I own several aftermarket portable automobile Global Positioning System (GPS) units. They are very useful when traveling or finding local destinations. The one big problem that I have with them is the unsightly power cord that dangles from the unit. Since the battery life for most units at best is a few hours, the cord needs to be attached when using the unit. There are a variety of mounting options for them, but most either mount to the dash or windshield exposing the cord. After doing some research, I found the air vent mount to solve the cord problem. There are two possible ways to mount your unit using this type of mount. The first way is to mount the unit to your air vent using the existing 12 volt accessory or cigarette lighter socket. Depending on your vehicle this may be ok, but more than likely the cord will still be dangling in the way. The second and best way is to add a 12 volt accessory socket beneath your dash and plug your unit in there. It may sound complicated, but it is actually very simple.
You will need to purchase an air vent mount, fuse tap, and 12 volt accessory plug. All of the parts will cost you a total of around $40. A good place to find the air vent mounts is www.gpsgeek.com. I brought my mounts here for around $15. The fuse tap and accessory plug can be found at most local parts stores or at a store such as radio shack. Now some may say, what is a fuse tap? A fuse tap is a fuse that can plug into the fuse socket of your fuse panel and another fuse can be plugged in the back of the fuse tap. This allows you to power two different components from the same fuse socket. This eliminated the need of having to run a separate wire directly to your battery or splice into existing wiring for power. An accessory socket is the type socket most cars already have in them to plug in various 12 volt accessories. Older vehicles had cigarette lighters which doubled as accessory outlets.
The instructions for the tap and outlet are fairly simple and will be included in the package when you buy them. You will want to install the fuse tap in the fuse socket for your radio, cigarette lighter, existing accessory outlet, or any socket that is powered on and off with your ignition. The accessory outlet will have a red or yellow power wire connected to it and a black ground wire. The black ground wire will be mounted to any metal location under your dash. The power wire for the outlet will splice to the wire from the fuse tap. Once this is done, you will plug you GPS power cable into the socket and route the cable neatly and out of site under your dash up to your unit at the air vent. The air vent mount will easily clip onto your air vent. Depending on your vehicle, some cables will fit and be hidden better than others. I have a 2000 Nissan Altima and a 1990 Toyota Corolla and the cables fit neatly and out of sight. This type of mounting will also keep your unit cool in the summer when air conditioner is running. This is important in very hot climates. Once your installation is complete, turn unit on your ignition and unit to make sure it works and is charging. Finally, turn off the ignition and ensure that the unit turns off or no longer shows that it is charging.
