Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega Electrical and Audio Help => Topic started by: blackviper90210 on 21 December 2011, 13:34:55
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Hi all,
Is it possible to hard wire a triple socket into the existing lighter wiring and permanently fix in the drivers glove box? Fed up with wires hanging around the steering column & stereo from my phone & music player :(
TIA :y
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Yep. I put an extra one here
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/P1040440.jpg)
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This is a worthwhile job. I have added an extra socket at the back of the centre console, very handy for my son to use to charge his psp etc.
If you connect it into the original cigar lighter circuit this is probably the easiest way to do it, just be aware not to overload the circuit with too many devices plugged in
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Yep. I put an extra one here
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/P1040440.jpg)
Cheers for that RobG!
I've already got a triple socket that'll go in the drivers glove box, out of sight.
Do I just tap into the current dash socket wires, cut the plug off the triple I have and connect?
Sorry to ask, just not very good with car electrics!
Cheers again :y
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Yep, 0v - 0v, 12v - 12v. If it`s too much hassle splicing into front ciggie you might find it easier (like I did) to unclip the rear acc. "plate" and splice into wiring there and just tuck the wiring up behind the full length centre console
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Ok, so how do I know which wire is 0v or 12v, on the triple socket I have? :-[
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If you`re removing the triple socket plug, rather than cut the wire, break the plug open, wire that is soldered/connected to brass pin will be 12v
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Aha!! Learning all the time, lol.
Cheers for that RobG. Will see if I can take the plug apart then take a look at the car. The rear access plate you mentioned. Where/what is that?
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Aha!! Learning all the time, lol.
Cheers for that RobG. Will see if I can take the plug apart then take a look at the car. The rear access plate you mentioned. Where/what is that?
Rear accessory socket ;) unclip it from the centre console
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There is also a perfectly good fuse box underneath the steering wheel ::)
Either: 1. Permenant live, Red wire
Or: 2. Switched live, Black wire
Both with an In line fuse holder.
IIRC there is an earth stud behind the drivers' kick panel, lots of Brown wires.
Tuck the sockets behind the drivers air vent/headlight switch. Sat Nav power can be routed to come out wherever you put it, (mine comes out at the bottom right corner of the screen), phone charger lends itself to the driverside cubbyhole :y
To do it this way the driverside air vent needs to come out, but the end result is alot neater IMO. :y
HTH, Al. :y
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Good question and great responses. A job for the new year me thinks ;)
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If SWMBO will let me out of the house & it's not peeing down, I may have a go tomorrow..... did I just see a pink pig go by?? ;D ;D ;D
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Blimey, how much junk do you guys need to plug in :o
Very rare for either of my ciggy lighters to be in use :o
You're clearly all gadget freaks ;D
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I'd like 2 upfront for my phone & music player. The one in the back is used for the DVD player, very much needed to keep a 3yr old quiet, lol.
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one for the bluetooth hands free,
one for the iphone,/ fm modulator
one for the laptop charger,
and some usb ports to charge other stuff,
(like passenger's phones)
and one for the emergency tom tom if the built in satnav and iphone can't find the address.
i've stuck a 2 socket + 2 USB one into my centre console, neatly, and sensibly,.
i have a triple socket + 1 usb one left, which i'm pondering whether to glove box it or find somewhere in rear seat area for it , for the kids... ...
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Blimey, how much junk do you guys need to plug in :o
Very rare for either of my ciggy lighters to be in use :o
You're clearly all gadget freaks ;D
One for the Idiot box, and one for the phone. Ashtray rattles when open, so only use that socket if I really need to, besides, it makes the place look untidy. ::)
rear one disconnected incase some eejit pukes in it :-X
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Just out of curiosity, is there any difference with using USB connections when charging in a car etc, compared to the ciggy lighter plugs?
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Just out of curiosity, is there any difference with using USB connections when charging in a car etc, compared to the ciggy lighter plugs?
How do you mean ?
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Instead of using bulky lighter plugs etc, hard wire a USB socket? Smaller more compact, but didn't know if it works just as well as a ciggy plug/socket?
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many of the multiple lighter sockets now incorporate the 5Volt USB sockets, and there is no problems in hardwiring these in as mentioned above. Some even have multiple USB sockets on them like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Way-Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Charger-Socket-2-USB-port-/280716976767?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item415c09227f
but just watch that the overall load does not exceed around 10 amps, as that is about all the vehicle wiring can handle - some are fused to 15, but that is the point they fail.
what I really would not advise though, are these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Cigar-Socket-DC12V-AC220V-75W-100W-Power-Inverter-USB-US-UK-ports-/260888554065?pt=UK_Computing_LaptopAccessories_PowerSupplies&hash=item3cbe2b6a51
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Cheers for that Dave. Last question, I hope, I'm looking for an earth point by the drivers glove box. Any suggestions on what to use please. Can I use a dash panel bulb wire? If so, which wire is which? I have a grey/green & a brown wire.
Cheers again!
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If you remove the drivers glovebox and the kick panel there is an earth post on the door pillar. :y Using the earth from the dash lights will probably cook the wiring. :'(
Brown is the earth one, earth point should be obvious, connect straight to that :y
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If you remove the drivers glovebox and the kick panel there is an earth post on the door pillar. :y Using the earth from the dash lights will probably cook the wiring. :'(
Brown is the earth one, earth point should be obvious, connect straight to that :y
What he said !!
:y
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Cheers for all your help guys, working on it now!! :y
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Keep us updated. I'm looking forward to this :y
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Well I earthed it behind the drivers kick panel fine, but not got it working yet. Using fuse 14, ciggy fuse, I tapped off one of the wires, but its still dead? Didn't blow anything up, so thats a good sign, lol. Will try another live feed when I get a chance. Watch this space!
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Well I earthed it behind the drivers kick panel fine, but not got it working yet. Using fuse 14, ciggy fuse, I tapped off one of the wires, but its still dead? Didn't blow anything up, so thats a good sign, lol. Will try another live feed when I get a chance. Watch this space!
Ignition switched on?
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Black = Switched live ie Ignition ON.
Red = Permanent live ie Always ON.
:y
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Did you ever get sorted?
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Did you ever get sorted?
Nope, still no joy :(
This is why I never became an electrician or mechanic.....I'm bloody useless ;D ;D ;D
Tried again yesterday, but can't get the thing to work.....oh well, just have to live without it now ::) :)
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Did you ever get sorted?
Nope, still no joy :(
This is why I never became an electrician or mechanic.....I'm bloody useless ;D ;D ;D
Tried again yesterday, but can't get the thing to work.....oh well, just have to live without it now ::) :)
Why not take the easiest route (for you) and follow my suggestion in previous answers
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I think I will Rob, that'll teach me for trying to be bloody clever.......NOT!
Thanks again for your advice, will try & have a go later this week when I'm not working :y
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Yep, 0v - 0v, 12v - 12v. If it`s too much hassle splicing into front ciggie you might find it easier (like I did) to unclip the rear acc. "plate" and splice into wiring there and just tuck the wiring up behind the full length centre console
Sounds like that might be easier right enough. Need to find a socket with a longer cable!
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Before you rip it out and start again, might be an idea to take the triple socket apart and double check any connections inside :y they're not the best made of things :-\
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Good point. Although I'm very good at taking things apart, I can't say the same thing as putting them back together again ::)
I'll check it out though, cheers :y
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Good point. Although I'm very good at taking things apart, I can't say the same thing as putting them back together again ::)
I'll check it out though, cheers :y
;D Araldite to stick it back together,then gaffer tape just to be sure ;)
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Good point. Although I'm very good at taking things apart, I can't say the same thing as putting them back together again ::)
I'll check it out though, cheers :y
;D Araldite to stick it back together,then gaffer tape just to be sure ;)
Is that for the plug, socket or the actual car? Lol
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Is that for the plug, socket or the actual car?
Delete as applicable ;)
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Had another go at the socket this afternoon. Tested the socket first by connecting it straight onto the battery, works fine. I then followed RobG's suggestion, (thank you RobG :y), using the rear passengers lighter for a feed.
Using 27amp car electrical wire I ran it under the centre console trim, under the steering column behind the fuses and into the drivers glove box. Connected my phone charger and mp3 player etc and switched ignition on..... it works :)
The only thing that I've noticed though, is since it's been done the sockets are permanently live, ignition on or off, they are still live??
Before I did this work, they were not ??? All I have done to the car's wiring is piggy back off it, nothing else. Any ideas why this is?
Cheers :y
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I think the rear socket is always live? I thought I had read somewhere that it stayed live for 15 minutes after ignition shutdown, but I don't think that's right. I had plugged my charger into the rear socket as I don't trust the front one, but the light was still illuminated later that day.
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in that case your time delay relay is knackered...
watch out for battery drain problems :y
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Nothing gets left plugged in except the actual charger itself, will that still be a drain on the system?
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Had another go at the socket this afternoon. Tested the socket first by connecting it straight onto the battery, works fine. I then followed RobG's suggestion, (thank you RobG :y), using the rear passengers lighter for a feed.
Using 27amp car electrical wire I ran it under the centre console trim, under the steering column behind the fuses and into the drivers glove box. Connected my phone charger and mp3 player etc and switched ignition on..... it works :)
The only thing that I've noticed though, is since it's been done the sockets are permanently live, ignition on or off, they are still live??
Before I did this work, they were not ??? All I have done to the car's wiring is piggy back off it, nothing else. Any ideas why this is?
Cheers :y
Should stay live for 15-20 minutes after door is closed. Re-opening door will energise socket again
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in that case your time delay relay is knackered...
watch out for battery drain problems :y
Fair point. I take it that it should switch off then. Is it worth it, or even possible to replace the relay?
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Should stay live for 15-20 minutes after door is closed. Re-opening door will energise socket again
I wonder had I or missy opened a door before I noticed?
Will need to test.