How do you add an extra power socket with one of these from Maplins?

[MK8]

Hello,

I want a more permanent fitting for my tom tom power supply, and I am quite a novice.

I am having the dash out on my Mazda this weekend to install a handsfree kit and thought it might be a time to tackle this problem.

I have seen this at maplins:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055

and want to hide it under the dash, but how do i supply power to it?

Can anyone provide quite simple step by step tips to wire this in, and the simplest way? thought of something like wiring it from the original cigarette lighter, splitting the power.

I want my original socket to keep working ideally as well.

Thanks

 

[Gooner_Mike]

Can anyone provide quite simple step by step tips to wire this in, and the simplest way? thought of something like wiring it from the original cigarette lighter, splitting the power.

You answered your own question mate! Wire it into the original socket and you can tuck it anywhere. I have seen one in a glove compartment and it had a double-socket. Maplin probably do those too.

 

[MK8]

lol did i?! quite obviously i am novice, so what does wiring it into the original actually mean?

I think i could probably figure it out if i spent a few hours trying to figure it out, but looking for some tips, where to start, what to wire etc?

And will I have to solder anything?

 

[Gooner_Mike]

lol did i?! quite obviously i am novice, so what does wiring it into the original actually mean?

I think i could probably figure it out if i spent a few hours trying to figure it out, but looking for some tips, where to start, what to wire etc?

And will I have to solder anything?

I have not taken mine out so I don't know but I assume there are only two wires (live and earth) to connect. Best way is to use some scotch locks to connect your new wires.

 

[Damoegan]

Just make sure ypu put a inline fuse in.

 

[MK8]

10A or 15A do you reckon?

 

[Damoegan]

See what the standard one is and use the same rating.

 

[MK8]

Anyone know which one out of these i need? 1/4 " or 20mm?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=418

 

[glangri2]

maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=444

I'd use one of these - that way you use the same style of fuse as in the main car fuse panel.

(Sorry that the link doesn't work - I'm not allowed to post links to other sites untill I have made 15 posts)

Also worth noting, if you just splice the new socket into the wiring of the existing one, then you will be running both of them through the same fuse on the MAIN Fuse Panel.

I haven't got a wiring diagram so can't say which fuse it is.

Saying that though if you only want to use the new one for charging a Sat Nav, I reckon you will be OK seeing as they don't draw much current.

You'd probably blow a fuse if you ran 2 High Current things at the same time - Like a Cool Box, and the Cigar lighter itself.

I've got a secondary socket wired up under the dash of my Alhambra and it is taken directly from the fuse panel.

I have also fitted a 12V socket INSIDE each of the pockets on the back of the front seats so that the kids can plug in their DVD players/iPods/DS, and I did splice them into one of the existing 12V sockets. I have just put a sticker on each of the new sockets saying "Max 3A" to remind me (and any future owner) not to over load the system.

Sorry for getting geeky ! Just don't want you to keep blowing fuses or melting any wires.

G

 

[MK8]

Thanks a lot for all the info G, did this a little while ago. Went for a long extension cable socket where one plugs into your socket, and the other end is a cigar lighter socket. I cut the end that would plug in and just wired them to the original wiring, was really easy to do!

Cheers for the info mate