Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 15
What’s this socket in my boot?
Hi,
My pre-loved Disco has a couple of non-standard additions which aren’t in the manuals and I’m guessing the collective wisdom here will know exactly what’s going on.
I’ve got an extra socket next to the 12v cigarette power socket in the boot - it’s slightly smaller than a cigarette style one, I guess it’s for power - but it’s like an old school headphone socket - if you know what I mean.
Is it something obvious or should I just keep sticking metal objects in and flicking switches and if
I can give myself a shock?
2013, D4 XS
22nd Apr 2020 3:15 pm
highlands
Member Since: 11 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5095
DIN sockets, Hella sockets, Powerlet sockets.
Anyone with a BMW touring bike will recognise it!
German 12V outlet.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
22nd Apr 2020 3:23 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15211
I'd check if it's live once the Disco goes to sleep.
None of the other power sockets are, so could be useful for items that need constant power eg cteck charger.
If it is live, I'd change the socket to the standard type.🏴
22nd Apr 2020 3:36 pm
anotherrick
Member Since: 17 Feb 2020
Location: Burnley
Posts: 33
highlands wrote:
DIN sockets, Hella sockets, Powerlet sockets.
Anyone with a BMW touring bike will recognise it!
German 12V outlet.
Yep looks like that to me.
Gotta say I feel a bit let down though. Thought you'd found my old missing 10mm socket lol 😁
22nd Apr 2020 5:03 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2079
DIN sockets are designed as power sockets with proper connectors , not like cigarette lighters ones that have morphed into power supplies where the plugs fall out at every opportunity.
22nd Apr 2020 5:45 pm
highlands
Member Since: 11 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5095
Cigarette lighter sockets do have the advantage of a diameter that will accommodate (2) USB outlets...along with the associated electronics.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
Grey 05 TDV6 HSE Auto (Gone)
54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
Member Since: 16 Feb 2020
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 15
Cheers guys! I knew some of you would know, I’ll see what happens with it when it’s shut down as yeah, permanently live socket would be handy at times, or it’ll break my heart when I drain the battery doing something stupid.
Thanks again! I owe you all a theoretical beer!2013, D4 XS
22nd Apr 2020 7:45 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
Keep it! You can even charge your car battery with them, that’s is were the are used for on BMW motorcycles from the ‘80 ‘90 en later... factory fitted and BMW offered a charger for it....
Just to tell you that it is a Good design by itself.. (but others told you allready)Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
The Imperial Standard 7-pin connector system for trailer caravans did not have sufficient pins to allow additional equipment and when caravans started getting supplied with electrically operated reverse release mechanisms it was common to add one of these Hella made sockets to supply a feed switched by the reverse lights. But that was about 50 years ago.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
23rd Apr 2020 8:09 am
imaz
Member Since: 14 May 2020
Location: Perth
Posts: 5
That’s called a merit plug. Slightly better than the cig socket as it clips in. But it’s the same crap, nothing special to it.
14th May 2020 6:55 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10355
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