp one male spade to the short black wire
(alternating the type of connection stops you from plugging into the wrong connector later in life)

Cut a hole about 20mm into the center bucket on the top left
Push in the connector and secure with your chosen method (I used a screw clamp)

I soldered the short red wire to the inside of the connection to the white and blue wire.
Solder the short black wire to the black connection on the cigar lighter.


Pull out the wires from the USB port
Place 1.5" of shrink wrap on the long wires
Plug in the spade connectors to each other.
Heat shrink the joints.


replace the plug onto the cigar lighter
(make sure the light plug is connected.)
Push the air diffusser back in place.
Replace the arm rest.

Finished 1 hour well spent. and no more power plugs in the cigar lighter (those suckers come loose way to easy.

 

Can't see your pictures and would very much like to see what you did.

 

Don't know what happened so I changed the link.
the pictures are in my garage.

 

I will be looking at making this addition to my XJ8. Thanks for sharing.

 

presumably you could fit it in the glovebox instead of the power socket.

 

Hi Andrew, I do not know of a power source close to the glove box. I used the center console so it was accessible from the drivers seat.
As both my wife and I use the car for long trip 2 plugs lets us charge 2 phones.
The T605 will only access 1 phone for calls, but will allow streaming music from a second source.