Wireless Charging Install

RangerCat

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Hi Gang,

When the 2019 Ranger was announced, I was appalled that Ford was not going to equip it a wireless phone charger. Since I brought my Ranger home, I have been on a quest to add this must-have feature (IMHO).

I chose the small tray directly below the climate control system (photo attached). My phone fits in there perfectly and I was already going to have that area disassembled to install my auto-stop eliminator. For those with larger phones, the tray in the dash above the radio could also be used.

I purchased a wireless charging pad and fast charge compatible USB power supply on Amazon (links are below). I don't have photos of the install procedure but here are step by step instructions:

(1) Disassemble the center console using the instructions provided in the installation doc for the auto-stop eliminator (link is below). You can detach the remaining wires and put the shifter in "S" to release the tray so you can get it out and have clear access to the bottom of it.

(2) Remove the 4 screws from the wireless charging pad (hidden under the tiny rubber feet) and remove the top plastic plate. This will expose the three charging coils. I did this to reduce the thickness of plastic the charger has to charge through. You can dispose of this piece, the screws, and the rubber feet.

(3) Plug the USB cable that came with the power supply into the micro USB port on the wireless charger.

(4) Plug one of the 12V ports (that you previously removed) back in off to the side so you can temporarily plug the power supply in to it. Plug the USB cable in so you now have temporary power to to the charging pad.

(5) With your phone in the tray where you plan to lay it (slid to one end or the other...I chose left), place the wireless charging pad under the tray and slide it around to find the sweet spot where it charges your phone. This pad is efficient enough to charge though the plastic in the bottom of the tray, the tray's rubber liner, and my phone's TPU case.

(6) Once you find the right spot, attached the charging pad in that spot. You can use any any method you are comfortable with. I used Gorilla tape because, well, I love Gorilla tape, and once you put it back together, it really can't move much anyway.

(7) Now for the power. I chose this power supply because it is fast charge compatible. I tried a wire-in step down regulator but I could not get it to work properly so I switched to this one and it did the trick. Rather that tearing it apart, I just soldered power connections onto the positive (end) and negative (side) connections on the power supply. I taped it up nice and zip-tied it behind the framework next to the fuse box.

I used a fuse tap (you can get one at your auto parts store, link below) to tap into fuse unused slot 35 with a 5A fuse on the top and 10A fuse on the bottom. Slot 35 is keyed to the ignition so it shuts off with the truck. The power supply has it's own fuse so, if you want, you could skip the fused tap and go directly to the load side if the fuse slot. It's your call.

Insert the tap into the fuse slot with the outgoing wire pointing to the right because the right side of the fuse is the load side. I attached the negative lead from power supply to a screw connector and attached it behind the screw that goes into clean metal in the framework right below the the steering wheel. You just have to ground it to metal somewhere. Plug the USB cable into one of the USB ports on the power supply.

(8) Zip tie it all to make it pretty and close it up.

I have done quite a bit of testing and, while the charger does generate some heat (as you would expect), it does not seem to be extreme or unsafe . I'll do more testing over the next few days.

Feel free to drop questions here if you have any and I'll try to answer them.

20190424_233657.jpg


Wireless Charging Pad:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fast Charge Compatible Power Supply:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KJ57Q1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fuse Tap:
https://www.autozone.com/electrical...ories/bussmann-fuse-and-accessories/32414_0_0

Auto-Stop Eliminator Install Instructions:
https://www.autostopeliminator.com/...019_ford_ranger_installation_instructions.pdf
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RedlandRanger

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Once you've tested this out some, I'd love to know how well it works for you long term. I can understand everything you did, but pictures would have been helpful (pictures really are worth a thousand words).

I go back and forth on whether to do something like this - I've tried android auto and actually prefer the stock setup, so I may end up attempting this at some point.

Thanks for posting it.
 
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RangerCat

RangerCat

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Once you've tested this out some, I'd love to know how well it works for you long term. I can understand everything you did, but pictures would have been helpful (pictures really are worth a thousand words).

I go back and forth on whether to do something like this - I've tried android auto and actually prefer the stock setup, so I may end up attempting this at some point.

Thanks for posting it.
Yeah, it was late and dark in the garage and I was hellbent on getting everything buttoned back up. I knew I would regret not taking some photos.

I tried Android Auto also and while it's neat technology, I don't really card for it either. I like how it makes your steering wheel voice control into a Google Assistant button but I really dislike the timeline interface of the home and I din't link having to attach the phone via cable. I wish it would work via Bluetooth. It works for the Ford+Alexa app. Have you tried that out yet?
 

RedlandRanger

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Yeah, it was late and dark in the garage and I was hellbent on getting everything buttoned back up. I knew I would regret not taking some photos.

I tried Android Auto also and while it's neat technology, I don't really card for it either. I like how it makes your steering wheel voice control into a Google Assistant button but I really dislike the timeline interface of the home and I din't link having to attach the phone via cable. I wish it would work via Bluetooth. It works for the Ford+Alexa app. Have you tried that out yet?
I've been in that spot before - I forget to take pictures when it is all apart and then wonder why I didn't take them.

I have not tried out the Ford+Alexa app - it isn't rated very well in Google Play, but I will download and try it out to see what it looks like.
 
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RangerCat

RangerCat

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I've been in that spot before - I forget to take pictures when it is all apart and then wonder why I didn't take them.

I have not tried out the Ford+Alexa app - it isn't rated very well in Google Play, but I will download and try it out to see what it looks like.
I am not sure why it has a low rating in the Play store. For me, it works exactly as expected. It has a smart connect feature that turns it on automatically when your phone connects via Bluetooth and then it does not require any button presses to activate. The phone listens for the wake up work just like your echo does at home.
 


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RangerCat

RangerCat

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i put in a wireless pad as well in the same location.
but i went with easy route.
I simply cut a piece of sheet-metal to fit nice across the opening, painted it black and attached it to the tray with double sided sticky tape on the edges. I then attached my charging pad to this plate and secured it with the tape as well. The USB cable tucks in nicely behind and under it.
I worried the phone may wiggle free from bumps, but it hasn't yet.
I'm away from my truck for a few weeks, so I cant add any pics of the install.
That's a neat idea! If you are able to add photos later, please do. I'd love to see it. My problem with the charging ports in the truck is that all of them only support standard charging (not fast charging). That why I decided not to use them for powering the pad (and the fact that I wanted the wires hidden).

By the way, how can you stand being AWAY from your truck for that long! :LOL:
 
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RangerCat

RangerCat

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I'm happy to report that there are no heat issues, even when the phone battery is low and drawing extra current to charge fast.
 

deeve

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Is your phone able to lay flay inside that tray to charge? I have an iPhone XR and it will not lay flat and I dont think that would work for wireless charging.
 

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I had posted this a while back...it sits on the wires and is very stable..no issues. I put a couple pieces of small foam underneath as well.

2AF80D93-0C4D-45F3-9FAA-2E06F104CD85.jpeg
 

BHunted

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I had posted this a while back...it sits on the wires and is very stable..no issues. I put a couple pieces of small foam underneath as well.

2AF80D93-0C4D-45F3-9FAA-2E06F104CD85.jpeg
Did the same thing.... Except mine is slightly tilted toward front angle so its easier to get it centered. Works fine. :thumbsup:
 
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RangerCat

RangerCat

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Is your phone able to lay flay inside that tray to charge? I have an iPhone XR and it will not lay flat and I dont think that would work for wireless charging.
Yes, I have a Galaxy s8 and it fits perfectly. :)
 

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That looks great! I would love to do something like this with my Galaxy S10+. I have never tried it but I wonder if I can still use the phone for Android Auto...since it needs to be connected via USB. I use it tons...so may not be in the cards for me.
 

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That looks great! I would love to do something like this with my Galaxy S10+. I have never tried it but I wonder if I can still use the phone for Android Auto...since it needs to be connected via USB. I use it tons...so may not be in the cards for me.
yeah, wireless charging is kinda pointless for me without wireless android auto
 

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I wish we wireless carplay. Not sure why that isn't an option on Sync 3. I see Sync 4 will have it but I bet it won't be retroactive to the Sync 3.
 
 



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