TheSamba.com :: View topic - 12 volt accessory outlets

Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:28 pm

The van needs a single 12 volt outlet somewhere in the bench seat area. The ideal location is somehow eluding me. I want to be sure if hole must be drilled, it's in the Right Place.

Ideas? If you've added a 12 volt plug in the rearward part of your van, can you tell us where it is?

And as always, photos are much appreciated.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:46 pm

I put one in the ashtray behind the driver's seat.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:52 pm

Not a Westy, but I put in 3 extras, all powered off the aux battery: one in the aisle, attached to my cupholder, on the right side where I can reach it from the driver's seat;

and, ran a fused 10ga. feeder to the engine bay wiring J-box, and split it there to feed one socket in each of the rear pillar covers, a couple feet up and facing forward. Those are to plug in little gooseneck lamps for reading-in-bed lights when camping.

These make nifty engine bay work lights, too.

<edited because, lo and behold! I did have pics of these>

Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:49 pm

Hey John,

Have one near under the rear bench seat for 12v blankets for the kids and computer hook-ups for the day I actually buy a laptop :D , and the one on the side of the kitchen cabinet behind the driver's seat. This last one allows me to charge the phone, and still have it located right beside me for when calls come in.

I do like the side of the cabinet beside the grate as an option though.

Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:23 pm

I converted the cigarette lighter into one, and put a double in back.

It serves to allow a drip charger as well as use power directly. We mostly use it for the DVD player we bought from MightyART ~ the aux power is isolated, so it doesn't shut the kid's DVD off when I kill the engine.

You can see the install here, here, or here

Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:46 pm

CJ,

I put one in the face of the cabinet just below the sink and one in the city water hook-up.

Mark

Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:03 pm

city water hookup and on top of the new fridge

Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:41 pm

Here is Winston's Auxiliary Power jack, wired (natch) into the auxiliary battery through the 2nd fuse box.

It's got a little LED reading light in it. I have to take that out if I'm using the cabinet a lot.

Best!

Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:41 am

Winston,

That's the spot that makes sense to me. Does it interfere with the fridge at all? My fridge is out at present, so there is of course plenty of room for install.

I'm concerned if I add a new 12 volt reefer in there, I might have to remove the plug to make room, leaving a hole.

Your thoughts?

Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:57 am

Madspanianrd,
That's a nice clean install and a handy spot for it.

McVanagon,
I like the cig lighter, very stealth!

Tencent,
Nice as always to have your input.

Bercilak,
Very nice photo album, that spot is a top contender as well.

Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:06 am

I pal put one down on the side; that works too.

The only problem with my location is that it interferes with the table. If you plug something in while the tables stowed, it's nice because the plug keeps the table from flying out if you forget to secure it.

But when it's time to pull out the table, you have to unplug whatever you've got going. That's not a big deal, but it is an annoying facet of that particular location.

B.

Mon Aug 31, 2009 2:25 pm

I put two in the ashtrays:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=296775&highlight=ashtray

and one in the steering column cover for my GPS:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=335844&highlight=

Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:35 pm

Quote: Winston,

That's the spot that makes sense to me. Does it interfere with the fridge at all? My fridge is out at present, so there is of course plenty of room for install.

I'll have to translate for the van, but I can understand your wanting to go to the source itself.

Rugga rudda rudda rudda brrrrr rudda

"Oh, it went in all right, although the idiot who claims to own me very wisely put in waterproof spade connectors when he hooked it up, which came in handy when he had to disconnect the rig for other connectors or to add more wire for more slack as he needed it."

Quote: I'm concerned if I add a new 12 volt reefer in there, I might have to remove the plug to make room, leaving a hole.

Brrrruum, brummabrumma rudda bruuuuuuum.

"The idiot's thought was that whatever happened, the plug would be useful, the spade connectors allowing for alternate wiring schemes. He did a lot of rewiring after that. You could put in some kind of plug later, the Wal-Mart outlet the cheapskate bought came with an outlet cover."

He was getting pretty sarcastic at that point, so I finally had to pacify him with his very own garage door opener remote key unit. He's a sucker for toys, and is currently a happy van.

Best!

Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:34 pm

Looking for a way to power up my XM boom box from the outside of the Westy. I came across
a thread on the 80-90 club forum, where a member mounted his shore power receptacle on
the inside of the license plate door. Great spot, out of site and easily accessable.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:25 pm

[quote="Timwhy"]Looking for a way to power up my XM boom box from the outside of the Westy.

Oh you're the guy at the next campsite that plays music! :evil:

Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:24 pm

Just what I was thinking!

Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:32 pm

The way I chose to run a new + wire was a minor PITA, (I'm sure there's a better way) but I installed a 12V outlet in the spice rack ~ midspan where wires for kitchen light pass through. Handy for my needs. Small things like AA charger can stay in spice rack and charge while on the road or I just plug in my crazy light or radio. Tends to keep the wires up out of the way.

Neil.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:39 pm

I wouldn't recommend putting them in the location Winston's is, behind the fridge. When you pull the fridge, it's almost impossible not to bust the tabs off of the back of the power outlet. This causes frustration, which in turn may lead to crude language.

I like the one stuck in the ashtray a few posts back, neat ide,a and who uses ashtrays anymore anyway? My kid thought the one on the dash was a cell phone holder, which of course it really is, they just didn't know it at the time.

Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:40 pm

While this thread is active again, I'll post the picture of Winston's two new 'West Marine' 12 v. outlets I installed in the cover plate I'd put in over the holes left by his defunct rear speakers and the heavy, useless amp I likewise removed this Spring from Winston's bench:

You can see the USB charger in the upper of the two outlets. I never got around to using my Laptop in the Van, or needing to charge my Kindle, but when the time comes, I'll be ready!

Best!

Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:05 am

pioneer1 wrote: Oh you're the guy at the next campsite that plays music! :evil:

A little music and a lot of baseball but neither means that the box is cranked up for you to hear.

The box usually lives under the Westy and is brought indoor each night.