Has anyone here modified the accessory power outlet wiring so that the power outlets are constantly "on" rather than switched on with the ignition? I did a search and could not find a thread on it.

Anyhow, the switched outlets are a feature on my TSX and Odyssey that I have never liked, because I would like to be able to leave my cell phone to charge in the car at times.

Looking at my TSX Service Manual that arrived in the mail this week, the power to the power outlets is controlled by the Accessory Power Socket Relay which is located in the under-dash fuse/relay box. The relay windings are powered through the ignition switch. It seems to me that removing the relay and installing a jumper wire in place of the relay contacts would be a simple modification which gives me what I want. My big assumption here is that there is nothing else powered off of this relay.

Has anyone tried this?

 

You can check the two contacts with a multimeter. If there is something else powered through that relay you will see it through the current flow.

 

I have an Odyssey too, and I got around this by installing new outlets, wired to the power seats, which are always hot:

 

According to the ETM, the power socket relay only switches the f&r outlets, so there should be no harm in removing the relay and jumping term. #1&2 to energize the sockets all the time.

Of course the reason Honda makes them switched is to keep people from discharging the car's battery when they leave the car with a higher draw connected to the outlet. Even a 5A draw (they are fused at 15A) will pull the battery down quickly with the engine off.

Cell phone charger shouldn't be an issue, but other accessories............use at your own risk.

 

Sounds like an excellent idea - I have always thought that the seats were an underutilized source of power! Where did you purchase the covered power outlets?

 

The best way to do this is run low amp through a switch to a relay that controls the 15A power to the sockets. Even though most switches at 15A are still safe, if it should fail, you could give yourself quite a shock. I like the clean install of these outlets, I would just take it one step further.