Bongo Fury

teenmal wrote:Hi, could you tell me the make and model of the box that was giving you the problem.

Will look it out for you later.

bigdaddycain wrote:

harpo42 wrote: Are the connections on the inside of the socket nice and clean? An intermittant connection due to dirty terminals could cause a build up of heat, simply due to a connection on/off scenario every time you went over a bump in the road.

I'd be tempted to try the coolbox in another vehicle,see if there are any issues with the plug overheating then. That way you could narrow down the cause of the overheating plug. If it does it in your car too, i'd be looking at replacing the actual plug on the box,as opposed to the socket in the bongo...

Everything was nice and clean and a good contact. I have no idea what caused the problem. I did actually replace the coolbox cigar type plug with the much better one mentioned earlier. On both occasions it happened toward the end of a two week hol. The coolbox is plugged in pretty much all the time (even tho tends to flatten battery overnight)
I know from my schoolboy physics that the reason its getting hot is because of resistance and Im not sure if lowering the fuse would neccesarioy help as the amount of current the coolbox is drawing is not the issue but the resistance in the plug is.

As I say I have now ordered the Weaco cf18 (off Ebay) and this "should" be ok as its not on for the same length of time as the coolbox.

harpo42 wrote:I replaced the cigar type socket/ plug with this http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/ind ... t_id=30262 which is a much better fitting arrangement. I still had problems with the plug heating up.

Am I being thick (don't answer that ). This DIN socket looks neat and inexpensive but they don't seem to advertise the jack (male) thats needed to go on the appliance itself.

Out of interest harpo42, does the socket mount in the location where the ciggie socket is, without having to make any modification?

Am I being thick (don't answer that ). This DIN socket looks neat and inexpensive but they don't seem to advertise the jack (male) thats needed to go on the appliance itself.

Out of interest harpo42, does the socket mount in the location where the ciggie socket is, without having to make any modification?[/quote]


try here http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/ind ... ory_id=312
you will notice that the jack comes in different amperage which is good. I have just ordered the 12 amp one for my new fridge.

No the din socket needs a different size hole but I cant remember exactly how it differs. I have this and the cigar type mounted side by side. This din socket is a much better type of connection especially for things such as coolboxes.

harpo42 wrote:Am I being thick (don't answer that ). This DIN socket looks neat and inexpensive but they don't seem to advertise the jack (male) thats needed to go on the appliance itself.

Out of interest harpo42, does the socket mount in the location where the ciggie socket is, without having to make any modification?

try here http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/ind ... ory_id=312
you will notice that the jack comes in different amperage which is good. I have just ordered the 12 amp one for my new fridge.

No the din socket needs a different size hole but I cant remember exactly how it differs. I have this and the cigar type mounted side by side. This din socket is a much better type of connection especially for things such as coolboxes.[/quote]

Excellent idea all round harpo42 and thanks+++. I'll investigate that.

Mike

If you replace the standard plug and socket with something else, is the polarity important? Do the plugs have an outer negative and an inner positive?

There are heavy duty connectors available from Maplins for trucks. Would they be better?

I personally prefer the non cigar type connector as they are much tighter and posative when they go together, unlike the cigar type that seem to move around a lot. Praps its just me.

I have just ordered from these people when I recieve the goods i will try and post some pictures of how they go together etc.

harpo42 wrote:I personally prefer the non cigar type connector as they are much tighter and posative when they go together, unlike the cigar type that seem to move around a lot. Praps its just me.

I have just ordered from these people when I recieve the goods i will try and post some pictures of how they go together etc.

Yes please harpo and thanks. I find all these sites (Maplins too) miss a huge marketing opportunity by not explaining to those not in the know, what they will need, what goes with what, what it will do for them etc. etc. Silly billies esp. with credit crunch all around them

I run a hefty cable to the back, fused of course, and fitted a couple of Clipsal type 2 pin 12 volts sockets, like these http://www.sparepartsrus.com/acatalog/P ... tches.html . I then cut off the cigar type plug of the coolbox and fitted the two pin plug. The other one I use to plug in the removable kitchen unit. I haven't had any disconnection or overheating problems with this arrangement.

Manny

Cigar lighter plugs often (or maybe even usually) have a fuse inside of them. A fuse works by the filament getting hot enough to melt and break the circuit. If the fuse is running at a significant percentage of its rated current, then it will get hot. Maybe not hot enough to blow, but hot enough to melt the plastic.
13A domestic plugs feel warm or even hot if they are supplying a high power device (like a heater) for a long time. Its normal - some heat is dissipated through the plug, but a significant amount is dissipated down the live connector into the socket and then into the house wiring.
In a cigar lighter socket, there is not really anywhere for the heat do go via the live centre pin.
Fitting a bigger fuse in the plug, or replacing the fuse with a solid link (shock, horror, ), or finding a plug without a fuse would be quite safe as long as the correct fuse is fitted at the fusebox.

Dave

Manny wrote:I run a hefty cable to the back, fused of course, and fitted a couple of Clipsal type 2 pin 12 volts sockets, like these http://www.sparepartsrus.com/acatalog/P ... tches.html . I then cut off the cigar type plug of the coolbox and fitted the two pin plug. The other one I use to plug in the removable kitchen unit. I haven't had any disconnection or overheating problems with this arrangement.

Manny

That too is a nice option Manny. The only thing that holds all these options back is the loss of the 'universality' provided by sticking with the ciggie lighter. But mounting one alongside the ciggie socket might suit me. One other (DIY) option I'm considering - if it can be done - is fitting some kind of retaining clip device to ensure the plug on the coolbox stays pulled in and held firm to the socket. I've noticed incidentally that some designs of plug are much better at staying plugged in than others. Anyone else noticed this?

mikeonb4c wrote:

Manny wrote:I run a hefty cable to the back, fused of course, and fitted a couple of Clipsal type 2 pin 12 volts sockets, like these http://www.sparepartsrus.com/acatalog/P ... tches.html . I then cut off the cigar type plug of the coolbox and fitted the two pin plug. The other one I use to plug in the removable kitchen unit. I haven't had any disconnection or overheating problems with this arrangement.

Manny

That too is a nice option Manny. The only thing that holds all these options back is the loss of the 'universality' provided by sticking with the ciggie lighter. But mounting one alongside the ciggie socket might suit me. One other (DIY) option I'm considering - if it can be done - is fitting some kind of retaining clip device to ensure the plug on the coolbox stays pulled in and held firm to the socket. I've noticed incidentally that some designs of plug are much better at staying plugged in than others. Anyone else noticed this?

I think its more the design of the socket Mike. The sides of some sockets are smooth - so the plug is retained just by friction - the centre pin is spring loaded and is trying to push the socket out. Add in some vibration and its not surprising that the plug creeps back and disconnects. Some sockets have a bump on the inside which the clips have to pass over so that the plug is retained better.

My caravan has a three pin socket that looks a little like an old fashioned small 3 pin mains socket. We plugged the 12V TV, vacuum cleaner and aa battery chargers into it. When we got the caravan (second hand) there were around four spare plugs in a cupboard. Even though the socket was vertical with the plug "hanging down" it never came out.

I think you're right Aethelric, although the plugs (somehow) also seem to make a differnece, as my Garmin SatNav one stays rock solid in the same socket that other one's won't stay in. If I come up with a DIY retainer I'll post on here with advice.