Inspired by another member's install (RonBlanford) I decided to install a power outlet.

I put it in the passenger side kick panel on the interior side. There is very little clearance for the socket so it is important to be very cautious when cutting out the hole for it. What I did was trace the kick panel onto a piece of cardboard. I then measured and cut where the access was. I then trimmed it back slowly, just a bit at a time, until I had mapped out the entire area that I had to work with:



I put masking tape over the kick panel then used the template that came with the outlet to trace out the shape of the socket. I also had to hole the cardboard template in place so I knew it would fit.

I used a dremel tool to cut out the hole in the kick panel. If I were to do this again, i would probably drill out the hole, then do any fine tweaking with a sanding bit in the dremel. As it stands the cut is not 100% perfect, but there is only a very tiny spot that is not covered by the flange on the socket.

Here is a picture of it installed:



I ran the wiring to the other side of the tunnel behind the head unit and over to the under dash fuse panel. I used the "always on" connection so there will always be power available at this connection.



I got the socket from Radio Shack

 

Clean install. Useful, too. Sorry to see the hole, but I'm sure it's only noticable in person if you look for it.

 

Nice....now add a 110V outlet so you can use things like BBQs and TVs from your car!

 

what hole?

 

Look close at the pic of the socket and at about the 9:00 side of the socket you can see where I got a little "happy" with the dremel tool.

 

ahhh.....

see? it's too small to even notice.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PLYRS 3
ahhh.....

see?

 

nice want to send me your template???

 

Nice mod.. an always on would be great! I hate japanese cars for that

 

I though about making up a scale template and making it available for download, but the truth is that it's just not worth it. They key on the template is the curved part of the top. Just trace that out. Then eyeball the opening and cut a small hole in the middle of that. Then just trim more and more away of the template until you have the size of the opening. It took me less than 10 mins to make the template. Including cutting the whole thing out of cardboard with the scissors on my swiss army knife.

If you can install Mac's windscreen, then I am SURE you can handle this.