Always on 12v in the boot?

[Mr Hardware]

Gents

Thinking about putting a ciggy lighter socket in the boot, cos you know, stuff.

Where might i find an always on 12v feed in the boot that I could splice in to? I was thinking about what's there - tail lights? No, only active when something happens. Boot light? Only active when the boot is open, and only for an hour or something like that. Boot release button? Only for like 5 minutes after you unlock the car or if you have the keys in.

Unless i'm mistaken on how car electrics work (entirely probable!)

Thanks

[valiant81]

Hi;
Best way would to use heavy cable ( 6mm twin ) from your cig lighter all the way to your battery. A 20 Amp fuse or cuircut breaker as close to the battery as possable. Do not use the car's body for the earth return, that why a i always use 6 mm twin cable, this has two seperate insulated cables and one is used for the 12 Volt feed and the the other wire is used for the earth return.

Why use heavy wire, just because of the voltage drop over the lenght of the cable and pulling a bit of current. Car audio amplifiers and 2 ~3 way fridges come into their own here.

While you are at it why not fit a merrit socket at the same time as a lot of equipment these days use this type of socket instead of cig sockets as merrit are desighned to handel higher current ( 20 Amps @ 12 Volts ).

[JC]

Originally Posted by valiant81

Hi;
Best way would to use heavy cable ( 6mm twin ) from your cig lighter all the way to your battery. A 20 Amp fuse or cuircut breaker as close to the battery as possable. Do not use the car's body for the earth return, that why a i always use 6 mm twin cable, this has two seperate insulated cables and one is used for the 12 Volt feed and the the other wire is used for the earth return.

Why use heavy wire, just because of the voltage drop over the lenght of the cable and pulling a bit of current. Car audio amplifiers and 2 ~3 way fridges come into their own here.

While you are at it why not fit a merrit socket at the same time as a lot of equipment these days use this type of socket instead of cig sockets as merrit are desighned to handel higher current ( 20 Amps @ 12 Volts ).

That's pretty much why I did in our previous explorer. Hardest part is getting the wire through the firewall, after that, it's easy to lift the side trim, and run it down to the boot. I earthed it to the common earth setup under the bonnet (near the battery), and I also fitted a switch at the boot end so i could turn it off.

[Road_Warrior]

With our AU wagon all I did is bought one of those Narva extension cord things that plugged into the ciggie lighter, and routed it under the seats and carpet so it wouldn't get in the way.

It was rated to 10a if I recall, which is fine because that is all the ciggie lighter socket and factory wiring is rated to anyway. Just don't plug a 3 way fridge into it or anything.

[brismike]

Make sure you don't connect the earth wire directly to the battery. Earth it on the car body next to the battery. Reason for this is that if you go direct to the battery you will bypass the smart charge device that allows the alternator to always put back in the correct amount of juice to keep the battery fully charged.

If you don't do it this way you will slowly but surely discharge your battery and end up with a flat one. I'll upload a pic of how I did mine.



I have got a 20amp fuse in line just after the wire leaves the battery. Then I ran the cable along the side and down to the rubber grommet in the firewall. Then inside under the dash where I rigged up a toggle switch so I can switch the power off if I want. Then the wire goes along the side under the trim behind the back seat and into the boot.

I use it to plug in a portable 12 volt mini fridge which we got in ALDI a while ago. I did not use a ciggy lighter socket in the boot though. I replaced it with a more secure 12v connection that I got from Jaycar. I forget what they are called but they are a lot more secure and the socket won't accidentally drop out.

Cheers Mike

[Road_Warrior]

I dont think the AU had a smart charging system?

[brismike]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I dont think the AU had a smart charging system?

OK sorry .. if that's the case no problem .. if you are doing it to an FG do it my way.

I got the advice I have given from a guy who used to work in a Ford Dealer workshop.

Cheers Mike

[Fyrestorm]

I'm not sure if there's an active 12v on the trailer plug or not, but there is an earth.

If it's a wagon, the connector is hiding in with the jack.

[towtaltowing]

Originally Posted by brismike

Make sure you don't connect the earth wire directly to the battery. Earth it on the car body next to the battery. Reason for this is that if you go direct to the battery you will bypass the smart charge device that allows the alternator to always put back in the correct amount of juice to keep the battery fully charged.

If you don't do it this way you will slowly but surely discharge your battery and end up with a flat one. I'll upload a pic of how I did mine.

image

I have got a 20amp fuse in line just after the wire leaves the battery. Then I ran the cable along the side and down to the rubber grommet in the firewall. Then inside under the dash where I rigged up a toggle switch so I can switch the power off if I want. Then the wire goes along the side under the trim behind the back seat and into the boot.

I use it to plug in a portable 12 volt mini fridge which we got in ALDI a while ago. I did not use a ciggy lighter socket in the boot though. I replaced it with a more secure 12v connection that I got from Jaycar. I forget what they are called but they are a lot more secure and the socket won't accidentally drop out.

Cheers Mike

you have a 20amp fuse on cable that looks like 1.5mm2 which is only good for 16amps in the best conditions
you prob used an anderson plug in the boot

i have 3x sockets in the boot on all the time from its own feed from the battery
2x sockets in the glove also on it own feed



tom