Permanently wiring USB charger to car

[KeyMan]

Hi guys, I'm really noob at eletronics so any help on this would be very much appreciated. I currently have a USB charger for a car camera that plugs in to the cigarette lighter socket. I have pulled apart my dash to get at the cable that supplies the lighter socket with power.

If I wanted to have the charger permanently attached, would it be just as simple as splicing together the charger directly to this cable? This is so I wouldn't have to have the charger occupying the cigarette socket all the time.

Thanks.

[hoojee]

The USB charger contains a voltage regulator to convert the 12V out of your ciggy lighter to 5V for USB use.

If you can pull apart the USB charger, you can solder wires that connect to the adapter (see pic below) and splice them directly into the cables that connect your lighter socket. I'd probably recommend an inline fuse in there too just incase.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/7830/10165072.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/38/10165072.png/)

I am almost certain the centre pin is the positive. But you can easily check by tracing back your cables or use a multimeter or test light to probe which one is the 12v or gnd.

If you cant pull apart your charger, I guess you could just solder wires onto the adapter itself (the red circle and blue arrow) and make sure you heat shrink or elec tape it up to isulated it from shorting from your dash.

[BBHEnZ]

Can even get socket extenders if you really want if your not confident at all

Something like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Triple-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-extension-1-USB-charger-/320628658285?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item4aa6f5106d#ht_1830wt_1265