Member Since: 24 Oct 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 106
12v Socket/cigarette lighter - how to wire something direct?
Hi gents,
Quick question - I’ve just installed a VOX wireless reversing camera to my Disco (would highly recommend btw), and the front mirror is powered by a “plug into your cigarette lighter socket” type connector, but, frankly, the connector is huge and gopping and I’d like to keep the wires hidden in the dash as much as possible.
Could someone tell me how i would directly wire the mirrors connector to the cigarette lighter?
I’ve taken the lower dash off ( for another on going project), and can see the two wires (black + green/white) going to the cig lighter (which at the moment doesn’t seem to work, but will poke around with voltage tester tomorrow), but is it just a case of cutting off the cig lighter plug-in-bit and wiring the two cables from that to the two cables on the cig lighter?
The pic below shows the cables going into the bottom of my cig lighter.
Or, if there’s an easier way to get the right power to my mirror, it’d be great to hear about it.
Sorry if I’ve asked this is a hugely complicated way. Electronics is not my strength!
Cheers,
Rob
5th Jun 2018 10:57 pm
StephenO
Member Since: 15 Feb 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1651
I wired a dashcam with a piggy back fuse directly to the fuse box, could that be a better option than ripping the dash out?2016 RR Sport Autobiography
2005 D3 Zambezi Silver
1995 Defender 90 300Tdi Coniston Green
1968 Series 2a SWB Bronze Green
5th Jun 2018 11:11 pm
M4Rob1987
Member Since: 24 Oct 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 106
Sounds complicated... Is it an easy job?
Dash was already out as am upgrading the satnav to a tablet etc so seemed to make sense to do two jobs at once.
5th Jun 2018 11:15 pm
StephenO
Member Since: 15 Feb 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1651
It was very easy, took less than 30 minutes to fit the whole thing with cables hidden. With it being a piggy back fuse it’s also protected and easy to get to if needed.2016 RR Sport Autobiography
2005 D3 Zambezi Silver
1995 Defender 90 300Tdi Coniston Green
1968 Series 2a SWB Bronze Green
5th Jun 2018 11:21 pm
M4Rob1987
Member Since: 24 Oct 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 106
Ok...so how would a complete car electronics moron go about fitting something like that...? Any photos?
5th Jun 2018 11:28 pm
StephenO
Member Since: 15 Feb 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1651
I used a kit with a usb cable that went straight into my dashcam but for your purposes you could use something like below. The cable from your camera would connect to the piggy back below and select any fuse in the box.i don’t have tow electrics so I’m pretty sure that where I took my feed from.
2005 D3 Zambezi Silver
1995 Defender 90 300Tdi Coniston Green
1968 Series 2a SWB Bronze Green
5th Jun 2018 11:49 pm
M4Rob1987
Member Since: 24 Oct 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 106
Ah ok, that actually looks pretty straightforward.
We do have the towing electrics installed so any ideas how I’d go about finding the right fuse to replace? Presumably the existing fuse would just be pulled out and replaced with the one from EBay, yes?
My only concern is that I’m not sure what/how many cables are in the cable/plug that I plug into the cig socket - presumably it’s not just one power cable...? I.e if I cut off the plug in bit of the cable from the mirror, is it only a 12v power cable in there, or would there be ground cables too? (Remember: Moron)!
Thanks for your help though so far!
5th Jun 2018 11:59 pm
StephenO
Member Since: 15 Feb 2010
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1651
You can use any fuse, just depends whether you want permanent live which you may not. Whichever fuse you use just pull it and it sits alongside the fuse you’ll use for your camera hence piggy back. The cable on the link I sent has 2 slots for the fuses.
I would assume you’ll have 2 cables, positive and your ground you can put almost anywhere you can find, mines is in near the fuse box, you’ll see a few in that area.
Hope this makes sense.
Can’t find a decent photo but hopefully gives you an idea
2016 RR Sport Autobiography
2005 D3 Zambezi Silver
1995 Defender 90 300Tdi Coniston Green
1968 Series 2a SWB Bronze Green
6th Jun 2018 12:14 am
M4Rob1987
Member Since: 24 Oct 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 106
Ah I see - yes that makes complete sense. Ok - look simple enough, apart the the ground cable.
I get that once I’ve cut off the plug, it’ll leave a positive and ground. The positive connects to the new piggyback fuse jobby, but where/what do I connect the ground cable too?
I was going to use the fuse box behind the glove box - would that work ok?
Does anyone have a photo of what I connect it too? Thank you!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum