Hard wiring Engel to 12v Anderson Plug?

[turkey]

I have just rewired my whole dual battery system in my HJ75 and am running an 80 lt engel which is about 10+ years old. I have got an anderson plug that I want to wire up so I can get the best connection possible with no voltage drop, and no chance of it coming out on the rough stuff. Its currently using the fused cig lighter fitting which is in a very good socket as it is, but I am loath to cut the cig plug off the end for using to wire to the anderson plug incase I need to use it in someone elses vehicle etc at some stage.

Now my question is(and I havent pulled the the power box apart yet to have a look), can I tap into the 12 volt part of the fridge with some new wires and fittings and make my own lead to wire up directly to an anderson plug which in turn will be wired to my fuse panel in the back? Has anyone attempted to do this before?

[stuee]

Are you saying you dont want to cut the current 12volt end of the Engels lead to replace with the anderson style adapter?

I wouldn't go opening the fridge up to tap into the supply, just T off the current lead. There is no reason you can't have the current 12v plug AND an anderson plug too.

A bit of black electrical tape over the unused plug and your set.

[stuee]

A;so if you don't want 2 plugs on the same lead you could put some std automotive connectors and in between the plug and the fridge and simply put the appropriate plug on when needed.

Or just buy one of the sockets that acts as a anderson plug and a cigarette style adapter when you put the plastic cap on it.

[murcod]

What sort of Anderson plugs are you using?

I've been using the Powerpoles (15, 30 and 45 Amp varieties) lately and in cases like yours I've simply cut the current plug off and terminated with the Powerpoles. You can then put Powerpoles on the bit you cut off and join the cut lead back together again should you need to use the original plug.

I've used them on my Maxair compressor, battery charger etc. and just carry the cut off (and terminated) alligator clamps along with me. (All three of my vehicles I've hardwired Powerpoles onto the starter batteries, so don't use the alligator clamps.) They're very easy to hard mount by making a small metal plate- or you can buy the plates or special connector housings.

http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-power ... pole-sets/
http://www.powerwerx.com/anderson-power ... cessories/

You could do the same thing with the more traditional Anderson plugs.

[turkey]

Yes thats correct I didnt want to cut off the cig lighter fitting incase I need to utilise that at a later date. Its just a standard 50 amp Anderson plug I believe, I have never used them before it was just recommended to me as I have everything new and heavy duty now. I never thought of running t-pieces or connectors off the original cable good idea will give that a crack on the weekend. Thanks for the advice fellas

[macca81]

so cut the cig conector off, put an anderson plug between it and the fridge. throw the cig conector and anderson plug bit in the glovebox so you dont loose it. then you have an anderson plug on the end of your lead for inside your car, and you also have a cig lighter connection in your glovebox that can hook upto your fridge with the anderson plug.

[stuee]

Apologies. I mixed up Anderson connectors with these in my posts:


Merit plugs




macca81 has the right idea

[turkey]

so cut the cig conector off, put an anderson plug between it and the fridge. throw the cig conector and anderson plug bit in the glovebox so you dont loose it. then you have an anderson plug on the end of your lead for inside your car, and you also have a cig lighter connection in your glovebox that can hook upto your fridge with the anderson plug.

Good one macca! Cheers for that sounds perfect for what I need

Yeah stuee looked at those plugs too but just got recommended the anderson over those, although I cant see much advantage either way....