Thread: Ignition only wire under the bonnet?

Hi,
A few ideas:
I would be powering the van fridge from the alternator output. Yes this could come from the main battery, but consider which location is easiest to work with.
The circuit should be fused, or have an automatic re-setting cct breaker, of course.
The circuit should be controlled by a relay, which is itself triggered by the "ignition" feed or something fed with such.
There should be a manual switch in this trigger to the relay.
The switch should be in the cabin.
The feed can therefore be picked up in the cabin.
As the relay trigger circuit is low in current draw, it can come from an "ignition" fed accessory - wipers, aircon, mirrors or the feed that triggers the headlights the same way when Ign comes on.
The trigger wire itself should be fused where it comes off the standard wiring.
There will still be a need to pass the now "fused and switched" feed out through the firewall to the relay. Can be a low duty wire, but give it double protection going through the firewall.

All this is basic, but it sometimes helps to see it in print and coming from someone else.

Does this make it any easier?

Rovers4.

Tim,
In front of the battery tray in the D3/D4 are a couple of connectors. They are for the Fuel Burning Heater (FBH) in which Australia does not have.
I dont have the wiring diagrams in front of me (i have been home for a while due to accidentially poisining myself...dont ask , it will hurt you when u stop laughing..) at the moment but someone with access may be able to find out what turns on & when etc etc..
I will check on mine tomorrow morning when i stop going to the lav'.

Cheers.

There is definately one in the headlight switch, large red connection.

Hi,
Is there a problem with just using the "Fridge" pin on the "S-type" power socket in that "other" seven pin plug at the rear of the car. There seems to be an "Ignition On" pin as well as "Fridge" pin to power the fridge when ignition is on and a "Constant 12v" pin for connecting caravan lights/battery.

Or is this not connected in Australia or maybe the wires not large enough to power our bigger caravan fridges.

Just a thought.

discomaniac

The switched +12V in the 'S' socket (pin 4, return on pin 3) is protected by a 15A fuse. Probably not enough (how much current does the fridge need?)

The permanent +12V (pin 6, return on pin 7) has a 30A fuse. Not really suitable for the fridge though as it is permanently on.

This applies to D4. Not sure about D3, but can't be much different...

Does this help?

Tim,
The 2.7L has only 2 connectors in front of the battery tray. One large connector with 2 wires (Black & Purple/Brown) Purple is pemanently live.
The other connector is the control wire & canbus network which are not active whatsoever.

I beleive from memory the 3.0L has another connector, hopefully someone else with a test light can help..sorry

Originally Posted by CaverD3

There is definately one in the headlight switch, large red connection.

Tim,
again CaverD3 has another good option,
The headlight switch pack is where we wire customers bluetooth phone kits from. In the head light switch, (The whole panel comes off including air vent) to reveal the connector. Brown/Green wire is permanent power, Brown/Purple (THIN WIRE) is ignition switched wire.
It is an easy task to run the wire throught the wiring grommet on the firewall if needed. hope this helps.

Cheers

Hi Folks and thanks for all the very useful feedback.

Sorry I have taken so long to reply, been flat out, but as soon as the rains stops, I’ll followup on the info supplied.

Again muchly appreciated.

Cheers, Tim.