Dual USB Charging Port

[porthole]

Found [a vendor website selling the BLUE SEA SYSTEMS Contura Style Dual USB Charging Port] tonight. It would go nice to a switch line up to keep things neat and tidy.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue-sea-systems--contura-style-dual-usb-charging-port--16016057

[Don McIntyre - MI]

Nice! I like that better than the one I installed:

dash--reduced.jpg (9.96 KiB) Viewed 4447 times

That way, I could differentiate between the USB charger and the cigar lighter!

Regards - Don

[porthole]

Me too! I also have the round-port-style dual-USB charger. But, I will be redoing my flush mount to change chart plotters, so I may just have to try one of these. I like that it is also a high-current dual charger; total output is 4.8-Amperes. That means it should be able to handle two iPads. Not that I would run two iPads, but with other dual ports I have found the iPad has to be plugged into the correct port if you are to charge a phone at the same time.

[jimh]

Devices that require rectangular openings in a dashboard are difficult to mount because of the difficulty in creating the mounting hole. This is particularly true if you have to work on a dashboard with other components already in place. A simple circular hole is much easier to create. Also, if the device has to snap-in to be retained in the opening, the opening must be very carefully cut and its thickness appropriate for the device. The very small overlap of the escutcheon of that device means the mounting hole must be cut with considerable precision. To me that means this device is only suitable for installation into a pre-cut pre-fabricated panel of a certain thickness. I believe that is what BLUE SEA SYSTEMS intends by referring to their device as a Contura-style product. It is intended to mount in the opening of a switch panel pre-fabricated for installation of Contura switches.

[porthole]

But, some of us already have a dash full of rectangular cut openings. In my case I have at least one unused switch that is just filling a hole. I really do not think Blue Seas came out with this version to replaces the simple hole saw round version, rather for OEM and for folks who already have the hole cut in a panel, or for those who may be considering a custom panel replacement.

That said, I have mounted the Contura series switches in blank panels, and if you are patient it is not a big deal.

And I did suggest "It would go nice to a switch line up to keep things neat and tidy."