Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey fellas, just wondering if I can wire a cigaretter lighter accessories barrel directly to the battery?

Do I need it to be a fused 12V supply (ie have an inline fuse between it and the battery) or can it just be a direct wiring...

Also, does it matter if it doesn't switch off with the ignition (yes I know I'd have to unplug any accessories I don't want running when i'm out of the car so they won't flatten the battery..fluro lights when going to be when out camping etc)

Thanks in advance,

Luke

a fuse is a MUST, even if its just a inline fuse. and have it as close as possible to the battery.
Ive installed a cig adaptor in one of the rear arm rests, always on and fused. Works really well and is hidden by the lid.

Stick a fuse in so ya dont blow anything pricy (like a bling bling fluro or sumtihing), and you can connect straight to a battery, so long as nothings plugged in/switched on it shouldn' draw leccy all the time. My CB is wired straight to the battery (with a fuse of course)

Check out jaycar for electrical accessories... You can get some real good battery connectors that have 4x8gage outlets and a voltage readout. Also you could put a distributor block in the back... then you can add on whenever you want without havin to screw around with installing too much cable.

Cheers Fellas!

I'm just running the wires through to a double cigarette lighter socket I installed in me new rear panels...

I figure I can use one for fridge and the other for a fluro to cook by (or whatever else)

I still have the one in the dash to use as well (obviously)

Luke

Done, and working like a treat!

thanks again boys

Take a bit of care with ciggy lighter sockets and big current draw appliances. They tend to melt. I would not run a fridge off a standard ciggy lighter socket.
I run everything I own off 2 pin polarised plugs. Also run heavy duty (about 6mm square) to prevent voltage loss.
I have a couple of adaptors made up, 2 pin polarised plugs to ciggy plugs, for things like mobile phone, GPS, ect. I also have battery clamps to 2 pin polarised socket, so I can run accessories off a spare battery if needed. My camper is also set up the same.

I've run fridges off standard cig lighter sockets for years and never had a worry ...my Dad's done so in his Jackaroo and his Landy Discovery and my bro in his Roza as well

Luke

Bowhunter wrote:I've run fridges off standard cig lighter sockets for years and never had a worry ...my Dad's done so in his Jackaroo and his Landy Discovery and my bro in his Roza as well

Luke

just keep one of these handy.... so they dont become a 'daihatsu' thing

So what are two pin polarised plugs, where can I get them, how do I install, how much do they cost and how much mucking around is it?

Thought I'd cover all bases seeing as I seem to have "missed out" on some important info last time.

Luke

Try here:

www.whitworths.com.au

www.hella.com.au

www.narva.com.au

So what's the benefit and where in the "circuit" do I install them?

Luke

you just use them instead of a cig plug, the idea is that they have better contacts and thus generate less heat.
Negative side is you need to add the opp plug to each device, although you could just use it for fridges and other high current devices and get a adaptor from the 2 pin plug to a cig socket like that was mention earlier.

So... a fridge will plug straight into one of these plugs with NO adaptations to the cords on it at all???? or not? or are you saying I can buy an adapter that will go from my fridge cigarette male end to a two pin polar male and into a two pin polar female?

Luke

You have to decide what system you want to use. If you decide to go for the 2 pin polarised, then you have to make them up yourself. You are cutting off your ciggy plug from fridge, and fitting the new plug. You have to work out which is + and which is -. The adaptor is just for those things you dont want to change over, such as mobile phone/laptop/GPS adaptors. Most of my stuff is 2 pin, but I do retain the ciggy lighter, as well as 2 permenant powered ciggy lighter plugs under the dash. But all my high current devices are 2 pin, such as 3 fridges, 2 ft fluro, inverter, amongst other things.

Yes you can go straight off the battery. yes it does need to be fused or on a circuit breaker according to the current draw of the item being plugged in to it. (no fuse = big fire if there is a short circuit). it doesn't matter that it doesn't switch off just as long as you have unplugged what you have plugged into it when the car is off for a while (so you dont drain your battery). easy option is to get duel batteries,


jason
Alandra Auto Elec.