Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: Shackeng on 29 May 2012, 18:24:27
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As I only use my 3.2 Elite about once a week, and sometimes less, I would like to fit a solar charger. Where is the best place to connect an extra cigarette lighter plug? I have in mind to have it in the glove box :y
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I have in mind to have it in the glove box :y
Can't see why not as long as you have room behind ........
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Any good suggestions for the electrical connection? Or should I put it straight on the battery?
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Any good suggestions for the electrical connection? Or should I put it straight on the battery?
I'm sure that there are cleverer sparks than me here that will be able to advise, but I'd have though that you could find a suitable permanent 12 volt connection behind the fuse box somewhere ....... :-\ :-\
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Cheers Andy, yes I'm sure I could, but wiggly amps are not my forté, and I am always willing to be guided by more qualified leccy's. :y
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..... but wiggly amps .....
It's been a while since I heard that phrase ..... ;) ;)
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i connected mine to the radio perment live feed, and wired around the glove box to window hiding the wires. works fine aswell when dont drive the mig for a long time as have other cars to drive.
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Save you money, and put it towards a decent battery conditioner....
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Save you money, and put it towards a decent battery conditioner....
You're assuming that Shakeng is able to park within easy reach of a plug socket ;) ;) ;)
I've a few battery conditioners (one is 'decent' ;)) but a solar charger wouldn't be bad idea on my car due to its limited use. (& I can park on my drive within reach of mains electrickery)
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Save you money, and put it towards a decent battery conditioner....
You're assuming that Shakeng is able to park within easy reach of a plug socket ;) ;) ;)
I've a few battery conditioners (one is 'decent' ;)) but a solar charger wouldn't be bad idea on my car due to its limited use. (& I can park on my drive within reach of mains electrickery)
I think you'll find it disappointing TBH.
If you are not near a mains socket, save you money and put it towards a decent conditioner *AND* spare battery ;D
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I think you'll find it disappointing TBH.
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They seem to improved a lot recently, although I wouldn't be surprised if the cheap charger from Maplins etc isn't quite up to the mark. A few hundred quid will buy you solar chargers that will keep your caravan battery charged while in the field. :y :y
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Thanks guys, I think they are handy if you have to park up for a while, at airports for example, so I'll put it in and see how it goes. :y
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The size of the solar panel will give a rough indication of how well it will work. Just for comparison, I have a large panel about 24"x12" on my garage roof to keep my bike charged when not in use, and this struggles at times - if you are using one of those solar panels that will fit in your glovebox, then I hope the lead is long enough to reach the sun, as thats the only way you are going to get anywhere near enough out of it to keep a car battery alive.
The concept and idea is sound, its just that everybody goes for these tiny panels and expects miracles. Maplins have some nice , large panels for touring - look at something like this for your needs.
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_e_ugeek.gif)
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and this struggles at times [/highlight] - .....
Blimey! I'm surprised! ??? Especially in the English Riviera ;) ;)
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and this struggles at times [/highlight] - .....
Blimey! I'm surprised! ??? Especially in the English Riviera ;) ;)
Just goes to show how poor they are !!
But I think you hit the nail on the head with the recommendation of the caravan chargers as they are usually around 24" x 24" (my bike one was half this) and should work fairly well - even up north !!
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_lol.gif)
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.....- even up north !!
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_lol.gif)
We do see the sun up here sometimes! ;D ;D ;D
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.....- even up north !!
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_lol.gif)
We do see the sun up here sometimes! ;D ;D ;D
I bet you can`t name both days though !! :P
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.....- even up north !!
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_lol.gif)
We do see the sun up here sometimes! ;D ;D ;D
I bet you can`t name both days though !! :P
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Guys I have an idea.
Buy smaller panels and leave your cars at my country ;D
They should receive a decent amount of sun here.
Alos try to leave the keys at my possesion for safekeeping ( and some spare parts ;))
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Been there, got the T Shirt, IMHO waste of time if your looking at the cheap Maplin charger ones, there just not up to the job in this country, they need strong direct sunlight for hours and even if the get that they overheat, making them less efficient.
If you was going down the Solar route you would be looking at a Panel nearly the size of the Cars roof with some intelligent charge controller attached.
Cant see why a working battery wouldn't hold up to the job of starting the car once a week, I would save your money and probably invest in a second battery and jump leads for the boot, if your cars not parked near mains.
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The size of the solar panel will give a rough indication of how well it will work. Just for comparison, I have a large panel about 24"x12" on my garage roof to keep my bike charged when not in use, and this struggles at times - if you are using one of those solar panels that will fit in your glovebox, then I hope the lead is long enough to reach the sun, as thats the only way you are going to get anywhere near enough out of it to keep a car battery alive.
The concept and idea is sound, its just that everybody goes for these tiny panels and expects miracles. Maplins have some nice , large panels for touring - look at something like this for your needs.
(http://www.dndservices.co.uk/smiley/icon_e_ugeek.gif)
Thanks Dave, mine says it is rated at 2.4W, so I guess it will give about 1.75w in good sun, which will at least help. :y
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I'm sure someone will know this. How can I feed a wire through from the battery/fusebox area to the glove box without dismantling anything, or must the glovebox come out? The panel is giving 19.7 volts at 5.30 this evening. Is that any good?
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I'm sure someone will know this. How can I feed a wire through from the battery/fusebox area to the glove box without dismantling anything, or must the glovebox come out? The panel is giving 19.7 volts at 5.30 this evening. Is that any good?
there is a rubber gromet in with the pollen filter area if good size to fit with other wires an comes out in to of glove box area.
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I'm sure someone will know this. How can I feed a wire through from the battery/fusebox area to the glove box without dismantling anything, or must the glovebox come out? The panel is giving 19.7 volts at 5.30 this evening. Is that any good?
There should be plenty of permenent 12v behind glovebox. Remember to fuse it, 1.7W isn't much more than 100mA, so no need to go mad over cabling.
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I'm sure someone will know this. How can I feed a wire through from the battery/fusebox area to the glove box without dismantling anything, or must the glovebox come out? The panel is giving 19.7 volts at 5.30 this evening. Is that any good?
Volts doesn't count for too much (especially when measured "off load" as you have), what matters is the current.
19.7V will cremate your battery in ordinary circumstances, but as this is a solar panel I doubt very much it has the current to back it up.
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I'm sure someone will know this. How can I feed a wire through from the battery/fusebox area to the glove box without dismantling anything, or must the glovebox come out? The panel is giving 19.7 volts at 5.30 this evening. Is that any good?
there is a rubber gromet in with the pollen filter area if good size to fit with other wires an comes out in to of glove box area.
Yes I can see that cable grommet, but by it's height off the ground it looks as though it will come out somewhere in front of the airbag, so I guess access to the 'inside' of the grommet is with the glovebox out???
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Yes I can see that cable grommet, but by it's height off the ground it looks as though it will come out somewhere in front of the airbag, so I guess access to the 'inside' of the grommet is with the glovebox out???
I used this grommet to for a cable, but I didn't remove the glove box. I poked a piece of wire through from the bonnet side & then looked up behind the glove box for my wire. :y :y
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I would find a live feed under the dash rather than trying to poke a wire through that grommet, personally.
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Thanks for all the help, I shall look for the live feed inside first, but I'm not going to enjoy the grovelling on my back. :y
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Thanks for all the help, I shall look for the live feed inside first, but I'm not going to enjoy the grovelling on my back. :y
Remove the two screws from above the fuse box & pull the whole thing out .............. as far as the wiring behind will allow. ;) ;)
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Thanks for all the help, I shall look for the live feed inside first, but I'm not going to enjoy the grovelling on my back. :y
Remove the two screws from above the fuse box & pull the whole thing out .............. as far as the wiring behind will allow. ;) ;)
:y :y :y Only got to find a good earth then. ::) ::) ::)
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:y :y :y Only got to find a good earth then. ::) ::) ::)
There must be loads of earths around the car, the whole body is one! :y :y
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Pin 16 of the diagnostic socket has a permanent 12v supply.
A permanent 12V supply goes to each seat for the adjuster / heater.
The accessory socket relay is fed from fuse 27 which is a permanent live, and doesn't appear to supply anything else critical.
Permanent 12V feeds are generally colour coded red.
Most of them are fused at 20A at the fuse box so a smaller inline fuse at point of connection would be a good idea. As said, this can be tiny, as the solar cell won't pass much current.
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Thanks Kevin. :y
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Even easier, if the car is phone prewired, is 12v and 0v on the phone loom, behind glovebox...
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Even easier, if the car is phone prewired, is 12v and 0v on the phone loom, behind glovebox...
What are the clues to that? It is a 3.2 Elite '51 plate with Bose. :y
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saloon or estate?
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Saloon :y
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4" aerial on roof? If so, likely prewired for phone :)
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4" aerial on roof? If so, likely prewired for phone :)
Yep, thanks for that Jaime, I'll have a look, but the glove box will still have to come out! :( :( :(
PS How will I recognise the phone loom?
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4" aerial on roof? If so, likely prewired for phone :)
Yep, thanks for that Jaime, I'll have a look, but the glove box will still have to come out! :( :( :(
Yup, about 15 mins to remove glovebox :)
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Phone prewire is a MID type plug (actually, more accurately, a CID type plug), but 16 pin (IIRC). Usually secured to loom/duct behind glovebox with masking tape. Very obvious once glovebox out normally :y
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Phone prewire is a MID type plug (actually, more accurately, a CID type plug), but 16 pin (IIRC). Usually secured to loom/duct behind glovebox with masking tape. Very obvious once glovebox out normally :y
That's like Klingon to me ;D However, if I look for an unused plug it should be the one. :y
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Phone prewire is a MID type plug (actually, more accurately, a CID type plug), but 16 pin (IIRC). Usually secured to loom/duct behind glovebox with masking tape. Very obvious once glovebox out normally :y
That's like Klingon to me ;D However, if I look for an unused plug it should be the one. :y
Ah, yes, sorry, thought you'd had a MID out before.
Yeah, its pretty obvious :y
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If not, post up pic with glovebox out, somebody will show you :y
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i spent a day with the company who do this
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/foldup-solar-panel.htm (http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/foldup-solar-panel.htm)
as with any solar panel the battery has to be in good condition
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If not, post up pic with glovebox out, somebody will show you :y
There you go again, crediting me with skills I don't have! ;D
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Thanks Dave, mine says it is rated at 2.4W, so I guess it will give about 1.75w in good sun, which will at least help. :y
2.4W will give you 200mA.
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:y :y :y
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Thanks Dave, mine says it is rated at 2.4W, so I guess it will give about 1.75w in good sun, which will at least help. :y
2.4W will give you 200mA.
Absolute best case scenario. ie, on the equator in unbroken sunshine, and not through a tinted bit of glass.
Although I suspect even then its flawed, as it will need to be above 13v to put anything back in battery I would have though ;)
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Thanks Dave, mine says it is rated at 2.4W, so I guess it will give about 1.75w in good sun, which will at least help. :y
2.4W will give you 200mA.
Absolute best case scenario. ie, on the equator in unbroken sunshine, and not through a tinted bit of glass.
Although I suspect even then its flawed, as it will need to be above 13v to put anything back in battery I would have though ;)
I bought a similar one from maplins last month for £12:99 (normally 25 quid)
2.4 watt output and I can confirm that it pushes out a good 19 volts (no load) when its wedged between the sunroof and the sunroof blind on a sunny day.
Can't fault it tbh
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I bought a similar one from maplins last month for £12:99 (normally 25 quid)
2.4 watt output and I can confirm that it pushes out a good 19 volts (no load) when its wedged between the sunroof and the sunroof blind on a sunny day.
That has no meaning...
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I bought a similar one from maplins last month for £12:99 (normally 25 quid)
2.4 watt output and I can confirm that it pushes out a good 19 volts (no load) when its wedged between the sunroof and the sunroof blind on a sunny day.
That has no meaning...
Ok, its not enough to charge a car battery unless you don't mind waiting 6 months but it will keep it topped up as long as the battery is in a fair condition.
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Phone prewire is a MID type plug (actually, more accurately, a CID type plug), but 16 pin (IIRC). Usually secured to loom/duct behind glovebox with masking tape. Very obvious once glovebox out normally :y
That's like Klingon to me ;D However, if I look for an unused plug it should be the one. :y
Ah, yes, sorry, thought you'd had a MID out before.
Yeah, its pretty obvious :y
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/vxl_v6/PhoneInstall3.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa163/vxl_v6/PhoneConnector.jpg)