Advice on electrics for a novice

[dext924]

Hello all again

I have two questions.

1. I want to put a 12v power extension off the main cig light in the front. I have dont it with a car in the past, and was wondering if it was the same here. I basically tapped in to the wiring at the back of the lighter and run it off from there, and it worked fine. I want to get power to the middle seat, and didn't want extension every where in the front.
Or if anyone else has any ideas they have done??
2. I want to wire some small spots on the front, to basically come on with the side lights. Can I run them straight off the wire going to the side light already there or will I have to put another loom in?

I guess some one out there has done one or both of the above, so better to get it off someone in the know before I short circuit my Bongo!!

[francophile1947]

1) Depends what you want the sockets for, as the front socket is only live when the ignition is on. Might be better to power it direct from the battery, with an in-line fuse of course
2) Depends what you mean by small spots. If you mean driving lights, they must legally only come on with the main beam headlamps.

[dext924]

John,

It is basically for powering the game boy or dvd in the back when on journeys, nothing more.

The spots we small LED ones, decorative more than functional!!

Hoping to get some bars with small big spots on them for more light.......

[Hippotastic]

why not run it from the 12V at the back by the back door, passenger side?

[francophile1947]

John,

It is basically for powering the game boy or dvd in the back when on journeys, nothing more.

The spots we small LED ones, decorative more than functional!!

Hoping to get some bars with small big spots on them for more light.......

In which case the answer is yes to both questions However, as Hippotastic says, why not plug them into the rear cigar lighter socket

[dext924]

That is my back up notion is I make a pigs ear of my task!

I was looking really on the cosmetic side, where i could hide the wires and not have something poking out of there all the time. We rarely use the back seats, our son always uses the bench, so was looking at an option where I could get a supply to the middle seats, perhaps near the fan controls there and there is no trailing wire across the van.
I was wondering if I could crimp wires in to the back of it and run another one off. I did one in an old car, and just wondered if anyone else had done this or not.

I suppose I could let him suffer in silence, or he could actually join in the conversation no and again....................

[francophile1947]

Bung him in the back seat and you'll have no trailing wires Also, if he won't suffer in silence, he'll be far enough away so you won't hear him

[stilldesperate]

The wiring to the cigar lighter is pretty thin, putting another socket on might not be the best thing.

I've put a ciggy lighter socket on the back of the centre console, I'll stick a piccy up in a min, wired, on mine with a factory kitchen unit, off a fused line from the leisure battery.

As for spotlights, the sidelights are low wattage, and loading the circuit with spots is putting (probably) a bit much strain on the system. You could run a wire from the sidelights to power a relay, and switch the spots that way - does that make sense?

SD

[francophile1947]

As for spotlights, the sidelights are low wattage, and loading the circuit with spots is putting (probably) a bit much strain on the system. You could run a wire from the sidelights to power a relay, and switch the spots that way - does that make sense?

SD

They're only low power LEDs, not the normal meaning of spotlights

[stilldesperate]

... Just a thought, if you do wire it on the centre console, you need to be able to disconnect it to remove the console for servicing.

[stilldesperate]

They're only low power LEDs, not the normal meaning of spotlights

... missed that bit, John

SD

... What's happened to the emoticons - I was looking for "embarrassed", but putting the mouse over them now tells me I can improve their quality by pressing some random keys ....

[francophile1947]

... What's happened to the emoticons - I was looking for "embarrassed", but putting the mouse over them now tells me I can improve their quality by pressing some random keys ....

They're still working for me , but there have been problems with the forum - see http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =4&t=40521

[stilldesperate]

.. sorted ...

[jaylee]

Hello all again

I have two questions.

1. I want to put a 12v power extension off the main cig light in the front. I have dont it with a car in the past, and was wondering if it was the same here. I basically tapped in to the wiring at the back of the lighter and run it off from there, and it worked fine. I want to get power to the middle seat, and didn't want extension every where in the front.
Or if anyone else has any ideas they have done??
2. I want to wire some small spots on the front, to basically come on with the side lights. Can I run them straight off the wire going to the side light already there or will I have to put another loom in?

I guess some one out there has done one or both of the above, so better to get it off someone in the know before I short circuit my Bongo!!

I did a similar thing to Stilldesperate.. But under the dash for the satnav to keep the wires out the way!!


To the right of the steering wheel column you might find a free floating white connection block that does nothing behind the dash.. It maybe plugged into the back of a blanking switch plate next to the rear fan switch?? (from memory.) the red wire with the black stripe? (Use a meter to test.) Should come on to give 12V with the sides.. You could use a spade connector into this block to connect power to the leds...? It's meant to power the back light for whatever switch was meant to be connected to it when the side lights come on..?
There will be a negative connection on there too!

[stilldesperate]

Good tip, Jaylee, I'm looking for a feed on that side to wire the GPS to, never thought about the spare plugs (I've disconnected the "Winter pack", so there's power free on that one for me.

SD