Club 80-90 Forums

Evening,
I would like to add some more 12v sockets in Dotty and connect these to the leisure battery. Has anyone purchased such a device?
I need 2 and preferably fused and able to mount on the screws behind the drivers seat. Maplin do a few variations but not too sure if they will be upto the job as I need to connect my fridge (8A) whilst driving.
Thanks

Steve

hi steve.. looking at doing something similar myself..

my research has given me JK ... http://www.justkampers.com/cigar-lighte ... t-12v.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and there is roadpro. http://www.roadpro.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dont think either of these are integrally fused.

let me know what you have unearthed. ...

Check the socket rating. It'll probably be 3.5 Amps. Pulling 8 Amps through a cheap cigarette socket will probably melt it or blow the internal fuse. Why not just wire the fridge properly with a proper socket. Google 12v Hella socket / plug.

I agree ^^^ looking at the fly lead that comes with those multi type sockets it's clear that they aren't designed for any serious load and the sigle plastic bodied ones are very poor. On the other hand, a high amp metal bodied cigarette lighter/accessory socket is much heavier duty....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-24v-20A-C ... 53f80d1aa4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

Thank you all for the input.
Hollow, not too sure if i want to put my trust in an electrical item from Just Kampers!!

Boxy, My Dometic fridge is a portable one so do not want to hard wire. It has a Hella socket on it already but at the moment it has to reach over the passenger to connect to the supply on the dash board. Want something at the back for convenience.

California Dreaming, I have one of those already but am finding it very difficult to access the back of the dash to replace. You need hands of a 4 year old I might have to take off the dash!! Oh joy

Thanks

Steve

Boxy,
Just looked at Road Pro. Nice stuff. If they are not fused you could always add an inline fuse holder. Think that is what I might end up doing.

Thanks again

Steve

nobbyfox wrote:If they are not fused you could always add an inline fuse holder. Think that is what I might end up doing.

Do it! If ever you add anything straight off a battery, FUSE IT as near to the battery +ve as possible. That way, if a wire chafes or gets snagged, the fuse will blow rather than the wire melt.

AdrianC wrote:

nobbyfox wrote:If they are not fused you could always add an inline fuse holder. Think that is what I might end up doing.

Do it! If ever you add anything straight off a battery, FUSE IT as near to the battery +ve as possible. That way, if a wire chafes or gets snagged, the fuse will blow rather than the wire melt.

I will !! Need to find the right sort of sockets first though

nobbyfox wrote:

AdrianC wrote:

nobbyfox wrote:If they are not fused you could always add an inline fuse holder. Think that is what I might end up doing.

Do it! If ever you add anything straight off a battery, FUSE IT as near to the battery +ve as possible. That way, if a wire chafes or gets snagged, the fuse will blow rather than the wire melt.

I will !! Need to find the right sort of sockets first though

I'm tempted to replace the original Westy leisure fusebox on the B-pillar (with really-hard-to-find fuses) with a little blade fuse box from VWP. They've also got a decent selection of sockets.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... 12vacc.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"DIN socket" is the uncommon smaller one, like Westfalia put on the dash. Standard panel-mount ciggy sockets can be found a lot cheaper on fleaBay - I think I paid £3, delivered, for one a little while back. USB's useful, too, of course.

Thanks Adrian.
Would you replace the fuse box behind the pillar for one that has more terminals or just a newer version? Having more terminals would be handy especially if i can mount my sockets behind the drivers seat. No more wires connected to the leisure battery!!
There are lots of different types available but ideally i need one that has a couple of sockets and can be mounted, buy trying to find one with holes is proving a bit difficult. And yes the USB is handy. I would like to replace all of the 12v sockets on the dash but as i said previously, access is vertually nil

Thanks

Steve

nobbyfox wrote:Would you replace the fuse box behind the pillar for one that has more terminals or just a newer version?

One that's both!

The old one has two fuses. IIRC it's one for fridge/water pump, and one for charging.
At a minimum, I'd want one for the radio/int lights mod, and one for aux ciggy sockets.

ATM, I've got blade fuses for those tucked within the battery box (quick and easy blade fuse holder = couple of female spade terminals - obv, make sure everything's fully insulated, no loose ends), and a triple cig socket "extension" on a long flying lead sat around the back of the seat. The wiring to it's far too thin for any serious current, but for low-draw stuff, it's fine.

Somebody's had fun in the past with the wiring for my dash sockets - neither the DIN or ciggy that are there have a live feed. I just ignore 'em. For USB, for phone chargers etc, I've got a two-USB-into-one-ciggy adapter. I've also got a nice little ciggy-socket digi voltmeter. I've been thinking about fitting a flush panel-mount cig socket into each of the battery boxes, give easy access to volts from either as required.

I've put a (fused) ciggie lighter socket on the panel covering our leisure battery. We use it to run a 12v fridge or I put a small inverter in to charge up stuff.
DO NOT go to a bliddy breakers to get one. I spent about half an hour hacking one out of a scrapper and then when I went to pay for it they wanted £5.00! I told them to put it on the shelf for stock and I wouldn't charge them for taking it off the scrappie.
Got one brand new from local car shop for about £4.50

Thanks Adrian for the info,
I will put this on the backburner for the moment and leave this for a winter project. I might even find something at Busfest though

Ian and Lins.
Is there enough room for a cigarette lighter on the panel? I have a JX so mine is behind the drivers seat and its a tight squeeze including the battery. If it fits it could be one possibility.

Thanks all.

Steve

I have now bought these. Thanks Hollow for the link, bought them from Road Pro.
They look very well made and made in Germany.
The accessory socket looks near identical to the Westy version so hopefully will drop straight in. There is a You Tube video on how to replace the socket on the GoWesty web site if interested.

This 3 way socket comes non wired so will add an inline fuse when i install.


And the screw holes are very handy!!


If using the appropriate gauge wire, this socket can handle unto 20a. A bit OTT but worth it I think.




I will install soonish

Thanks
Steve L

That 20A socket looks huge in your hand