Extra 12v socket question.

[smy0003]

So I'm doing some things to the inside of the 5:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=62166

I'm trying to add a 12v source to the centre console basically.

Everywhere says to splice from the existing cig-lighter, but being relatively new to this I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the best way to do this? Or just offer some more depth to this.

Is the cig-lighter two separate terminals or is it part of a harness?

Should I be using crimps or just soldering to the terminals?

Don't really care if I have to sacrifice the functionality of the exsisting lighter, it's in a pretty useless spot anyway.

It's a late '00 NB2 by the way.

Any help is appreciated!

[kenson]

Yep, cigarette lighter is one of the best places and no, it's not part of a harness.
You can very easily take out the pocket near the lighter.

From there you should be able to push the cigaratte lighter out, disconnect it and you should be looking at 2 wires. I can't remember the colours, the 12V was yellow from memory.

I'm a fan of terminal blocks and bootlace ferrules (I'm a crap at soldering haha).

I ended up using a terminal block and a few jumpers to give me an extra 3 x 12V sources.

Goodluck!

[smy0003]

Thanks for the quick reply kenson.
Promising stuff, can't wait for the auxmod to come over.

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[smy0003]

Any more experiences? Would love to hear anything and everything!

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[Locutus]

kenson is right - it's just a pair of wires that run to the cig lighter. The wires run back into the main harness behind the HVAC controls.

I recently used a pair of wiretaps to permanently install the power supply for my dash cam behind the cig lighter. That way I still have access to the cig lighter for other things like USB chargers, etc.

[kalt]

Yep, cigarette lighter is one of the best places and no, it's not part of a harness.
You can very easily take out the pocket near the lighter.

From there you should be able to push the cigaratte lighter out, disconnect it and you should be looking at 2 wires. I can't remember the colours, the 12V was yellow from memory.

I'm a fan of terminal blocks and bootlace ferrules (I'm a crap at soldering haha).

I ended up using a terminal block and a few jumpers to give me an extra 3 x 12V sources.

Goodluck!

Needing it! The 12V port seems fairly tight, fingering my way through the hole of the pocket thing next to it, can't seem to find the notch spot.. Also is the orange around the 12V port suppose to light up with the dash, or just look pretty? If I could get the port out with dissembling armrest console and centre dash I'd have a better look!

[Mr Morlock]

I would have thought the outlet will readily take other devices like GPS and you you should be able to plug in an adaptor which gives you further outlets i.e. like a double / triple adaptor.- very cheap and functional. You can also buy standalone power outlets which have a bracket and socket to attach to a suitable spot. If you do run a separate power wire you should probably also have an inline fuse- you might like to bounce that off someone else as well.

[smy0003]

Yeah I know molock, but I want an outlet in the console.
If there's one thing I can't stand it's wires hanging about in my car.
So your suggestion would be perfect if I wasn't being so anal.

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[Okibi]

I was at supercheap autos on the weekend, they sell a plastic 16amp and metal 20amp ciggy socket, both looked as short as the Mazda one and come with a dust cap.

[hks_kansei]

If you do run a separate power wire you should probably also have an inline fuse- you might like to bounce that off someone else as well.

Agreed, always put in a fuse.


If I recall, the standard socket has a fusible link (correct term?) at some point in it's wiring, if the socket is overloaded (say... using a 4 port adapter with 4 high load things like fridges) the wire fizzles and cuts the power.

[smy0003]

Thanks guys, got a nice looking Italian socket on it's way from bairnsdale.

Still waiting to hear from the bloke at auxmod, he put me on the list and the site says they expect stock mid feb.

In the mean-time keep all the experiences coming! It's all good.

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[Locutus]

Much better to integrate and hide permanent circuits (when appropriate) rather than run adapters otherwise your interior will end up looking like a Christmas tree.

The cig lighter already has its own dedicated fuse near the driver's knee.

If I recall, the standard socket has a fusible link (correct term?) at some point in it's wiring, if the socket is overloaded (say... using a 4 port adapter with 4 high load things like fridges) the wire fizzles and cuts the power.

That's what a fuse is/does. The purpose is to protect the wiring in case of overload or a fault.

[hks_kansei]

If I recall, the standard socket has a fusible link (correct term?) at some point in it's wiring, if the socket is overloaded (say... using a 4 port adapter with 4 high load things like fridges) the wire fizzles and cuts the power.

That's what a fuse is/does. The purpose is to protect the wiring in case of overload or a fault.

Yes, but I seem to recall the lighter socket having a secondary protection in the form of a sacrificial bit of wire.

ie: non-replacable instead of a fuse where you simply bin the blown one and put in a fresh one.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=442770

[Locutus]

Ah, right. I didn't even realise that was there.

Looks like that's designed to kill the circuit if the socket overheats so it doesn't start a fire. I always wondered what would happen if the lighter failed to pop itself out of the socket...

[kalt]

Yes, but I seem to recall the lighter socket having a secondary protection in the form of a sacrificial bit of wire.

ie: non-replacable instead of a fuse where you simply bin the blown one and put in a fresh one.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=442770

Guess who had to remove centre console to get the 12V port out

Fusible link pointy arrowed