[cgcarr]

I have a 2008 hybrid escape and I would like to add additional 12V axillary power outlets in the center console area, preferably permanently mounted and wired. I assume this has done this in the past and I was looking for ideas before undertaking the task on my own.

 

[Squishy]

Camusdarrach has documented exactly what you are planning to do: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=774

It's for a first-generation Escape, but the work involved should be roughly the same. Here's how to get the 2008 centre console apart: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=484

 

[nicker22]

I though the 08s were the same as 09s ? My 09 has one in the back of the console already

 

[jonas1022]

I beleive you are correct! I was thinking it's in the front of the console. But upon reconsideration, that's the Mustang that has the 12VDC outlet in the front. The Tribute has it in the back. eace:

 

[EscapeFromLA]

I swapped my rear console outlet for a triple one that lives in the pocket down below and find it much better all around. It's pretty simple:

1. Take the rear panel off the center console (The cupholders pull off via spring clips revealing 2 small hex-head screws, and there are 2 more on each side at the bottom facing the seats)

2. Unplug the rear 12v socket and cut off the harness (have a care here as this is an always-on (not ignition-switched) circuit - recommend pulling the fuse while you work on it).

3. Crimp spade connectors on the wires where the harness was (don't forget to put the insulating boots on first!)

4. pull the metal sleeve from the now-disconnected outlet socket, and replace it with a round 3/4" boat rocker switch, which will give you local control over your outlet's power.

5. Grab a triple 12v outlet splitter, which should (as long as you don't get a big brick one) just slip into the pocket at the bottom of the rear console panel you removed. In my case I cut the original 12v male plug off the splitter, leaving a long lead which I passed that through a 1/4" hole I drilled in the bottom corner of the pocket (easy to do from the back) before putting spade connectors on it, too: female for the positive side, male for the negative side.

6. Connect the positives of both the car side and splitter to the rocker switch, and the negative of the splitter to the negative on the car side and put everything back together, tucking the extra wire into the bottom of the pocket or through the hole to the inside of the console.

You now have a switchable triple outlet that can be used with the seats folded (normally a plug sticking out of the rear outlet digs into the folded seat bottoms) and if you left enough cord, can be pulled from the pocket where it lives to wherever you need it; mine's long enough to pass between the seats to the rear cargo area, where I find it infinitely more useful (cooler, battery charging, etc)


Lots of variations: use an outlet splitter with USB ports in it, switches on the individual outlet ports, use a USB dual outlet instead of the rocker switch in the original outlet hole (better fit), or versions of any of these with a voltage display on them if you're using any of this with the engine off so you can keep an eye on the 12v battery charge (even in the hybrids, this is all driven by the lead acid battery). If I can remember to, I'll grab pics of my setup

 

[vpasla1]

Definitely would be more useful with pictures, but sounds like you put in a good amount of work.

 

[EscapeFromLA]

Definitely would be more useful with pictures, but sounds like you put in a good amount of work.

Well alrighty then...it's really pretty simple as mods go, but here ya go:

This is more or less the result...the switch wasn't in there but you can see the hole on the right where the old 12V plug was, the now-upward-facing 3 new ones. But what's really handy is this:

All you need to do to get to this is pop the rear cupholders (pull upward) and undo these screws:

I don't have pics of the old harness so you get to deal with my sketching....just pull the harness off the back of the old 12v outlet and cut the wires (again, pull the fuse first);

it occurs to me the easiest (no crimp) way to connect this stuff is with a screw-terminal toggle switch...just strip wires and tighten screws. Anyone with a modicum of electrical know-how will be able to vary this to their liking,...I like the dual USB/voltmeter thing (linked above) since it drops right into the old 12v outlet hole, then one additional easy-to-drill small round hole for your toggle or round rocker (on mine there's already a pass-through grommet on the left, but normally that's blank and a perfect spot for a switch) ...that way you get high current USB charging, voltage monitoring, and a kill switch along with your extra outlets.

If you're ok without the switch, you can always use wire nuts in place of the switch above...just make sure you really get a solid connection if you plan on using much amperage on the new 12v outlets....DC is sensitive to resistance a little more so than AC

Hope that helps