Cigar lighter sockets are usually disconnected when the master is off. They certainly are on our Bailey. Plug something into it that you would usually use in the socket and see if it works with the master off. I doubt it will. It really needs fitting directly to the battery, but don't make a hole into the box from under the seats. The box should be sealed to prevent gases from the battery getting into the 'van. Temporary option is out the window and into the box from the outside. Just split the outer insulation of the wire a little more to let the clips reach. A more permanent option would be to wire it in properly. 4.8W seems very low for a panel of that size. You might only get 1-2W at best through a window but might just about be enough to keep the battery topped up (and alarm and tracker maybe) Dave.
Thanks very much. That’s what I feared. I am reticent to pass it through the window as the cable will be flapping against the side of the van, and also leave a small gap in the window during winter which could lead to damp. Need to find a way to get it into the battery box I think.
@@heyholetstow The only way really is to cut off the crocodile clips, loosen the plastic nut on the grommet the existing cables come into the battery box and feed them in, retighten the nuts. Then connect the bare wires to the battery terminals in just the same way the current wires are. Then it is all internal and safe. Worth adding a fuse if the panel doesn't already have one. This will obviously invalidate any warranty on the panel though!
@@daves1uk thank you. I’m not very handy and don’t want to do anything where I could mess it up 😀. Might be the best solution would be to take the battery out and take it home for winter.
@Hey Ho Let's Tow Yes, but not if you have an alarm or tracker that is declared to your insurance. It will void your cover if it wasn't protected with no battery installed. If you are ever travelling around the Suffolk/Norfolk area and I'm nearby, I'm happy to connect it up if it helps you out.
The 12v cigar socket won’t be live if the master 12v is off. I guess you could turn the master 12v on, but then you’d have to work out what else might run on 12v and disconnect or turn that off? Otherwise the other 12v items will draw more than what the panel will put in, ie aerial amp, stereo presets memory, fridge control panel(?). Suggest the crock clips is your best bet, just cut the black outer sheath of the Crock clips a bit to allow them to be a bit further apart.
Cigar lighter sockets are usually disconnected when the master is off. They certainly are on our Bailey. Plug something into it that you would usually use in the socket and see if it works with the master off. I doubt it will.
It really needs fitting directly to the battery, but don't make a hole into the box from under the seats. The box should be sealed to prevent gases from the battery getting into the 'van.
Temporary option is out the window and into the box from the outside. Just split the outer insulation of the wire a little more to let the clips reach. A more permanent option would be to wire it in properly.
4.8W seems very low for a panel of that size. You might only get 1-2W at best through a window but might just about be enough to keep the battery topped up (and alarm and tracker maybe)
Dave.
Thanks very much. That’s what I feared. I am reticent to pass it through the window as the cable will be flapping against the side of the van, and also leave a small gap in the window during winter which could lead to damp. Need to find a way to get it into the battery box I think.
@@heyholetstow
The only way really is to cut off the crocodile clips, loosen the plastic nut on the grommet the existing cables come into the battery box and feed them in, retighten the nuts.
Then connect the bare wires to the battery terminals in just the same way the current wires are. Then it is all internal and safe. Worth adding a fuse if the panel doesn't already have one.
This will obviously invalidate any warranty on the panel though!
@@daves1uk thank you. I’m not very handy and don’t want to do anything where I could mess it up 😀. Might be the best solution would be to take the battery out and take it home for winter.
@Hey Ho Let's Tow
Yes, but not if you have an alarm or tracker that is declared to your insurance. It will void your cover if it wasn't protected with no battery installed.
If you are ever travelling around the Suffolk/Norfolk area and I'm nearby, I'm happy to connect it up if it helps you out.
@@daves1uk we were in Sandringham just a few weeks ago. Thank you so much for your advice. Much appreciated.
Use the green led dongle to test whether 12v socket is live
Yeah we did. It’s isolated when the Main is off so we had to go back to the drawing board.
The 12v cigar socket won’t be live if the master 12v is off. I guess you could turn the master 12v on, but then you’d have to work out what else might run on 12v and disconnect or turn that off? Otherwise the other 12v items will draw more than what the panel will put in, ie aerial amp, stereo presets memory, fridge control panel(?). Suggest the crock clips is your best bet, just cut the black outer sheath of the Crock clips a bit to allow them to be a bit further apart.
Yea, seems that way. Nothing is ever simple eh?😀
This has to be the most uselss video of all time..😅
Thanks 😀