Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

What to do with multiple charger cables?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-05-2005 | 10:27 AM
  #1  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
What to do with multiple charger cables?

I'm having a real issue with multiple charger cables and was wondering if there is something that can be done to clean this rat's nest up. Is there something that has multiple outlets that can go behind the dash, passenger seat or elsewhere?

Items I routinely carry in the car that need to charge:
1. Palm T3
2. TomTom bluetooth GPS
3. Cell Phone
4. Bluetooth ear bud

Maybe some kind of AC/DC converter could be utilized in someway. Anyone ever dealt with this before?
Old 03-05-2005 | 10:52 AM
  #2  
Flawless's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Florida
Do you have all of these devices plugged in at once, or only 2 at a time?...
Radio Shack makes a "Y" cable with 3, sometimes 4 outlets so you can use 4 devices by only using up 1 of the cig. lighters in the 8. As for cleaning them up, the only thing I can think of is to run them through the glove box, and then through that "circular hole to the left of the glove box" That cover pops right off.
Old 03-05-2005 | 11:59 AM
  #3  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Only two at a time. I have to plug and unplug which I'm afraid will cause the receptical to eventually brake from the plastic it's set into. It would be nice to be able to never have to remove the devices. I will check into the Radio Shack "Y" cable and see if that will help. Thanks!
Old 03-05-2005 | 07:44 PM
  #4  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Flawless, I picked up two of the Y adapters at radio shack. I think is should work fine for now. I beleive this to be a temporary fix and will keep my eye out for something else. I did see that they have an in-dash "One Outlet" that will connect in the hole you mentioned next to the glove box. I dont' think I want to put one there though. Looks like a great spot for a "Start Switch" though. :D
Old 03-05-2005 | 08:30 PM
  #5  
DaGnome's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
What is that hole used for exactly? I was told it was an access panel for the airbag...

If so is it only needed to replace? Or do they need to get to it when they 'inspect' the air bag system?

I was trying to figure out what to do myself for chargers. as I don't like anything sticking out the front of my ashtray area.. and the one in the storage compartment won't accomidate certain plugs due to the size of the plug sometimes..

That hole would be kinda neat to attach a small 'swing' arm onto and put a plug behind it if it's not used for anything. That way I'd have an easy access plug and a nice 'behind the dash' area to splice into all at once.
Old 03-05-2005 | 08:53 PM
  #6  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
Me personally, I'd throw everything out the window. Starting with the cell phone :D sorry, I don't get to be "unplugged" very often these days. so far my 8 is my refuge. That coming from the guy who wants a carputer install, oops.

Speaking of carputer, maybe that would be your solution, integraged GPS, you could use the bluetooth in your phone to connect to the internet..., only use the palm to sync the car with your home/work pc.

***edited for a brain fart***

The hole is for a light signaling that the airbag is diabled. not used in North America. I seem to remember a thread on that a year ago.

Last edited by Labop; 03-05-2005 at 09:17 PM.
Old 03-05-2005 | 09:11 PM
  #7  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by Labop
Me personally, I'd throw everything out the window.
LOL, I was sitting in my car looking at all the cables and crap wondering why the hell do I need all this! :D
Old 03-05-2005 | 09:17 PM
  #8  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
It's actually funny i said that, because every now and again I get the urge to throw expensive things out the window. thank god I don't have a cell phone... :D

hey silver, what type of mac do you have? didn't we talk a long time ago about you doing a carputer mac install?

I was thinking, that cover for the non-existant air bag light pops off really easy, you might be able to install a hands free cell phone mount there. That would at elast eliminate one cable.
Old 03-05-2005 | 09:18 PM
  #9  
Gomez's Avatar
Shifty Bastard.
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia.
Originally Posted by DaGnome
What is that hole used for exactly? I was told it was an access panel for the airbag...
In some markets, that hole contains a switch to deactivate the passenger airbag.

Gomez.
Old 03-05-2005 | 09:32 PM
  #10  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
oh a switch, thought it was a light. thanks gomez. like I said, been a year or so..., my memory's good, but not that good. :D
Old 03-05-2005 | 10:08 PM
  #11  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by Labop
It's actually funny i said that, because every now and again I get the urge to throw expensive things out the window. thank god I don't have a cell phone... :D

hey silver, what type of mac do you have? didn't we talk a long time ago about you doing a carputer mac install?

I was thinking, that cover for the non-existant air bag light pops off really easy, you might be able to install a hands free cell phone mount there. That would at elast eliminate one cable.
I live macs. At the office I have two G4's one is a dual. At home I have two G4s one is a dual, a TiBook and an old 9600 I use with an oversize SCSI scanner. I want a G5 but it'll have to wait a while as my wife wants a Lexus first.

As for the mac installed carputer... if it was me I must have been intoxicated. :D Don't remember that but it does sound like a great idea. May have been about a iPod though.
Old 03-06-2005 | 10:45 AM
  #12  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
Must have been someone else, memory is getting hazy... or i could have been intoxicated

Damn, I thought I was rolling with three macs, of course one is a collectors model now: Mac IIsi. now that's some power, actually, don't even know if it can get power, it's sitting in a closet. How are you surrounded by macs, yaluckybastard? Do you work in graphic design? sorry to jack your thread to talk macs, I don't get to talk to many mac users...
Old 03-06-2005 | 04:13 PM
  #13  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by Labop
Must have been someone else, memory is getting hazy... or i could have been intoxicated

Damn, I thought I was rolling with three macs, of course one is a collectors model now: Mac IIsi. now that's some power, actually, don't even know if it can get power, it's sitting in a closet. How are you surrounded by macs, yaluckybastard? Do you work in graphic design? sorry to jack your thread to talk macs, I don't get to talk to many mac users...
Hey, it's my thread; I'll play with it if I want to. :D I've already got info I need for now so talking Mac’s is fine with me. Yea, I'm in graphics pretty heavy. Check out my info page. That pretty well sums it up. Been doing it a long time. When it was done the old way... without computers. What do you use yours for?
Old 03-07-2005 | 09:00 AM
  #14  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
same stuff. I started with photography in high school (early 90's). In my second year I was in advanced photo and was a teacher's assistant. It got me more dark room time and out of math class.

One day the teacher asked me to set up a mac and a scanner. She didn't know what a scanner was but I was hooked from that day on. I think it was vesion 1.2 of photoshop. From your profile, it looks like you're way more in the industry than I am. I kind of get this from my dad, he worked for Regis McKenna back in the 80's, was the GM of PR for Hatachi then worked for a madison 5th ave company (forget the name), he was head of the team that came up with the little RCA dog, Chipper.

My primary job is in the Navy. But in my "free time" I have my own web design company. I only have a few clients a year, but it's fun doing this stuff and it supports my habbit. Or at least gives me another reason to have a mac... :D I have a link on my profile to my personal website if you want to see some of my non-work stuff. It's pretty ameturish, I haven't had any formal training outside of phorography/graphics back in HS, just something I really enjoy doing.
Old 03-07-2005 | 10:03 AM
  #15  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by Labop
same stuff. I started with photography in high school (early 90's). In my second year I was in advanced photo and was a teacher's assistant. It got me more dark room time and out of math class.
:D LOL ... Ah! The sign of a true creative type. Been there done that, anything to get out of math class.

I will look over your website this evening when I get home, I'm really busy here at work. Sounds like your dad’s a pretty heavy hitter. You can learn a lot from him. My son is going to Savannah College of Art and Design and is following in his Moms and my footsteps. The only difference is that he is 10 times better than the both of us put together. His mom is a fine artist (and I do mean fine).

Her site: http://www.debrayaun.com
I need to re-do her site as it is really dated. She has a lot more work to add.

My son’s site is http://www.kevinyaun.com
He is an awesome artist and web designer specializing in database driven & Flash.
Old 03-07-2005 | 11:02 AM
  #16  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
Cool yeah, don't bother checking out my site..., just looked at your son's site. Damn he's talented.

Yeah, my graphics career took a turn when I decided to enter the Navy right after High School. It's been pretty good, 7 years in, making a career of it so far. I do get some pangs of jealousy towards a few friends who are active in the design community. But maybe I can get into it when I get out. The Navy will be sending me to college soon, and I'll take a few classes (they prefer a science degree), but I'll sneak an art history or something in there. :D

Last edited by Labop; 03-07-2005 at 11:06 AM.
Old 03-07-2005 | 11:35 AM
  #17  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Salute! .... I have the utmost respect for the military. You are a great American and thank you for serving our country. Kind of nice having someone else pay for your college, eh!
Old 03-07-2005 | 02:06 PM
  #18  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
yeah, I should probably send out a personal thank you to a few thousand tax payers after I graduate :D
Old 03-07-2005 | 04:11 PM
  #19  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Hey, Labop, you need to post 4 more times to be at 400, Get busy!
Old 03-07-2005 | 07:33 PM
  #20  
beachdog's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
silvereight, if you want to see more auto power stuff, check out igo.com
They have all kinds of power adapters and I seem to recall a multi/universal power supply that someone was using on an airplane.
Old 03-07-2005 | 07:47 PM
  #21  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
Totally forgot about that unit. And don't you know, they were just talking about that charger in this thread. I think it's pretty cool, kind of expensive, but it's worth it if you have all the gizmos. I didn't think of this one before because you were looking for a multi tap solution. But it might work for you.

I guess this is my 400th. Yay, happy 400 to me... or something. Do I get cake? :D

Last edited by Labop; 03-07-2005 at 07:49 PM. Reason: because I want to
Old 03-07-2005 | 09:27 PM
  #22  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by beachdog
silvereight, if you want to see more auto power stuff, check out igo.com
They have all kinds of power adapters and I seem to recall a multi/universal power supply that someone was using on an airplane.
Hey, beachdog, that is an interesting site. That "iGo EverywherePower7500" looks like a useful power adapter.

"So lose the jumble of cords, cradles and cables for your notebook and portable electronics. Lighten your load and heighten your power - everywhere you go - with iGo EverywherePower 7500 Series."

Thanks
Old 03-07-2005 | 09:33 PM
  #23  
SilverEIGHT's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,866
Likes: 3
From: Buford, GA USA
Originally Posted by Labop
I guess this is my 400th. Yay, happy 400 to me... or something. Do I get cake? :D
Yep!
Attached Thumbnails What to do with multiple charger cables?-happy400.jpg  
Old 03-08-2005 | 12:49 AM
  #24  
JM1FE's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Labop
didn't we talk a long time ago about you doing a carputer mac install?
That was me.

You saw my hint of things to come in another thread yesterday :D

I have ~65 G5 workstations and PowerBooks at work, plus 2 G5 servers (OS X Server), 3 Intel data servers (Slackware Linux with 2.5TB RAID5 arrays each) 1 Intel firewall/router (Slackware Linux), and 6 Sun SPARC application servers (Solaris 9, serving out one old CAD application until it eventually stops being used...), 1 Citrix/NT4 server (application server for 1 legacy app), 2 open-use WinXP stations (heavily locked down/stripped down with XPLite). Hunh, forgot to mention the Windows workstations - oh, wait.... there aren't any... :D

Clearly, you see where my principles lie. I have a 12" PowerBook. Spent most of the evening programming in BASH.

The attachment is me VPN'd in and remotely checking a few things. The G5s are acting as a renderfarm for Cinema4D after-hours tonight - 50+ nodes crunching on some architectural animation.

Good job, bad geography (IMHO). I'll pay a bonus to anyone who gets me an equivalent position back in Atlanta.
Attached Thumbnails What to do with multiple charger cables?-57.jpg  
Old 03-08-2005 | 09:27 AM
  #25  
Labop's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, Ca
Damn dude, that is a sweet setup. OK, I found your old PM. It's funny how you were looking for a powerbook with a damaged screen, and that is what I now have. Well, it's not really funny, more... funny-uh-oh.

I think the best networked setup I've ever used was two Sun work stations connected to two SPARC 10,000's, no macs involved though. But your setup is nice. Very nice. I'm trying to get to Virginia Tech, they have the mac based supercomputer. I've heard that they're replacing the whole thing with xserves. 1100 Macs, +10 Teraflops worth of processing power. Not bad for $5.2 Million.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:21 AM.