Adding a 12 volt power adapter

Parlando
Parlando Member Posts: 165
edited July 2023 in Battery/Electrical & Solar
I have a 2015 320 T@B.  I would like to add one or two 12 volt cigarette style power adapter in the back of the cabin.  Can I tap into either the audio speaker for the radio or the small reading light? 

Comments

  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 758
    Not the speaker but the reading light will work. However the wire gauge might only allow for lower power 12V devices, no inverters or similar. 
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @Grumpy_G    Thank you.  I want to use it to power a 5 volt fan or charge iPad.  I'm curious, can you explain why the light will work, but not the speaker?  I'm still learning about electrical processes.  Thanks
  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 2,017
    @Parlando ;  What @Grumpy_G said . . 2X

    Your 2015 wring should be about the same as the 2016.  The Rear Reading Lights are connected to a 10-Amp Fuse at the Power Center Fuse Panel.

    Reference:

    P.S.  Speaker wires are low voltage 'signal wires' not Power Sources.

    '18 320 S, pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based

    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures: 59 Nights: 411 Towing Miles 50,350

  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @MuttonChops   Thank you.  2 Questions: So I won't overload that 10Amp fuse?  And what size wire should I use to connect to the new power adapter.  Also... hello Mutton Chops.  We met you at Lincoln Rock state park last year.
  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 758
    The speaker wires don't carry 12V DC but amplified audio signals (high frequency AC if you will) from the radio. 
  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 2,017
    Parlando said:
    . . .  overload that 10Amp fuse?
    . . .  what size wire should I use to connect to the new power adapter.

    For what you are planning to use the additional 12VDC outlets for . . . most likely the 10-Amp Fuse will be fine.  Of course it never hurts to be cautious at first and don't turn-on everything connected to Fuse-3 while using the 12VDC outlet.

    I would use a wire size about the same or slightly larger than what you find on the reading light (source / feed side {coming from the Power Center}).  Using a bigger wire at the 12VDC outlet won't help anything as the Wire from the Power Center is the important one.
    Parlando said:
    . . . We met you at Lincoln Rock state park last year.
    Yes indeed.  You were the newbie's on Loop A.  That was a good East-Meets-West.

    '18 320 S, pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based

    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures: 59 Nights: 411 Towing Miles 50,350

  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @Grumpy_G and @MuttonChops.   Thanks again. Great support and advice. 
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    Okay, I hit a snag.  I used Wago wire connectors to tap into the wires for the LED light in the back. Everything looked proper but I blow a fuse everytime I put an USB adapter into the 12 volt cigarette style power outlet. This is the 2nd of two usb outlets I got from Amazon, and the first is working fine.  I checked power at the wire connectors going into the back of the power adapter and got 12.5 plus.  I checked the power adapter plugged in and got the same reading.  I made sure that I had the positive wire of the LED light tapped into for the positive wire of the adapter, and same for the ground.  So I am confused what I've done to cause a fuse to blow. The only thing on when I was blowing the fuse was the lights and the CO2 detector.  Just one light. Any thoughts?
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @Sharon_is_SAM  Hi Sharon,  I just noticed that somehow I listed this under For Sale, obviously the wrong place. Is there a way to move the thread?  -Doug
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @MuttonChops @Grumpy_G Okay, I hit a snag.  I used Wago wire connectors to tap into the wires for the LED light in the back. Everything looked proper but I blow a fuse everytime I put an USB adapter into the 12 volt cigarette style power outlet. This is the 2nd of two usb outlets I got from Amazon, and the first is working fine.  I checked power at the wire connectors going into the back of the power adapter and got 12.5 plus.  I checked the power adapter plugged in and got the same reading.  I made sure that I had the positive wire of the LED light tapped into for the positive wire of the adapter, and same for the ground.  So I am confused what I've done to cause a fuse to blow. The only thing on when I was blowing the fuse was the lights and the CO2 detector.  Just one light. Any thoughts?

  • Grumpy_G
    Grumpy_G Member Posts: 758
    A number of possible causes: The USB adapter is defective, the 12V socket is not wired correctly or either one is designed so badly that it causes a short when plugging in (yes I've seen that). 
    Step one is confirm that the center contact deep in the socket is indeed positive. 
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @Grumpy_G   Thanks I’ll check it out
  • Mickerly
    Mickerly Member Posts: 486
    My 2018 has double outlets with one side USB and one side 12v. The replacements at eTrailer.com are the same brand and model as I have from the factory.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    Well, I think that I finally figured it out. After buying a new and more expensive 12V outlet, and then putting in the USB adapter, the fuse blew again.  Finally, out of options, I attached the red wire to the negative side of the outlet, and the black wire to the positive side of the outlet, and everything worked perfectly. So I think that they accidentally switched the positive and negative wires when they wired the LED light. ???
  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 2,017
    Never Trust the Wire Jacket Color.
    Always Verify With a Meter or Tracing the Wire Path end-2-end.  ;)

    '18 320 S, pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based

    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures: 59 Nights: 411 Towing Miles 50,350

  • Parlando
    Parlando Member Posts: 165
    @MuttonChops I appreciate that and I tried looking up how to do that on YouTube. I found one method that would work with my meter, but required finding a ground to use, which didn’t find inside the wooden cabinet. So I finally took a guess and made the switch, which luckily worked. I’ll have to see if I can find someone who can show me how to use my meter To verify. Thanks MC!
  • AnOldUR
    AnOldUR Member Posts: 1,755
    edited July 2023
    @Parlando I believe that if you put the positive lead from your meter against the connection at the center/bottom of the cigarette port and the negitive lead on the outer edge you should get a positive 12V reading. If the wires are reversed it will show as negitive 12V.
    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025
  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops Member Posts: 2,017
    @Parlando;  You might look for a Book like this one:
        The 12 Volt Doctor's Practical Handbook
          'for the boats electric system'
           by Edger J Beyn
                              Amazon Reference
    Or a similar publication that starts with the basics using simple descriptions and examples for a variety of DCV applications on a boat or RV.

    For your recent Mystery Wires:

    '18 320 S, pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based

    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures: 59 Nights: 411 Towing Miles 50,350

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