Clean Magsafe Charger DIY

[Khsonic03]

I did a lot of searching before settling on this and didn't see anyone who had done this exact thing, so figured I'd post a DIY on it.

I recently installed the Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto dongle and was wanting a wireless charging solution to go along with it that was clean and didn't interfere with anything, including sightlines. I really like the factory look whenever I can get it. I liked the Sanctum charger in the center armrest, but didn't want to sacrifice elbow room.

The nice thing is this can be removed or upgraded when new technology comes out. The A/C bezel is a $50 part, so it can easily be replaced to go back to factory too.

Here's a list of parts:

• Magsafe charger. Chose this one because it was minimalistic and I liked that the charging cable was behind the charger, not hanging from the bottom. The silver bezel also matched the interior nicely. *Note: I had to order 3 of these before one of them actually fast-charged my Samsung S23 Ultra. Not sure why - most likely QC issues. Not feeling confident this one will stand the test of time. I know Qi2 standard is coming out toward the end of the year, so hoping there will be more options then.
• 17mm ball mount. This is a pretty universal size, so it should work on most magsafe chargers and other phone mounts
• 1/4-20 x 3/8" hex bolt and washer. My HD didn't have this size, so I bought a 1/2" and cut it down to size.
• Right angle USB C cable. The only one that fit my requirements was 10ft long, but in reality, you only need like 2ft. Maybe they will start making a shorter version.
• Cigarette Lighter adapter to plug in whichever USB charger you choose. There are cheaper versions that would probably work just fine. I just like this brand.
• USB charger
• 12v power adapter harness for cigarette lighter. This makes it plug-and-play and allows you to undo what you are doing very easily. You can also just tap into the wires if you want.

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[Khsonic03]

Pull off the A/C bezel. Mark the center of the washer and drill a 1/4" hole.

Install the ball mount with the hex bolt and a little locktite.

 

[Khsonic03]

Solder the cigarette lighter adapter to the 12v harness.

Install the USB c charger. I used some electrical tape to hold it in place since it was a little loose and it will be behind the dash.

 

[Khsonic03]

Notch the AC bezel with a dremel for the charging cable to pass through. You can really choose any position, but just make sure it won't be pinched or caught behind any clips.

 

[Khsonic03]

Disconnect the harness on the factory cigarette charging socket and install your harness and your USB c cable. Tuck all the wires in there and reinstall everything.

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