splitting wire for power socket

neilcmusic · Mar 17, 2015

Hi , the previous owner of my series 3 took out the cigarette lighter to extend the wire and install a spotlight switch , can I now split the wire from the switch and re install a cigarette lighter from the same cable , I don't really need spot but would like to keep it in , I'm just wondering if this will overload anything , I don't ever imagine I'll be using spot and lighter socket at the same time , thanks

divie · Mar 17, 2015

Sounds like a recipe for a fire ! Don't forget a cigarette socket takes 10/12.5 amps depending on what you plug in to it.

dominicbeesley · Mar 17, 2015

A fag lighter in a series.....luxury!

neilcmusic · Mar 17, 2015

Yeah I was worried about it being a fire risk thats why I was asking , any ideas on how I can do this , I have no experience of car electrics. Can I change the fuse that operates the spotlight for a 12.5 amp fuse or am I making it worse ?

neilcmusic · Mar 18, 2015

looking further into this I see you can buy a 12v power socket which has a fuse midway down the wire , im assuming I can splice this into a live wire and earth the other wire on the chassis?

trax · Mar 18, 2015

is the spot wire being used as a relay trigger or straight to the spot?

neilcmusic · Mar 18, 2015

trax said:
is the spot wire being used as a relay trigger or straight to the spot?

Dont know exactly what you mean by this sorry , the wire im thinking of feeding off is to a switch which operates spot , this in turn looks like its using the 2 wires which used to go to a lighter which is still in place but redundant , I want a power point rather that a lighter so I want to remove this and replace it but the spot could be useful so I also want to keep that.

trax · Mar 18, 2015

neilcmusic said:
Dont know exactly what you mean by this sorry , the wire im thinking of feeding off is to a switch which operates spot , this in turn looks like its using the 2 wires which used to go to a lighter which is still in place but redundant , I want a power point rather that a lighter so I want to remove this and replace it but the spot could be useful so I also want to keep that.

then i'd remove the spot wiring, reinstate the lighter.

later, wire up the spot properly

Castor · Mar 18, 2015

trax said:
then I'd remove the spot wiring, reinstate the lighter.

later, wire up the spot properly

This man is correct!

Be aware that normally a spotlight is operated via a relay and not directly by the switch as the relay can take much more current (measured in Amperes) than a switch.

Relay typically can carry 30 Amps, a Switch maybe 3 or 5 Amps @12V DC.

Volts * Amps = Watts

So the best plan is to use a small switch in the cabin to actuate a large relay under the bonnet.
The supply to the small switch can be fused at 3Amps (small fire risk from shorting) which then actuates the relay. The relay supply for the spotlights can be fused at whatever it needs, typically 20Amps (larger fire risk but not huge)

neilcmusic · Mar 20, 2015

I am now thinking of leaving spot in and wiring power point directly from cab through bulkhead and fitting directly to battery via a fused wire ,
Does this sound like a good idea? , according to instructions on box it just connects directly to battery terminals and fuse which is close to battery end protects it . it actually has crocodile clips on it , however I think I will connect it properly to battery terminals as I could imagine clips flying off due to vibrations.

honolulujoe · Mar 21, 2015

can't you use the auxiliary power terminals on the dash and just solder some jacks onto whatever you want to plug into it?

or is that not powerful enough?

splitting wire for power socket

neilcmusic

Active Member

divie

Well-Known Member

dominicbeesley

Well-Known Member

neilcmusic

Active Member

neilcmusic

Active Member

trax

.

neilcmusic

Active Member

trax

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Castor

Trainee maniac

neilcmusic

Active Member

honolulujoe

Well-Known Member

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