MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
OK, have realised that a cigar lighter is not enough for gizmos. Have seen that you can get a power socket extension thingy, ie 4 sockets.
But would I be better off getting a main dealer to instal an extra power supply in the boot of my estate car? Is this likely to cost mega bucks?
Obviously don't want gizmos to blow up so feel rather reluctant to take a chance on an extension thingy.
Over to the knowledgeable STW'ers. 🙂
Thank you so much.
C_G (resident bimbo)
Extension works OK for us
Tracey
But would I be better off getting a main dealer to instal an extra power supply in the boot of my estate car? Is this likely to cost mega bucks?
Firstly, I'm surprised it hasn't got one. Secondly, DO NOT go to a main dealer! A small local garge at best will do the job a lot cheaper, it's not hard. I could do it if you like? Not sure when I'll have the time though, in a week or so? It's only 2 wires to connect, probably directly into the rear light cluster. Easy-peasy. 🙂
Thanks for replies. 🙂
Tracey - do you have a linky for yours please? Or more details? Thanks.
Pete - it's just a basic model car. But thanks for offer. 8)
Yep, looks like the wiring will already be in place. A quick Google finds this -
[url= http://www.astraownersnetwork.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-27867.html ]hello i have recently fitted the original 12v socket in the luggage compartment of my astra design estate (05 plate), you should find the wire taped to the right hand side wire loom (behind right hand trim). then you will have to drill a hole to fit the socket (you will have to measure the retaining ring to get the size). look in the owners manual to see location. the 12v socket is rated 120watts max. i have the part numbers of the socket and retaining ring.
Plug socket 13110430 £1.92 (+VAT)
Retaining ring 13222794 £0.93 (+VAT) These are trade prices
Hope this helps.
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As an aside, I wanted a line in on the stereo in our Focus. Ford charge £95 to have it fitted to a new car and more than that to retro fit. Again, a quick Google finds the instructions on the web, and the part numbers. I just had to unscrew the glovebox lining, pop out the stereo, plug the Genuine Ford wiring into the back of it, pass the wire to the glovebox area, drill a small hole in the correct place and clip the socket in.
Genuine Ford part, £20. Job done. 🙂
Manufacturers don't like you to know this stuff..!
Cheers Pete. Very helpful as always. 8)
probably directly into the rear light cluster
Umm be careful of that. It might confuse the ECU if it's a newer car and has electronics to tell you if a light's blown or something.
A small point - it is better to fit a DIN socket in the boot, rather than the standard cigarette lighter socket, because the plug for the DIN type positively click into place and are much less liable to fall out. In addition, look for a DIN plug for any of your devices that has an LED built into it so that you can see that the device is getting power. Fitting a new DIN plug to a device is as easy as wiring a normal house plug.
Doing the above takes all the guesswork out of running something from the boot and avoids the problem that I've had multiple times of the plug for the fridge in the back of my Landy falling out and me not noticing until I found a nice warm fridge full of food.
Molgrips, that was a wild guess, before I looked it up 🙂 Apparently the wiring should be there (I think CGs car is around an 05 model too) or you can hook to a permenant live in a fusebox in the back, according to the thread I linked to.
Although as CG says, her car is a more basic model, so I'd imagine it's just easier to find a live wire to tap into and screw the earth down somewhere. 🙂
Depending on the car but, the one in the midget is wired accross the parking/side light switch as its always live. Hazzard light switches also work for the same reason.
On my Passat which is also a fairly basic 06 model, when fitting the stereo, a website warned me that disconnecting the airbag warning light (simple light) would mess something up and need your ecu re-coded.
Just a warning, but if you research you should be ok as you have done 🙂
Thanks again for all the replies.
cranberry - yes, I want to put the coolbox in the boot and you have made a very good point there so thanks for that. 🙂
Got ours from Aldi but I noticed tonight that Tescos have a good range. The car came with a socket in the boot and a socket and a lighter in the front. Use the extension in the boot so that a cooler box, laptop, DSi and iPods can be used on trips to the Alps. The two in the front power the satnav and the DVD screens
Just make sure that when you turn the engine off that the cooler stops cooling
Tracey
Thank you Tracey. 🙂 Is there anything that Tesco doesn't sell??!!
C_G
I've got a 4 socket adaptor from Maplin, and I've been running it without probs for 2 years now. Being a engineer and work mainly out of the car I have run my laptop, charged torches, charged sat nav, phone and even run a DC to Ac invertor of the second cigar socket in the car all with no probs
The only thing I have to watch out is draining the battery - but the car bings at me if this starts to happen