Hey guys, I have drive a series 2 380 es and wish to replace my old boring clock with my garmin gps.

what i m trying to do is to take out the old clock and somehow use that power wire to power my gps instead - then mount the gps where the clock is.

and ideas how this can be done? and it is safe to do so?

Many thanks in advance!!

As most GPS units are 5 volts. Its really easy to wire in a accessory plug off the cigarette lighter. And hide the power supply for the GPS behind the console. It should auto start and turnoff that way as well.... ( check the unit does this, I think they all do, but pays to check).

I need my current lighter plug for my radar/phone charger
So I want to that the power from the clock plug instead,

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Extension-Socket-Twin-Lead-Plug-1m-Lead.aspx?pid=165057#Cross

I have used these things before, I usually choose a twin, as there are usually phone chargers or some other accessory that I like to hide away, with this one, I'd chop off the plug and solder to the rear of the accessory plug in the 380....

Catch is there is a 10 Amp fuse in the plug you cut off, but the plugs you fit should be fused anyway, as well as the factory fuses.... You can add one of these inline fuses as well.... I havent seen anyone do that yet though:iough:

Have you got a hold of the top console off a higher end 380, the 6 disc/MFD ( multi function display ) models, you can get a 5" inch display in there, Just.. ( it cut about 2mm off the corners on mine...) but looks a treat...

Sounds good, just dont want my car to catch on fire while driving haha

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Extension-Socket-Twin-Lead-Plug-1m-Lead.aspx?pid=165057#Cross

I have used these things before, I usually choose a twin, as there are usually phone chargers or some other accessory that I like to hide away, with this one, I'd chop off the plug and solder to the rear of the accessory plug in the 380....

Catch is there is a 10 Amp fuse in the plug you cut off, but the plugs you fit should be fused anyway, as well as the factory fuses.... You can add one of these inline fuses as well.... I havent seen anyone do that yet though:iough:

Have you got a hold of the top console off a higher end 380, the 6 disc/MFD ( multi function display ) models, you can get a 5" inch display in there, Just.. ( it cut about 2mm off the corners on mine...) but looks a treat...

Hey shoot, if i use a twin socket and are powering two devices at once, is it good enough to power the two at full power or the power output is half/shared between the two devices?

Hope that make sense to ya

GPS power supply should use less than 2 Amps on the Circuit.
So long as there enough current there it will all good...

A phone charger outputs about .5 amp to 2 Amps for Large Pads.. Assuming a worst case 60% efficiency, you wont be using half of what can safe run through there...

If you want a couple good rules on installing, secure everything so it wont rub through, always protect a wire run with a fuse safe for the current that the wire can handle... And Insulate well...

Running 5 amp wire, needs a 5 Amp fuse or less, 10 Amp wire = 10 Amp fuse etc, etc....

If you want to wire in a 5 Amp fuse, do it by all means, they are cheap and are a standard safety measure...
As the double plug should be hidden away, plug in a 1 Amp USB charger with extension, so you can charge just about anything, and the GPS charger... Things that will blow the fuse almost instantly are a real ciggy lighter and one of the power inverters, but seeing as you should be hiding this of install, it shouldnt really be an issue.....

Or just get a single plug version and just do whats necessary... Anything that you have bought and will plug in there will be fused to protect itself... So you should protect your (added) own wire length.