Where to mount my 12V receptacles?

[singler3360]

Now that I'm finished installing the aux. battery, I'm ready to add a few additional West Marine 12V receptacles. Before I start drilling, I thought I'd ask where the best spots have proven to be through experience. My focus is the rear bench seat area but will entertain other locations throughout. My thinking is to mount a couple up high for gooseneck led lamps. But where exactly? Recommendations on the lamps are welcome also. Thanks.

[CessnaJon]

I put 2 12v receptacles in place of one of the ashtrays in my Multivan wired to the aux battery using a piece of aluminum over the removed ashtray 'door'.Looks nice, works well.The receptacles are from Radio Shack-$9 with an inline fuse included!
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1973 Westy (shared birthday)
1990 Westy Multivan
2015 Passat TDI 6sp
2015 Sportwagon TDI 6sp
LR-JET, Gulfstream 159

[spitsnrovers]

The ones I mounted are:

1. right near the 110V outlets on the cabinet by the bench seat. Works great during the day, but a little inconvenient when the bed is pulled down.

2. In the ash tray at the other end of the bench seat.

3. On the left of the steering column on the metal part of tha dash. I sue this one for my GPS. I understand some vans have other controls there, so may not work for you.
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[rockfish]

Replaced/updated the lighter and added a new 12V receptacle just to the right.

Installed two new 12V receptacles on the left side of the kitchen faceplate, just to the left of the left burner control knob.

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89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[singler3360]

CessnaJon and Spitsnrovers, did you run the wires inside the bench seat then up inside the side panel to the ashtray? If so, then any lessons learned getting past the armrest?

[singler3360]

[rockfish]

singler:

No regrets. When on long trips, the kids (2 teenagers) can plug in their phones to re-charge or run our DVD player and/or re-charge a MacBook. My wife sat back there and did some work (table out) - she did not have a 12V charger for her laptop - but we have an inverter behind the driver's seat (edit, it is installed - just barely visible) mounted on the side of the cabinet...works great, especially if we're driving - no drain on the house batteries (3).

And you and Spitsnrovers are correct about the lower bunk - much easier to plug in if you're in bed (which is usually the kids - my wife and I always take dibs on the upper bunk).

If I add any more...
- one below the back of the front passenger seat, somewhere off the battery compartment wall (so you can extend your cord outside). Would still run it off the house batteries, not the starter battery.
- one in the rear, probably mounted off the rear cabinetry.
- not sure which side, but somewhere "upstairs" for convenient use while in the upper bunk.

But right now I'm going to wait awhile to see if I really "need" to do the additional outlets or do they fall into the unnecessary luxury category. Right now I'm guessing the latter over the former.
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89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[tclark]

1 3 unit right behind the drivers seat above the fridge relay
plug in all my rechargeables cr123, garmin rino 520, the double aa's, mp3 players and camera battery all outta way behind the seat
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89 Westy with TDI AHU 1.9 manual lots of mods
85 GL 1.9, auto (for sold)

[singler3360]

I first thought this was a "luxury" post, but not any longer -- you all have some NICE setups. Thanks for the feedback so far everyone, keep 'em coming.

When it gets light out, I'm going to investigate the ashtray idea a little further and then at least one in Rockfish's location. It would be nice to have one by the sliding door for plugging in the flimsy Bi-Mart air compressor (why do these come with such short cords anyway?).

[Texxxxx]

Here are a couple ways to 'ashtray' 12V:

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

I did this to both my ashtrays.
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'85 GL w/2.1L "The Tardis"
It's A Vanagon Day

[Home Team Van]

I like this location. It's convenient when the bed is down and I can hide items that are being charged in the water tank cabinet.

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82 Diesel Westy

[climberjohn]

Here is a previous thread on the topic:

12 volt accessory outlets - Where are yours?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=375042

I added one of these on the rear left side of the stove cabinet, sort of on the wire grate that leads behind the cabinet. Easy to wire to the aux fuse box, (NOT plugged into a low amperage 12 volt outlet, as per Tencent's advice). I cut off the plug, stripped the wires and just plugged them into the aux fuse box. The location is handy while staying out of the way. I'll try to add a photo soon.

A thread that talks about these units is here:
Charger with two 12 volt outlets and two 2 USB ports
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=305094
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[randywebb]

I'd love to see some pics of outlets added "upstairs" for convenient use while in the upper bunk!

[rockfish]

[McVanagon]

I was wondering when someone was going to post an USB option. Since most phones/handhelds are using 5v batteries and are able to charged via USB, it seems that everyone will only need to buy one car cell phone charger from now on.

For those of you with campers, these might come in handy for charging a few phones, etc....

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'69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop

[rockfish]

I've seen 12V plug inserts that have a USB receptacle on the exterior end...

Before buying such things - you need to do some research on how much power will come out of the USB socket...and then compare to what your device power needs might be. I have read about people buying these units and then finding out there wasn't enough juice to recharge their phone (usually a smart phone).
_________________
89 Westy
GW 2.5 5-speed trans

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden

[madspaniard]

[Home Team Van]

[madspaniard]

[singler3360]

Hey Mad,
Why one to the outside in the city water hookup? What do you run out there?