TheSamba.com :: View topic - Additional 12volt outlets. Placement & how to? Post Pics

Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:38 am

Hey everyone:

I'd love to mount some extra 12v outlets somewhere in my dash. I always have multiple things plugged in on the long trips I take. Cell Phone, GPS, Ipod etc. I hate using the radio shack splitter. It looks crappy and always pulls out on every bump when there are multiple things plugged in

Can people who have done this explain quickly how they should be wired and also where they placed them. Time involved? Wiring? Sugegstions?

Pics would be appreciated!

Thanks! ;-)

-Mike

Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:57 am

Mike,

Is your van a Westy or regular? I have them all over my westy. Some people like them in the side of the driver's set, where the above and behind the E brake handle. The VW style outlet is actually a tiny bit larger than US models, so things are always loose. Years ago when I bought an Escort radar detector (defiantly don't need that in the van), it came with a spacer you pushed on the plug to make it fit tighter in European sockets. For simplicity sake, you may want to see if you can find one of those, and use an extension, then the splitter.

Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:05 am

Thanks for the reply!

I was hoping to mount them in the dash itself for items that I like to plug in and use on the dash. Is there any special wiring or fuses needed?
I suppose I can do some in-wire fuses etc.

Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:05 am

It's a westy

Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:06 am

Where can I find that spacer you mentioned??

Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:42 am

There's enough space to the right of the existing 12V outlet to put half a dozen of 'em. They're about $6 or $7 each at AutoZone or Checker. Of course it means punching holes in your dash. I mounted a couple of 'em under the dash, just above the clutch pedal in a piece of 1/8" thick aluminum plate. They're out of sight and I use them to plug in my GPS and XM radio. I took out the stock VW socket and replaced that with a standard one as well so my cell phone charger stays in there nice and tight. I try to post a pic sometime soon.

Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:08 am

You can use the existing wires to the stock plug and add additional inline fuses. Personally I like the spade type fuse, you can get the inlines from RS (Radio Shack). The spacer I mentioned came with the detector, and since I have it, I have never looked for another, but you may try RS or some other like place.

On my Westy, I put one behind the seat on the cabinet bulkhead, one near the vent grill on the side of the cooktop and one near the rear on the very aft cabinet, so I could have a remote light for the engine compartment.

Wireing on a westy is as varied as the westies themselves. It would depend if you have dual batteries and such.

Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:23 pm

I'm thinking of adding one next to the stock cigarette lighter on the dash. What would be the best way to cut the hole through the metal? Are there any special hardware gizmos to make a perfect circle? I just want it to look as perfect as can be

Thanks

Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:48 pm

I've heard of and seen 12V sockets all over people's vans, but I am curious as to what you use them for? I know Dogpilot mentioned the overhead light for the engine compartment, but what of the others? I can't think of that many 12V items that I might need or use. Just a general question. Thanks.

Lundy

Fri Oct 20, 2006 2:10 pm

Lundy,

Not a bad question. I use the one behind the drivers seat to plug the computer into when I set it on the front table for videos and work. The one by the cooktop is for the same thing but on the rear table. I also put extensions on the front one for the telescopes to run off. The one behind the seat is also great to charge stuff off when your on the move, you can put the whatever there behind the seat and and it stays. I also use the one near the cooktop to plug the camera chargers to, and put the chargers in the compartment there with the lid down. I was going to put one in the poptop, but I decided I didn't need the hassel wiring it up there. I went for the dot lights on an old bicycle reflector holder

Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:03 pm

I threw one in on the left hand side of the passenger seat. Handy for devices that are tossed on the floor between the seats eliminating the hanging cords around your knees.

I wired it to the battery under the seat with an inline fuse.

Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:53 am

tds3pete / dogpilot et al:

I am an electrical novice... Can you provide additional detail on the use of the in-line fuse in the 12v accessory outlet wiring ciruit, to include what type and capacity fuse you use and why it is necessary...

I am going to add some of these accessory outlets soon in order to be able to charge the laptop, run a small DVD player for my daughter in the back, run the GPS up front etc. I like your ideas on placement, sounds spot on.

Thanks for any additional information you maybe able to provide that helps me visualize what this project entails and what materials are required. Any pictures?

Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:39 pm

Here's what I did for some addtional power and light in Winston:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=159921&highlight=silver+socket

I did wire in another 12v. socket next to the refrigerator vent, and I left Winston's Silver Socket on the starter battery, while I moved the lighter cirtuit over to the Odyssey auxiliary and the new fuse panel. You want the fuse in any circuit to be as close to the battery as possible, in order to kill a short the most quickly.

I can use the rear socket to run my laptop for DVD's and wireless access, or I can run my 2 in 1 cord to the back for three outlets on two batteries. Looking forward to some movies while camping!

Best!