Accesory Plugs

[Mark]

HI All

 

Does anyone know where I can get the plugs and sockets that they have in the dash of landrovers please, I want to install a set so I can connect them to the battery and charge it without having to undo the cover.

 

Any ideas anyone.

 

Thanks

[Tony B]

If you mean th elittle rd and black ones. they are standard radio kit available form RS components, Maplins or the local toot shop.

[Mark]

Cheers Tony, I hope you have not been drinking while using this forum :police:

[Tony B]

Chance would be a fine thing. Last 4 days been relying on Imodium and Sudafed. Belive me to much info. :shake:

[Mark]

Would these be OK for charging the battery through :dunno: i.e. amps etc.

[Richard Farrant]

Would these be OK for charging the battery through :dunno: i.e. amps etc.

 

 

Mark,

 

I am not really sure that the wiring to these sockets is heavy enough for a charger unless it is only on a low trickle charge. Better to fit a discreet heavier socket near the battery box and wired direct to the batteries. The dash sockets were only designed for the little wander lamp, bulb was no more than 10 watts I think.

 

Richard

[Mark]

Richard I have not fitted or got them yet, the wire would be my choice probably 2.5 which should be enough for a cgarger, would the sockets be man enough though.

[Tony B]

Realy all most battery chargers give out is about 4 amp max, so not a lot of power. 4 x 12 = 48 watt nominal. Even allowing a max voltage output of 13.6 still only gives 54 watts. So if the you use the same gauge wiring as you'd use on headlights, the sockets themselves are mostly 240v rated so will take the power. For trickle purposes a Solar Charger is a very cost effective investment. About £24-30 and nil running cost.

[Mark]

Cheers Tony, my thought is to put them in the back of the truck (living quarters) and charge the battery from there, and then if I want an extra light I can plug into that, does that make sense.

[Tony B]

Are you looking at the back of a Jimmy? And to clarify are you working on 12 volt? The room is there so park on top of some ICED up Astax yob box, then while its pinned nick the split charger :evil: (This is not theft it is a service to the community as it will blow up all the amplifiers). Add this to the charging circuit and get a Recreational (Caravan) battery so that your domestic wiring is completly isolated from the vehicle circuit. Screwfix do a magic little 150 watt inverter for about £30, that will let you run computers, TV etc from the domestic circuit. It also means you can self jump start. As for the main battery a Solar charger through a discreet lighter socket would keep that battery up. The split charger also isolates the domestic side so you don't flatten the engine starter by mistake. A seperate fuse box is also advisable. The circuit is not difficult, a trip to a scrapyard for a caravan wiring box would give you most of it in one go. If the body is a hard type, have a look about about for an Esperbacher Heater, then you can have central heating as well.

[Richard Farrant]

Richard I have not fitted or got them yet, the wire would be my choice probably 2.5 which should be enough for a cgarger, would the sockets be man enough though.

 

 

Sorry Mark, you mentioned Land Rover intially and I assumed you wanted to replace existing sockets. This is why I questioned the wiring, now I see that you are intending to wire them in the GMC body, you can use the size of cable to suit your use. If you were going to use a heavier charger with "boost start" facility, then I would use a heavy socket wired close to the battery, with cables equal to the chargers ones.

 

Richard

[Mark]

OK I have this

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b114/MEasterby-Wood/CIMG0462.jpg[/img]

 

 

and I have a power supply socket at the back for all my needs from a genny or house, this supplies all my needs as in lights etc. to charge my battery I have to remove a cover and then run a lead (may be raining) to charge it, if I install the plug and socket as above I can then charge from inside the back end, the power cable to the truck is waterproof when on site/shows, whilst on this supply or at home I can plug in the charger and sort the battery out.

 

Does THIS make sense. :-D

[Richard Farrant]

OK I have this

 

, if I install the plug and socket as above I can then charge from inside the back end, the power cable to the truck is waterproof when on site/shows, whilst on this supply or at home I can plug in the charger and sort the battery out.

 

Does THIS make sense. :-D

 

 

Mark,

 

It makes perfect sense. Assume the battery is behind the cab or near to it, as most GMC's. I would fit the socket within the body close to the battery location, so as to keep the cable length to the minimum and would personally fit a socket which is foolproof in its connection, ie, like those that are called DIN plugs and sockets, which are rated at 16 amp, 12 volts ( check out Auto Electric Supplies catalogue ). There would be no chance of reversed connections that way.

 

Richard

[Mark]

The battery is located on the right hand side and I am intending to install in the back close to that point, I will use 2.5 cable which should be ample for a charger and a "plug/socket" within, also this plug/socket will supply low voltage lighting in the event of no genny supply, but primarily it will be for using it to charge the battery.

 

Why not ?? the plug/sockets should be ablr to take the supply, yes!!

[Marmite!!]

What you need Mark is...

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1054&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=car%20plug&doy=25m12

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/300/bv46a.jpg[/img]

 

&

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=99505&criteria=Car%20Chassis&doy=25m12

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/300/a59fl.jpg[/img]

[Mark]

Looks good Lee, I assume you can wire the top plug to whatever you want? i.e. a battery charger etc.

[Marmite!!]

Looks good Lee, I assume you can wire the top plug to whatever you want? i.e. a battery charger etc.

 

 

Yep you can use both for input & output :-D

[Tony B]

When the plug is wired to the charger, get a trailing socket with croc clips, then you can use the charger as standard to charge a normal battery. It also gives an acessory socket off a normal battery

[Tony B]

P.S. You could still park on top of an Astra? :whistle:

have a look at Frost's they supply a number of useful bits. http://www.frost.co.uk/

A boat chandler will have sealed screw top sokets and plugs, capable of taking any sort of power. there known as watertight deck connectors. See here.

http://www.boatbandit.com/39~marine-accessories.aspx

[abn deuce]

Hello Mark Have you made any interesting discoveries since you have gotten the GMC home ? or has it been to bad weather to give it a through going over ???

Is the rear body interior paneled or finished in any special way ? is it quiet inside when parked or does it magnify sounds?

[Mark]

ABN when I have done the inside and finished I will post some pics up here

[Tony B]

Mark, have you thought of permanently wiring a charger into circuit and then just plugging the power lead in when you want it?

[Mark]

Mark, have you thought of permanently wiring a charger into circuit and then just plugging the power lead in when you want it?

 

 

What just a normal battery charger, that is what I would like to do, or is there another type of charger around?

[Tony B]

There are several types, depending on how many bells and whistles you want. See the ads, if you want a boost start from flat one they are huge great expensive things. If you just want plain vanilla they can run from a tenner up. This could be fixed out of sight the mains lead wired to input socket of your main supplies through a RCD or thermal switch, this will protect the system if you try to start while the charger is on. There are Marine Caravan units that run on 240v, 110v from mains or generator. These also auto cut out if you try to start when the charger is on. I've got to admit, I use either the chore horse now or 5 minutes on my little generator 12 volt output. Seeing as these can be got for about £70 stupid not to have one.

[Tony B]

2W Sunsei SE-135 Solar Trickle Chargers

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Quick search found these. Mine works even in poor light, so fix on roof with relay as soon as engine off, charger on.