12V Power Socket in boot?
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 5 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 5 Series (E12, E28, E34, E39, E60 & E61)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=16859
Printed Date: 28-April-2024 at 20:55
Topic: 12V Power Socket in boot?
Posted By: brc5
Subject: 12V Power Socket in boot?
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 15:08
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I've seen some good portable fridges around for not much money. They run off cigarette socket power. However, I've got an E39 and I can't work out how to get power from the front seat to the boot. Seeing as the battery is in the boot, and there is a large power box there, has anyone got any ideas about hooking into this?
Presumably some have done similar for running amplifiers etc? ------------- Don't be late - get a V8! |
Replies:
Posted By: MTEC530D
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 15:46
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be carefull with these fridges read some instructions before wiring one up they are only suposed to stay on for short bursts as they get very hot in confined spaces. i have a nice budwiser fridge that isok for 6 cans and about 3 hours before it gets hot.
------------- M tec 530D 2001model. well impressed after so many mercedes. Last being an E class |
Posted By: brc5
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 15:53
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Oh - I didn't know about that. So you wouldn't want to run it all day if you were driving then? Perhaps it is better in the cabin and not in the boot.
Just out of curiosity, how cold does it keep things if you turn it off? Assuming you leave it closed, does the beer get warm? ------------- Don't be late - get a V8! |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 16:00
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v. good question as Im planning on getting one tomorrow. I had presumed that they are similar to normal cool boxes in terms of heat loss/gain but stand to be corrected. ------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Posted By: brc5
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 16:05
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Yes I'm wondering if you left something in it overnight (ie Milk/butter) would it get warm, or would there be enough residual coolness to keep things chilly?
I think they are a great idea for taking food with you on the road, as normal coolers are good for the first day only, and after the ice melts  ------------- Don't be late - get a V8! |
Posted By: MTEC530D
Date Posted: 20-April-2005 at 16:25
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i would passon that but pop stays cold for few hours after they get well chilled or warm if you switch them across to warm. ------------- M tec 530D 2001model. well impressed after so many mercedes. Last being an E class |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 21-April-2005 at 03:18
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brc5 The easiest way to do it would be to buy a cigarette lighter socket and mount this in a box or on a plate that you can keep in the boot. You should really connect this to a fused supply and an ignition switched on at that as the fridge will consume a fair amout of power from the battery. For an unfused supply.... Take the wires from the socket and fit the live wire with an in-line fuse and a couple of ring connectors which you can connect direct to the battery terminals in the boot. (you can buy all these bits from Halfrauds or similar) For a fused supply From memory when I last had my head around reading the fuse box list, there is a 15 amp fuse position in the fuse holder above the battery for the 12V supply for towbar/trailer electrics. Now this fuse position only has one of the contacts in, presumably the towbar electric pack comes with the other contact on the end of the live feed wire as it does in the Ford Mondeo system. If you get hold of a fuse and a contact http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DD42&mospid=47539&btnr=61_1228&hg=61&fg=20 - Parts #7-9 you should then be able to use this as an 'ignition switched' supply for your fridge. All you then need to do is find a suitable earth point for the other wire and hey presto cold beer! This way when you have the engine running i.e. charging your battery the fridge can quite happily run when the car is running but as soon as you switch off the supply to the fridge will be dead and you won't drain your battery. HTH Andrew PS the last thing you want is warm beer ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
!Posted By: e34-520iSE
Date Posted: 21-April-2005 at 11:59
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I too bought one of those fridges from ebay a few
days ago. I'm just waiting for it to arrive. As I have an E34 I am putting a second battery in the boot to run the chiller, along with a split charge relay to power it. Here's my install method:- I have a spare battery tray here to hold the new battery in the boot. I'm taking 12v from the "big" live terminal under the rear seat, which will be fused to 30A and I will be taking a "battery charging" signal from the back of the alternator, which will switch on the relay, so the 2nd battery will charge when the engine is running only. I will take some pictures if anyone's interested. Cheers, Shaun ------------- Self confessed madman 1990 Brilliantrot 2 ltr M20. Air force definition of explosives: A loud noise followed by the sudden going away of what was once there a second ago. |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 21-April-2005 at 12:03
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Shaun Yeah keep me posted. That is gold old way of doing it. I have done exactly that when fitting towbars on older cars (than the E39). Once the engine is running the feed from the alternator is live and it then switches on your 30A feed from the battery and hey presto cold beer once of course you have finished with the car for the day! Andrew. ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
Posted By: e34-520iSE
Date Posted: 21-April-2005 at 12:12
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Hi Andrew,
As you know, by permanently fitting a 2nd battery it will act the same as a stiffening capacitor for those with audio amps, easing the load on your main battery - stops your headlights dimming! (well unless you flatten the 2nd battery!) 
Cheers, Shaun ------------- Self confessed madman 1990 Brilliantrot 2 ltr M20. Air force definition of explosives: A loud noise followed by the sudden going away of what was once there a second ago. |
Posted By: e34-520iSE
Date Posted: 21-April-2005 at 12:15
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Sorry, forgot to add in my previous post - MAKE
SURE YOU ADD AN INLINE FUSE TO YOUR FRIDGE ! Cheers, Shaun ------------- Self confessed madman 1990 Brilliantrot 2 ltr M20. Air force definition of explosives: A loud noise followed by the sudden going away of what was once there a second ago. |
Posted By: Andrew Rolland
Date Posted: 22-April-2005 at 03:10
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Spot on Sir! We don't want to weld wires together do we! Up to 600 amps out a car battery will weld the wires together if given a chance! Andrew ------------- Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
e34-520iSE wrote:Posted By: e34-520iSE
Date Posted: 23-April-2005 at 16:25
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Hi All! Just finished making the main split charge loom. I'll install it tomorrow morning. Here's a pic of it http://www.geocities.com/stereowizard2004/imag0024.jpg - www.geocities.com/stereowizard2004/imag0024.jpg Next step will be to fit another E34 battery tray in the boot. Cheers! Shaun ------------- Self confessed madman 1990 Brilliantrot 2 ltr M20. Air force definition of explosives: A loud noise followed by the sudden going away of what was once there a second ago. |