Towzatronics 12V (Cigarette) Power Socket

[christopher]

Bought one of these the other day as a 12V socket is something I'd been meaning to get fitted for a while but couldn't be bothered making one myself!

Various length cables available for +/- 50p ish in the blokes eBay shop. Quality seems good and a doddle to fit, wires straight to battery with an inline fuse, same as usual with these things, just that it's ready made. Mine's stored under the pillion seat but have the long wire in case I decide to move it.

First one I received didn't work... tried everything, was connected fine, fuse hadn't blown, things that I was plugging into it worked in other sockets. Ended up contacting seller who sent another straight out, and that one worked instantly so nothing I was doing wrong. Both were posted same day 1st class. Seller refunded return postage on the faulty one I sent back.

Recommended if you've been thinking about one but like me don't want to make your own!

[timwilky]

Only comment from me regarding this sort of thing.

Would you not be better powering it through an ignition switched relay? That way whatever you power is only going to run whilst the ignition is on and no risk of running down your battery.

that is unless you want to charge a phone overnight while your camping.

but yes your right

Originally Posted by christopher

Bought one of these the other day as a 12V socket is something I'd been meaning to get fitted for a while but couldn't be bothered making one myself!

Various length cables available for +/- 50p ish in the blokes eBay shop. Quality seems good and a doddle to fit, wires straight to battery with an inline fuse, same as usual with these things, just that it's ready made. Mine's stored under the pillion seat but have the long wire in case I decide to move it.

First one I received didn't work... tried everything, was connected fine, fuse hadn't blown, things that I was plugging into it worked in other sockets. Ended up contacting seller who sent another straight out, and that one worked instantly so nothing I was doing wrong. Both were posted same day 1st class. Seller refunded return postage on the faulty one I sent back.

Recommended if you've been thinking about one but like me don't want to make your own!

Christopher, personally i would have put a relay in so it only works when igntion on.
I bought a marine 12v socket for £4 and mounted in side panel on top fairing, hardly notice its there.

Go to Maplin and get one of these:

http://maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055




Also, get some solder (and a soldering iron if you don't have one), electrical tape, wire, heatshrink, zip-ties, a few inline fuses holders (and fuses), maybe a scotch-lock or two (for tapping into the tail light circuit), some blade connectors, a "terminal block", and a 30A (40A works too) 12V 5-pole relay.


For a relay-controlled distribution block:

Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle

If I had a nickel for every time I've posted this... I'd have about a dollar

http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/generic/relay.php

I've had my hotgrips wired in this way forever, and they've never given my reg/rect or battery any bother.

Then get busy wiring all that together. Obviously, do the relay-controlled distribution block, then make the cigarette-lighter accessory cable, then plug that in... you're good to go.

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=137700

Here is mine, as it happens i got mine from same company.
I had all the other stuff lying around so cost me £4 total.

Originally Posted by specialone

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=137700

Here is mine, as it happens i got mine from same company.
I had all the other stuff lying around so cost me £4 total.

I've gone w/keeping the socket beneath the pillion seat (for both my bikes), and it's worked well to just run the GPS power cable from the tankbag beneath the rider seat along the frame and to the socket.

Since you've made yours, have you had problems with 1) water, and 2) vibration?

Originally Posted by ridelikeaturtle

I've gone w/keeping the socket beneath the pillion seat (for both my bikes), and it's worked well to just run the GPS power cable from the tankbag beneath the rider seat along the frame and to the socket.

Since you've made yours, have you had problems with 1) water, and 2) vibration?

None at all, my satnav is not waterproof anyway.
The socket has a flap on it and i have checked it after washing it and there doesnt seem to be any water in there.
My socket is a twist to lock type of thing so if vibration was a problem you could get the matching plugs and then that would eliminate that, that said i have never had a single issue so far and im very pleased with it.

My socket is fitted to the bike and yes you could flatten the battery if you left your electric razor plugged in running overnight but thats not the sort of thing you use it for.
The advantage being that you stick it away at night or for two weeks or however long and plug your charger straight in
The drain for charging most things,i.e phone,GPS or such is minimal and highly unlikely to discharge a good battery where as heated grips or gloves wired up this way could end in a very flat battery
In retrospect it really depends on what you want the plug for,charging,or using a plug in that is short term OK anything else not advisable and better wired through the ignition so that it can only be used with the engine running.

I bought the Maplin socket extension lead, cut the end of and added a in-line fuse. Presto, flexible socket that goes anywhere and can be put in the tank bag to charge stuff when its raining. Plus a spare socket to make stuff plug into it. It got crushed the other day so need to replace it, but it was only a few quid.