I am going replace my unswitched cigar lighter with a switched power port, and also install a USB port for charging beside it. My 2008 XLT has the cigar lighter below the climate controls, and it is on a plate with the lighter on one end and the Parking Assist button on the other. There is a perfect space between the two for my USB port. Much to my surprise when I took the plate off, there is a connector behind the plate, stuck into a holder to keep it out of the way. This connector has six wires: a blue/red stripe, two red/yellow stripe, a black, a black/tan stripe, and a tan wire. The two red/yellow stripe are switched and the power is live with the key on. The others do not have any power key on or off. It is not connected to anything but is simply stuck into a black socket.

What is this connector? Which fuse does the blue/red wire go to? What are the other wires connected to?

 

I believe that is the unused connector for a center console.

 

Thanks! I was thinking it was something like that. Any clue as to which fuse the hot wires got to? It would really simplify things if I used this rather than making a new circuit when I add my USB/power ports...

 

If I read the diagram correctly, F15.

 

brake controller...

 

That unused center plug is for traction control. IIRC correctly, the red/yellow wire is key-on power.

 

Makes sense - the colours aren't 100% what Alldata says they should be for the console connector.

 

So would this be a good place to power a 12v power port and two USB ports? Or will it interfere with something important?

Thanks! {!-{>

 

It'll probably power a USB, but not sure about a 12v outlet.

 

If its 16 ga or greater I would personally assume it was capable of up to 15 amps. But I'm just some goof giving you advice on the interweb. Your truck - your rules. You probably want to invest the time to find how its fused and then govern yourself accordingly. If you're really worried about it, run a dedicated feed for your power supply.