Tablet charging via USB Hub in car

[levaz]

I had a quick google, but that raised more questions that it solved.

I'm looking at installing my Win8 tablet into the car to run music / RSTuner / Diagnostics from.
The tablet has a micro USB port for charging / connecting to devices.
This is the easy bit, I can use a Micro USB - USB adapter to charge (with my CS USB adapter) or connect my diagnostics kit, happy days.

But, how/can I fit a 4 port USB hub and use 1 port for power in (from USB adapter), 1 port for diagnostics lead/ RSTuner, 1 port to the tablet itself and 1 port to my phone (charge / data transfer etc)?

Google says I need a *MIGHT* powered USB hub, but then I might not.
If it's a 12v input then I could just take a feed from the back of the lighter input.

Just trying to work out WTF I actually need in the way of a hub, powered / non-powered?

 

[Tom]

You'd need a powered hub, if its even possible.

 

[Gus]

You can get usb cigar adapters that have 2 usb ports . Then use bluetooth along with a slim odb2 reader (viecar bluetooth adapter) for the diagnostics part along with Torque.

 

[Goodj]

hard wire a new 12v output into the back of the cig lighter (inside the console)?
12v -> USB wire
USB wire into glovebox
wire into hub.


Maybe.

 

[Nik]

USB power is 5v so i'd have thought it needs to go through the transformer that's built into a normal USB lighter adapter (like the CS one) before connecting to any devices.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

I've done this on my Clio recently.

4 USB sockets in total.

2x USB sockets are hidden behind the dashboard:

One is plugged into my forward facing camera with a wire going up the A pillar and headlining and out just infront of the rear view mirror.
One is taped to the dashboard with a bluetooth audio dongle (to give my headunit bluetooth).

The other 2 are in the glovebox, to allow for a couple of devices to be charged on long journeys without having to be in the cup holders etc.

Wiring was very simple, I think they're 2A each (off the top of my head, although this might be false) @ 5v, so about 3.8-4A @ 12v. So I didn't want to run it from the lighter socket as many people might recommend.

Instead I connected a relay to the lighter socket connection, and a fused wire from the battery through the bulkhead and behind the dashboard. You can get all of the above from China via Ebay for about £10 delivered. This way when the lighter socket has power (ignition) then your relay activates and you get as much power as you want (I went 10A which is overkill for USB sockets, but may find a use for more ignition only power in future).

 

[levaz]

You can get usb cigar adapters that have 2 usb ports . Then use bluetooth along with a slim odb2 reader (viecar bluetooth adapter) for the diagnostics part along with Torque.

Works for torque, but not rstuner.
Although so far winning suggestion

 

[levaz]

Thanks Jeff!

Couldnt have timed your post better!

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

No probs dude.

You'll want to take the dashboard off to do a proper job I'd imagine, but taking the dash-top off is literally 10-15 minutes work which gives you very good access to everything you'll be wanting (assuming you go down a similar road that I did).

 

[Gus]

Works for torque, but not rstuner.
Although so far winning suggestion

Didnt know you could run rstuner on a tablet EDIT - ahhh didnt see the win8 bit... my bad

 

[levaz]

No probs dude.

You'll want to take the dashboard off to do a proper job I'd imagine, but taking the dash-top off is literally 10-15 minutes work which gives you very good access to everything you'll be wanting (assuming you go down a similar road that I did).

Dash has been off several times.
Replaced standard clock unit with oil pressure and voltage gauges.

Does you setup allow for charging of the tablet and plugging in another USB peripheral?
That's the bit i was really struggling with in my original idea, hence the use of a hub

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

A peripheral for the tablet? Is that even possible?

 

[levaz]

Yea, like being able to plug the usb from the rs tuner into the tablet.
Thats why i was looking at doing it all through a usb hub