front 12v power connector

Mark and Ruth · Post by **Mark and Ruth** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:49 pm

Does anyone know where the fuse is located for the front 12 v power connector. The rear one works ok checked every fuse. Please help as my youngest needs his DVD player (for our peace as he sings when bored !!!!)

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:52 pm

Might be best to run a new wire from the battery to the ciggy socket (put a inline fuse in it) then the youngster can use the DVD when the ignition is off.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:56 pm

Fuse box is by the drivers right knee....pull the plastic cover off....the fuse you want is the last one on the top row...15 amp.

Mark and Ruth · Post by **Mark and Ruth** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:01 pm

Thanks Hayden but I have tried that fuse and it is ok. Will have another look and check the wiring at the wekend. If all else fails I will wire in a new one as you suggested. - thanks Mark

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:13 pm

doesn't the ciggy socket only work when the ignition is on, unless its been rewired to a leisure battery.

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:53 pm

in standard form you need the ignition on for the ciggie lighters to operate.
dont plug too much into the rear one.ive seen the wires nd i dont reacon their up to much current before you have a meltdown. best to rewire the rear to a leisure battery or perminantly so you dont need the ignition on.

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:24 pm

I was thinking of rewiring the back ciggy socket so that I could plug my inverter into it. At present I have 300w cables from the leisure battery thro the bulkhead on pass' side and thence directly to the inverter. But I dont like having cables trailing from front of Freda to the back.

So... where is the best/easiest way to lay the cable from the bulkhead entry to the rear cig lighter? And might it be a good idea to fit a din type socket rather than the ciggy type?

Ron

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:28 pm

also there is a problem with voltage drop if you run large cables long lengths using an inverter.
with my cable runs to that area i passed them through the bulkhead, down by the passenger side and into the engine bay, routed round in flexi conduit to the side step then underneath the pastic trim to my outlet plate.
you could rewire the cable inderneath the carpeting till you get into the rear panel on the bongo.
i have run smaller cables this way to get some power into the rear of the van to power a split charge relay for the trailer tent and also to run a dvd player mounted in the seatbelt bracket. i dont reacon much to the rear 12v socket.
you could change them to din sockets as these are a more positive connection however most 12v accessories are supplied with a ciggie plug so would need changing.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:37 pm

Voltage should not be a problem if you use the correct "thick" wire. A auto electrician should be able to advise you depending on length of wire and expected load.

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 5:43 pm

Thanks Dreamwarrior I think I could manage the wiring route you describe. I must look see if an adapter - din to ciggy socket - is cheaply available - my thinking being that a din connection to the inverter might be more reliable. I have read your comment re voltage drop as applying to the 240v after the inverter.

Well, just waiting for some dry weather to swap my ARB bushes and then electrics are next. I read your description on one of the threads about a hook up built around the step and fancy doing that also. The first Bongo I looked at - private sale - had that arrangement and I thought then it was a good wheeze.

Ron

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:04 pm

There will be no voltage drop on the 240 out of the inverter. Where you will get a drop is the 12 volt wire from the front to back of the Vehicle if the correct thickness of wire is not used. It cannot be to thick but to thin is a problem.

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:16 pm

you still do get voltage drop on the 240 side but i did mean the 12v in this instance.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:56 pm

The problem is ...if you plug in say a laptop, TV, and start to use the full 300 watts available from the inverter..this amount of power will have to be provided to the inverter via the 12 volt wires from the battery to the inverter. If the wire is to thin it will cause resistance and heat up causing a voltage drop (even melt and cause a fire)(fit a 20amp fuse in the pos wire). At a guess you should get some copper single core wire that is approx 0.25 inches in dia including insulation. I would say around 30 amp wire. Much better to overdo it.