Member Since: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 66
Making a 12V socket permanently live
I want to make one of the cigarette sockets in the front permanently live from an aux battery. I don't want to do the link in the fuse box as this will run off the main battery. Is there an easy place to access the wires. I have looked at removing the panel with the 2 sockets and the ash tray but once the screws have beenr emoved it is still very firm. Is it just a case of pulling hard like the dash surround with the vents?
Has anyone fitted another socket anywhere else? If so do you have any pictures.
Also anyone know of any way to add a switch neatly as I can't seem to find any way without drilling through the trim.
11th Jun 2011 10:17 am
CUCO
Member Since: 26 May 2011
Location: Spain & Oleee!!!
Posts: 609
just a plug in instalation, no heavy car modification:
Run a wire from the AUX BATT straight to the fuse box, i mean, you dont have to do the link in the fuse box as this will run flt your main batt (link: RELAY IN----> RELAY OUT), but you can use your existing car instalation by running a wire to the out link of the cigarrete socket relay (or fuses) at he fuse box (AUX BATT---->RELAY OUT).
If you link the relay you link the three sockets of the car, if you link at the fuses dedicated to every single socket, you link only the single socket you want.
of course, if you make any of this mods, you MUST to eliminate the relay (dont throw it to the trash!). if not, aux and main batt will be linked trought this link!
I expect this help you.
Last edited by CUCO on 11th Jun 2011 6:15 pm. Edited 1 time in total
11th Jun 2011 11:00 am
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18560
To get the 12V sockets panel out you need to also remove the centre console (gearlever surround, front cupholders etc) as this releases the tray which sits underneath the sockets.06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
11th Jun 2011 11:31 am
chrisalang
Member Since: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 66
Thank you both - very useful. Didn't think of the connection tot he fuse box. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a 2005 discovery 3 HSE?
11th Jun 2011 11:41 am
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Re locations (if you go down the route of an auxiliary battery or don't need the sockets in the cabin) you could go for the boot area and do a panel "a la Wiggs". Here's what mine looks like at the moment, the two top ones are always on, the two bottom ones with the USB chargers are switched (switches to the right). All is fed by my aux battery through a secondary fusebox just behind the panel (also where the inverter and remotes for the FBH timer live)...
Click image to enlarge
I have originally made a wooden panel and bought the fabric to make it match the car, but for a tenner or so I ended up getting a second cubby panel which I can remove and replace with the original one if the car gets sold
Member Since: 26 Jun 2009
Location: Mandurah
Posts: 66
That is a cool modification. Can I ask what size the inverter is and the cable size you used. I presume the aux battery is under the bonnet. What Fuse did you use on the inverter wire and is the inverter permanently live?
Chris
15th Jun 2011 5:49 pm
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
In the process of doing a full write-up about it but to answer your questions:
- the inverter is only 300W (600W peak)
- the aux battery is indeed under the bonnet in the space the D3 has for it, connected with a Traxide split charger to the main battery
- the raw power from the aux battery comes to the back, on the other (drivers') side, where I have fitted distribution blocks for both poles, mounted on a bracket I made for them, behind the panel in the boot. The cable for that is 16mm2
- from the distribution blocks, two live feeds go to the 12-blade fuse block on the passengers' side (behind the panel in the boot) and one earth - the live cables are 10mm2 and the ground 16mm2
- another live and earth go to a 40A switching relay, fused with a 40A in-line maxi fuse (maxi only because I had a spare maxi fuse holder); the relay is switched by the round rocker switch next to the mains plug (the on/off switch of the inverter is always left to "on") - the cables for the power to the inverter are 6mm2
- inverter and fuseblock are both stuck to the soundproofing on the inside of the rear metal panel with 3M heat resistant VHB tape (been there for a few weeks and seems to hold quite well at 30 degrees!)
Hope this helps. Traveling at the mo, so can't access all my pics, but I'll try to dig some out tomorrow.
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
CUCO wrote:
just a plug in instalation, no heavy car modification:
Run a wire from the AUX BATT straight to the fuse box, i mean, you dont have to do the link in the fuse box as this will run flt your main batt (link: RELAY IN----> RELAY OUT), but you can use your existing car instalation by running a wire to the out link of the cigarrete socket relay (or fuses) at he fuse box (AUX BATT---->RELAY OUT).
If you link the relay you link the three sockets of the car, if you link at the fuses dedicated to every single socket, you link only the single socket you want.
of course, if you make any of this mods, you MUST to eliminate the relay (dont throw it to the trash!). if not, aux and main batt will be linked trought this link!
I expect this help you.
Any one who did this successfully modifying 3 sockets to supply12v independent of key position via aux battery? Glynne could you help with a how to guide using the relay socket on the passenger side footwell fuse box?
Photos of the relay in question:
I've not read the whole thread, it's too late and it's too wordy this Kate, but if you want to make the 3 12v outlets live from your Aux battery, all you need to do is in this thread
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2nd Feb 2014 12:08 am
Tufty
Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 481
D4JWW wrote:
CUCO wrote:
just a plug in instalation, no heavy car modification:
Run a wire from the AUX BATT straight to the fuse box, i mean, you dont have to do the link in the fuse box as this will run flt your main batt (link: RELAY IN----> RELAY OUT), but you can use your existing car instalation by running a wire to the out link of the cigarrete socket relay (or fuses) at he fuse box (AUX BATT---->RELAY OUT).
If you link the relay you link the three sockets of the car, if you link at the fuses dedicated to every single socket, you link only the single socket you want.
of course, if you make any of this mods, you MUST to eliminate the relay (dont throw it to the trash!). if not, aux and main batt will be linked trought this link!
I expect this help you.
Any one who did this successfully modifying 3 sockets to supply12v independent of key position via aux battery? Glynne could you help with a how to guide using the relay socket on the passenger side footwell fuse box?
Run the live from the aux battery to the plug where pin 5 of the relay goes. (Via a fuse at the battery end to protect the cable).
2nd Feb 2014 7:12 pm
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
Thanks Beanie, what I was after was which connector to use for the live wire from Aux/2nd battery. A big thanks too Tufty for the correct info
If I understand it correctly 12v feed into bottom pin only of the red bridge wire in Wiggs(thanks) photo:
Click image to enlarge
A few mods... and keeping it all running...Faultmate MSV2
MY09EGR's blanked Thanks Bellautos, BAS
2nd Feb 2014 7:21 pm
Tufty
Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 481
That's the one. The only one that is horizontal, the others are vertical.
2nd Feb 2014 7:47 pm
xcentric
Member Since: 01 Apr 2015
Location: Shropshire, UK
Posts: 1081
and on a D4, where is the equivalent relay/pin, does anyone know?
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