Constant 12v socket?

[DrOsteo]

My father has a 99 D2 ES V8. Just wondering if anyone knows whether any of the 12v sockets are always available even with the ignition off?

[sierrafery]

Unfortunately factory fitted sockets are only ignition live none is permannent

[Graeme]

Replace relay R101 (Auxilliary circuits) with a jumper to make the sockets permanently live.

[DrOsteo]

Thanks Graeme. Can you please elaborate on exactly how to do this and what a jumper is?

[sierrafery]

Sorry to disagree but that move with auxiliary relay bridged beside the permannent live sockets might drain the battery cos it will keep many other circuits live also the worst scenario is that it might burn out the IDM which is not conceived to be under power with ignition off... if you want the sockets live the best is to rewire them through a fuse to a live circuit IMO

[Graeme]

Sorry, but I disagree with you for 2 reasons. Firstly I had the relay bridged on both my MY99 and MY03 spanning 10 years without any adverse effects and secondly supplying power to a device that has its earth switched by an electronic module does not have the capability to power that module. The only effect is that some facilities may be available to be switched on with the ignition off that were not previously able to be switched on.

[PhilipA]

AFAIR there are some constant live fuses in the in cabin fuse box.
One that comes to mind is the seat power fuse.
You can tap into that circuit with a piggyback fuse and Voila .


Regards Philip A

[sierrafery]

... I had the relay bridged on both my MY99 and MY03 spanning 10 years without any adverse effects...
I can't contradict your own experience and i'm glad it didnt have any adverse effects, also i agree with the earth path thing but i've seen with my own eyes burnt IDM due to stuck auxiliary relay, though i can't guarantee that it wasnt a coincidence but the fact is that the IDM(i mean only the chip in the pic) was fried and the relay stuck closed. It depends on the enhancements too cos if it has vanity mirrors those have direct earth and feed through the auxiliary relay so is the digital clock illumination and the aerial amplifier .... ... that's why i only said "might ..."

btw isnt your clock always illuminated and radio on with bridged relay though?

The fact is that i would not risk myself to keep permannent feed on terminal 31 of the IDM as long as it wasn't supposed to have that without ignition on which will bring feed to other terminals too.

[onebob]

AFAIR there are some constant live fuses in the in cabin fuse box.
One that comes to mind is the seat power fuse.
You can tap into that circuit with a piggyback fuse and Voila .


Regards Philip A

I have used the piggyback fuse aka ADD A FUSE to take accessory power off the main fuses.

....the following may help select an appropriate source:-

Fuses 24,25,27,28,30,31 are 'ignition on' power sources...

Fuses 15,16,18,19,26,32, are 'accessory on' power sources

Fuses 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,12,13,20 are 'ALWAYS powered on"

[onebob]

My father has a 99 D2 ES V8. Just wondering if anyone knows whether any of the 12v sockets are always available even with the ignition off?

I have two in my 99 D2 ......... I installed them myself and connected them direct to the cranking battery via an inline 20amp fuse.

[DrOsteo]

Sorry if a stupid question but what is a piggyback fuse?

[onebob]

Sorry if a stupid question but what is a piggyback fuse?

check out this thread http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/145603-ignition-power-supply-2.html

You can now get them in NARVA blister packs at your favorite auto shop....

[ballbag]

There is an unused connector under the steering column for shift interlock in other markets. One of its wires is constant 12V, another is on the acc or reds circuit. Dunno what sort of amps they can handle though.

[sierrafery]

I have two in my 99 D2 ......... I installed them myself and connected them direct to the cranking battery via an inline 20amp fuse.
^^^ That's the best way to do it, splicing into an existing fused circuit might blow that fuse or melt the wiring if the socket is used for some load while the original circuit's load is active too, the only strong enough circuit to take the accessories too without probs IMO it's the ignition switch's feed(brown wire in pin 1 of the large brown connector in the front right side of the interior fusebox C0028), there you can splice in safely with a 20A fused lead to connect the cigar ligter and accessory socket's existing wiring.

[ballbag]

I don't know it the OP was particularly looking for a constantly powered lighter socket or just looking for a constant power source for something else.
If for a lighter specifically, then I would not power it from any existing circuit - go direct to battery.

[DrOsteo]

My father's D2 keeps going flat as it is rarely driven except to tow his boat. As such my OP was to find a 12v socket that he could plug a 5W solar panel (which would rest on dash - car is outdoors facing the right direction) in to in order to keep his battery from draining.
He is not at all technically minded (hence a cigarette lighter socket would be easy plug and play).

[sierrafery]

You should have said that from the beginning that it's for charging purpose, in this case the easyest is to splice in that brown wire for the ignition switch in front of the fusebox with the cigar lighter's wire...that wire goes direcly to battery through fusible link FL8.