Bored? Here's a Wireless Charger DYI for You

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Hey guys,

I was looking for a way to charge my phone wirelessly in a car for some time now, but all available solutions just do not work for me:

1. OEM: charging pocket and charging snap-in do not work for me simply because they are located in the armrest box - I will forget my phone in the car 100 times out of 100;
2. BMW charging station: it's just a bad design that takes away a 12v socket and a cupholder;
3. Charging pad available from Aliexpress, for example here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32992569538.htm - same as BMW charging sation - takes away cupholder and 12v outlet (though it gives you back an extra USB-port)

So if you cannot buy it - build it yourself - especially since we all have some time to spare. I've decided to use a small pocket next to a 12v socket - it fits my iPhone X perfectly. As my car came with the smoker's package (but I do not smoke), I decided to utilize an ashtray as a housing. After some experimenting and a bunch of different parts from Aliexpress, I ended up using these components:

1. Fast charging wireless pad: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000263350537.html
After experimenting with some Qi PCBs I've ordered, I ended up using the parts sourced from this pad, as it got all the components in a tiny module that was easy to hide inside the ashtray. As well it supports fast charging. On the minus side - initially, I was planning to go with a tri-coil design, but it was harder to fit in an ashtray.

2. 12v to 9v module - you have to supply 9v to make fast charging work. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32861098806.html
It got operating temperature from -40 to +85 and is waterproof.

I've used plastic mash from a dollar store to mount the charging coil and decided to cover everything with a anti slip mat - it looks decent, easy to cut and will hold the phone in place.

Anti-slip mat: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01EIY01IE/

While putting electronic components together was quite simple, putting everything together required some experimenting:






After my charger was ready, I've removed the cupholder assembly and connected it to the 12v socket wires.

You can follow TIS (https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...les/1VnXgP85Hp) or r33_RGSport's manual for kneepads retrofit.

And here's the finished product:

[Kraftwerk AG]

Genius! I like it your prototype. So many questions, is it plug n play? Is it removable? How much? When do you start production? I want one. Sadly, my iPhone 11 Pro is the largest phone that will fit in the oem wireless cradle atm.

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Originally Posted by DeeO

Genius! I like it your prototype. So many questions, is it plug n play? Is it removable? How much? When do you start production? I want one. Sadly, my iPhone 11 Pro is the largest phone that will fit in the oem wireless cradle atm.

I was working on it since 2018, so I don't think I want to do it ever again Let's hope our Chinese friends will copy it and sell it on Ali

It's not plug-n-play - I had to solder it to the 12v outlet wires, but it can be done that way, I just didn't have a connector I could use at home and I didn't want to postpone this project any longer.

Maybe, someday, I will attempt a tri-coil setup and a connector, but I doubt it.

[skoold2003]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDrivingManiac

I was working on it since 2018, so I don't think I want to do it ever again Let's hope our Chinese friends will copy it and sell it on Ali

It's not plug-n-play - I had to solder it to the 12v outlet wires, but it can be done that way, I just didn't have a connector I could use at home and I didn't want to postpone this project any longer.

Maybe, someday, I will attempt a tri-coil setup and a connector, but I doubt it.

I did a similar project last year. I don't have the patience to do a DIY buy I posted some info on it here.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25172367

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Originally Posted by skoold2003

I did a similar project last year. I don't have the patience to do a DIY buy I posted some info on it here.


https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25172367

Yeah, I remember it. You lost a power outlet and a cover though.

[skoold2003]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDrivingManiac

Yeah, I remember it. You lost a power outlet and a cover though.

That's true, and my phone heats up and doesn't seem to charge very fast using it. I usually end up plugging it in anyway

[TheUltimateDrivingManiac]

Originally Posted by skoold2003

That's true, and my phone heats up and doesn't seem to charge very fast using it. I usually end up plugging it in anyway

From the view of your pad, more specifically, the hollow in the middle that I see, a phone is too far above the coil. Get rid of the hollow, make the pad flatter, and it should work better.