my transit van has a couple of 12v cigarette type sockets in the cab, but annoyingly not one in the cargo area. It would be really handy to have one in the back for charging my gas tester etc. Thing is my van has a full metal bulkhead and it racked down both sides, so access into the cab area is limited. I think it would be a right pain to pick up a live from one of the sockets in the cab as they are both inside the top glove boxes, essentially I'd have to get the dash out and rooting would be hellish. So my question is the load area has two cargo lights in the roof, both with easy to get to wiring. Could I splice into one of these, then it's just a simple wiring drop to the racking where I'd install the new socket. If I used an in line fuse, can a 12v socket be on an internal lighting loom? Would also be handy as the cargo lights don't require the ignition to be on to work, so in summer I could plug in a 12v cool box. Cheers
The light wiring is very light duty, not good enough for a power outlet, easiest was it to find the live in the fuse box that feeds the sockets in the dash run it to the back and pick up and earth close to the mounting for the rear outlet , only need to drill a small hole into the bulkhead at worst but they usually have a hole somewhere
^ I'd agree with this. Really for a fag lighter socket you want an 8 amp supply. The lighting (if it's just a couple of festoon bulbs) isn't likely to supply enough.
Thanks guys. I knew it wasn't gonna be as easy as I wanted it to be. Looks like I'll need to take out the glove box and have a dig about around the back of the fuses. I'm not even sure how I access the cabling at the back. I've got the connections for a tow bar right underneath where I want to put the socket but I'm guessing these would still be no good as it's only powering trailer lights. Dratt and double dratt
