Ron, you're a gem!

I think I'll generously borrow a few items you pointed out and go a slightly different way.

I intentionally built my seat wider than my butt with the intention of being able to place a handheld next to my hip on one side and something of a similar size on the other.* It's worked out really well with the handheld - even when I inverted on the ground, the handheld didn't fly up - and while I don't have space on my panel to mount like you did, I have a needless switch on it.**

So I'm thinking about putting in a cigarette lighter plug on the outside of the seat (there's just enough room), and running the wire to the switch and relabel it "radio." Then get one of those battery replacers and plug it in right there, since that's what is on the end of it.

I'll run the wires straight from the battery (interrupted by the switch) to the cigarette lighter. Will there be noise from the alternator? Dunno. The direct connect battery thingie says it has a filter.

This allows me to remove the radio and use it for other stuff, like being ground crew for my EAA brothers.

* It dawned on me yesterday when I was flying that there is no reason I can't have my super duper thermos cup with hot coffee with me in the air. Or, in the summer, my super duper thermos cup with hot coffee with me in the air. Since it has a clearly labelled OPEN CLOSE lever on it and does not leak when closed, I don't even need a cup holder.

** Read back a few pages on the charging saga. That alternator switch is nice, but unnecessary, and I'm going to delete that part of the circuit.