Connecting 12v devices

Cupie · Guru

Connecting 12v devices

Barboots · Senior Member

Ciggy Lighter - prone to vibrating out, not dependable for longer term higher current draw. Hard to quote a current capacity due to the mass of dodgy stuff around. Merit - like a ciggy lighter plug/socket in a way, but clicks together positively. A bit pricy, but knock-off ones seem generally OK. Good replacement for ciggy lighter equipped stuff. Good for 10-15A depending on the quality. Anderson - Agricultural for interior applications, but extremely dependable. Scalable high current capacity from 50A upwards. Clipsal ELV - Like a 2 pin power point. Kind of old fashioned, but actually pretty good... especially for surface mounting. 15A continuous from memory. DC Plug/Socket - Like on much consumer equipment like "wall wart" power supplies. Come in various sizes to aid incompatibility. Terminating anything other than fine gauge wire is frustrating/impossible. Probably 3A maximum. There are many more...

macka17 · Guru

When I want a decent. GOOD contact plug for serious output 12v.
I normally use either those round, solar panel M\F plugs or a small Anderson.
Mount one or two females under a shelf etc.
and have the males on end of appliance cable.

Not tiny but can be tidy. Also do a good job and much safer.
As said. Clipsal clip ins are good.

Tried those Merit. Bit bulky and can knock out easy. at right angles.
They stick out a bit.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Iv added a few Anderson plugs around motorhome. With 8mm2 or so voltage drop is not an issue . Iâve found the extra cord length has issues with voltage . Since fitting better wire, Anderson plugs I have no issues . Can store and run appliances where I want !! Yes the cigaret type socket tends to wiggle out .

Barboots · Senior Member

Here you go Macka... right angle Merit plugs. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/322106914223

macka17 · Guru

Yeayyyy....

Bonus. At last they listened.

toglhot · Senior Member

Horses for course: if your using a 12 volt appliance in your van it's not likely to fall out due to vibration or whatever. I use them exclusively for 12 volt appliance, never had a problem. DC sockets are rated at 10 amps.

Barboots · Senior Member

10A through these??? https://www.jaycar.com.au/2-5mm-chassis-male-dc-connector/p/PS0518

toglhot · Senior Member

Sorry I've been reading the car manual again. These: www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Car-Motorbike-Boat-Female-Cigarette-Lighter-Plug-Outlet-Socket-Waterproof-IO/282725561609

My car manual refers to the accessory sockets in the rear cargo area as DC sockets, I just jumped on the bandwagon. I was referring to cigarette lighter sockets. The DC sockets you pictured are ideal for powering TVs, fans and other low amp gear. I have a couple installed in my Jayco for powering the TV and fan. So DC sockets for powering low current gear up to about 5 amps, cigarette lighter sockets are great for gear up to 10 amps, Merits up to 15 amps and Andersons for anything above.

Jayco also use stereo plugs/sockets for powering lights. Given they are stereo plugs/sockets they don't give a amperage rating.

Now before anyone starts jumping up and down about DC sockets being used for TVs and fans, look on the back of your TV, what sort of socket and plug is that? And your fan's plug and socket?

Cupie · Guru

toglhot wrote:
Sorry I've been reading the car manual again. These: www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Car-Motorbike-Boat-Female-Cigarette-Lighter-Plug-Outlet-Socket-Waterproof-IO/282725561609

My car manual refers to the accessory sockets in the rear cargo area as DC sockets, I just jumped on the bandwagon. I was referring to cigarette lighter sockets. The DC sockets you pictured are ideal for powering TVs, fans and other low amp gear. I have a couple installed in my Jayco for powering the TV and fan. So DC sockets for powering low current gear up to about 5 amps, cigarette lighter sockets are great for gear up to 10 amps, Merits up to 15 amps and Andersons for anything above.

Jayco also use stereo plugs/sockets for powering lights. Given they are stereo plugs/sockets they don't give a amperage rating.

Now before anyone starts jumping up and down about DC sockets being used for TVs and fans, look on the back of your TV, what sort of socket and plug is that? And your fan's plug and socket?

re the highlighted part .... That gets to the core of my OP.

What do you call that sort of plug/socket.

It seems to me that if they pass the relevant safety/design specs for TVs & 12v Fans, then they should be OK for my use.

Perhaps I might need something larger for an inverter if I ever bother to get one, but it would be good to wire one in whilst I am in the mood.

edit ... Oops should have read the post more carefully before posting ... Are they the Jcar DC sockets?

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 16th of November 2017 07:49:40 PM

madaboutled · Guru

Merit sockets are great because to plug "clips in" at the base of the socket and generally merit plugs/sockets will handle up to 15a providing the wiring is up for the job.

Standard cig type sockets are generally good for 10a again providing the wiring is up for the job. The cheaper sockets have smooth walls, so sometimes plugs can come out easily. The better quality sockets have an indent in the side walls that enable the Neg side pins of the plug to lock into and thus give a better contact and less inclined for plugs to fall out.

Whatever sockets you decide to use just make sure its fused because not all appliances have a fuse in the plug or in the appliance itself.

Barboots · Senior Member

Cupie as far as I know they are simply referred to as an X.Xmm DC Socket, where X.X is the size of the centre pin/orifice in millimetres. eg: 1.3mm, 2.1mm, 2.5mm...then the less common stuff manufacturers came up with to make life painful.

Cupie · Guru

Thanks all for your replies.

I think that I've got it sorted.

I'll certainly feed the 'outlets' from my fuse block that I installed as part of this project.

toglhot · Senior Member

Jaycar call them DC sockets and cigarette lighter sockets.

toglhot · Senior Member

The cigarette lighter plugs available from Jaycar are very, very cheap and nasty and break easily. I always save cigarette lighter plugs that come with some devices as they are much better quality. Another source for the plugs is China, generally better quality and you can also get them with switches. I use the switched type as it saves pulling the plug out to disconnect. Low amperage though.

-- Edited by toglhot on Friday 17th of November 2017 10:17:12 AM