Car Electronics

Car Electronics: In-Car Adapters, USB Ports and Infotainment Add-Ons

Car electronics are the gadgets and electronic parts that add charging, media, navigation and connectivity to a vehicle, and Easy Life Markets sells them as practical, fit-it-yourself upgrades. This category covers things like USB sockets, CarPlay and media adapters, dash cameras, chargers and the small wiring parts that connect them.

What should you buy? Start with what your car already has: the screen, the ports, whether it runs wired or wireless CarPlay, and the part numbers of anything you are replacing. Our current range is small and specific: a CarPlay HDMI adapter that lets a streaming stick play on a car screen, and a glove box USB socket with wiring harness for BMW, part number 9237656. More car electronics will be added over time. The current price and availability are shown on each product page.

What Counts as Car Electronics

A modern car is full of electronics, but most of them are engine and safety systems that belong with repair parts. Our electrical parts range covers alternators, starters, ignition and sensors. This page is about the electronics you add or swap to make the cabin more useful.

That usually means five groups: power and charging, media and screen adapters, cameras, audio and hands-free, and the wiring and sockets that tie them in. Each group has its own specifications to match, so we take them one at a time below.

Main Types of Car Electronics

Power, charging and USB sockets

Most cars have a 12V accessory socket, and many have one or more USB ports. Plug-in chargers turn the 12V socket into USB-A or USB-C outputs. Fitted USB sockets replace a broken port or add one where the car had a blank.

The car USB socket wiring harness for BMW is a glove box USB interface supplied with a 150 cm cable and a 4-pin connector, listed under part number 9237656. It suits owners who want to replace a damaged glove box USB port or add one where the car was built with the wiring space for it. Check the part number against your car before ordering.

For charging, the useful figures are output power in watts, the type of port and whether the charger supports a fast-charging standard your phone uses. A charger with a low output will keep a phone alive, but it may not charge it while running navigation and music.

CarPlay, Android Auto and media adapters

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto put phone apps on the car's built-in screen. Many cars support only the wired version, so you plug in a cable every trip. Adapters can add wireless use, or add other video sources. The CarPlay article on Wikipedia explains how the system works and which features it covers.

The CarPlay HDMI adapter in our range is a different kind of adapter. It lets you plug a streaming stick with an HDMI connector, such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick, into a car that has factory wired CarPlay, and see the stick's picture on the car screen. The supplier lists an HDMI port, a Micro USB port, a Type-C port and an LED indicator in a grey ABS and PC body. It needs wired CarPlay in the car to work. Video on the main screen should only be watched while the car is parked.

Dash cameras and reversing cameras

A dash camera records the road ahead, and sometimes behind and inside the cabin. Buyers usually compare video resolution, field of view, night performance, loop recording, parking mode and how the camera is powered. Reversing cameras send a picture to a screen when you select reverse and need a compatible display or a separate monitor. Our cameras collection currently covers home and action cameras; car-specific cameras will be listed here when we add them.

Audio, Bluetooth and hands-free

Older cars with no Bluetooth can get it from an FM transmitter, an AUX Bluetooth receiver or a replacement head unit. Head units are the most complete upgrade but need the right dash size, wiring adapter and sometimes a steering wheel control interface. For calls on the move, many drivers simply use a single-ear headset; see our audio range for options such as the ear hook Bluetooth headset. Check local rules on headset use while driving.

Wiring, harnesses and connectors

Almost every fitted gadget needs power from a fused supply and a clean earth. Harnesses with the correct plugs save you from cutting factory wiring. Our wiring harnesses collection includes a fog lamp wiring harness with relay, fuse and switch, which shows the right way to feed a new accessory: through a relay and fuse rather than straight off an existing circuit. The copper battery terminal clamp is useful when a corroded or damaged terminal is causing voltage problems.

Comparison of Common Car Electronics

How to Choose Car Electronics That Fit Your Vehicle

1. Know your car exactly. Make, model, year and trim matter. Two cars of the same model can have different screens, ports and wiring.
2. Match the part number when replacing. For fitted parts such as sockets, switches and harnesses, the part number on the old part is the safest guide. Compare it with the number on our product page.
3. Check what the car's system supports. A CarPlay adapter needs CarPlay in the car. Many adapters need a specific wired version. Check the car's settings menu or handbook.
4. Check the voltage. Cars run on 12V. Trucks and some larger vehicles use 24V. Accessories rated only for 12V should not go on a 24V system.
5. Count the ports and power. Know what you will plug in, and add up the power. A charger rated for one phone will struggle with a phone, a dash camera and a tablet.
6. Plan the cable route. Loose cables near pedals, the gear lever or airbags are a hazard. Good fitting tucks them under trim.

How to Tell What Your Car Already Has

Before ordering car electronics, take five minutes to check your car. It saves a return.

• Screen and CarPlay: plug in an iPhone with a cable. If CarPlay starts, the car has wired CarPlay. If it starts without a cable after pairing, it is wireless already.
• USB ports: note whether a port is for data, charging only, or both. Some ports charge but do not run CarPlay.
• Part numbers: remove the old part where it is safe and easy, and read the number on its label or housing.
• Fuse box: the fuse box lid or handbook shows which fuses run the accessory sockets and their ratings.
• Battery condition: weak batteries cause odd electronic faults. Our battery accessories range includes jump starters for when a battery lets you down.

Specifications to Check on Car Electronics

Product pages for car electronics list different details. These are the ones that decide whether an item will work in your car and do what you want.

• Vehicle fitment: the makes, models and years listed, and any part number. For fitted parts this is the first thing to match.
• Connector type and pin count: plugs that look alike can have different pin layouts. The BMW harness, for example, is listed with a 4-pin connector.
• Cable length: measure the route from the device to the power or data point, following the trim, not a straight line. Add a little slack.
• Input voltage: 12V for most cars. Some devices accept 12V to 24V. Some run from USB at 5V and take their power from a car port.
• Output power: in watts for chargers, and per port when there are several. Shared outputs split the power between devices.
• Ports and standards: USB-A, USB-C, Micro USB, HDMI, AUX. Know which ones your devices use so you do not need a pile of adapters.
• Materials and build: ABS and PC plastics are common and light. Check that the device can sit somewhere it will not be in direct sun all day.
• Indicators and controls: an LED status light, like the one on our CarPlay HDMI adapter, makes it easier to see whether the device has power and is connected.

Looking After Car Electronics

Car cabins are hard on electronics. They get very hot in summer, cold in winter, and they shake every time you drive. A few habits keep devices working longer.

• Keep them out of direct sun. Store adapters and loose devices in the glove box or a console bin when parked. Heat ages batteries, plastics and screens.
• Protect the ports. Dust and crumbs in a USB port cause poor connections. A dry soft brush or short puff of air cleans them. Never push metal into a port.
• Support the cables. A cable that hangs from a port strains the socket every time the car moves. Clip it to trim or use a short lead.
• Update software. Adapters and head units often get firmware updates that fix connection problems. Check the instructions that came with the device.
• Check fuses when something stops. If a socket goes dead, check its fuse before replacing the socket. A blown fuse usually points to an overload or a short.

When a fault is in the car's own wiring, a replacement socket or harness with the correct part number is often the cleanest fix. That is where fitted car electronics such as the BMW glove box USB interface come in.

Fitting and Using Car Electronics Safely

Plug-in car electronics need no tools. Fitted parts are different. Here is what a careful owner or fitter does.

• Disconnect the battery negative before working on wiring, and follow the car maker's advice for cars with airbags near the work area.
• Use plastic trim tools. Screwdrivers crack clips and scratch panels.
• Take power from a fused supply that matches the device. Never bypass or upsize a fuse.
• Do not tap into airbag, ABS or engine control wiring. If you are unsure which wire is which, use a fitter.
• Route cables away from pedals, the steering column, seat runners and airbag doors.
• Keep screens and adapters set up before you drive, and watch video only when parked.
• Some devices draw power with the ignition off. If the car will sit for days, unplug them so the battery stays charged.

If a fitted part throws a warning light, a diagnostic scanner can read the stored code. Our diagnostic equipment and tools and equipment ranges help with this kind of job.

Common Mistakes With Car Electronics

• Buying a CarPlay adapter for a car without CarPlay. The adapter extends CarPlay; it does not add it.
• Ignoring the part number. A socket that looks the same may have a different plug.
• Powering everything from one socket. Splitters and cheap chargers can overheat or blow the fuse.
• Leaving devices plugged in during long parking. Small drains add up over a week.
• Cutting into factory wiring. Use harnesses and adapters with the right plugs where they exist.

Who Our Car Electronics Suit

The CarPlay HDMI adapter suits owners with factory wired CarPlay who want to use a streaming stick on the car screen while parked, for example during charging stops, camping trips or long waits. The BMW glove box USB harness suits BMW owners with a broken glove box port, or those adding one, who can match part number 9237656 and are happy to remove a little trim.

In general, car electronics suit drivers who want the comfort of a newer car without buying one: proper charging, a usable screen, a camera and tidy wiring. Matching the right part to your car is most of the work, and the product pages give you the details to do that.

Related Parts and Accessories

Car electronics sit within our automotive accessories range. To hold your phone for navigation, see our phone mounts, including the windshield car phone holder with vent clip and the magnetic bendable car phone holder. For lights and wiring jobs, browse car lighting and sensors, or start from all auto parts.

For entertainment at home, the TV and home theater range includes the wireless display dongle for mirroring a phone to a TV. Phone chargers and cases are in phones and accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the CarPlay HDMI adapter work in any car?

No. It is designed for cars with factory wired CarPlay. Check that your car runs CarPlay through a USB cable before ordering, and read the product page for details.

Can I watch video on the car screen while driving?

You should not. Watching video while driving is unsafe and is against the law in many places. Use video features only when the car is parked.

How do I know which USB socket fits my car?

Match the part number on your old socket, or from a parts catalogue for your car, to the number on our product page. For the BMW harness, that number is 9237656.

Do I need a professional to fit car electronics?

Plug-in items need no fitting. Fitted sockets and harnesses need basic trim and wiring skills. If the work is near airbags or you are unsure about wiring, use a qualified fitter.

Can car electronics drain my battery?

Some devices draw a little power with the ignition off. Over several days that can flatten a weak battery. Unplug them if the car will sit for a while.

Will these work on a 24V truck?

Only if the product page says the item supports 24V. Most in-car devices are made for 12V systems.

Where can I ask a question before buying?

Please contact us or read our FAQ. Delivery details are in the shipping policy, and returns are covered in our return and refund policy.