Electrical auxiliary socket

[C6Dave]

Heresy I know in a classic car, but I want the option to charge my laptop or mobile if the need arises.

I have a suitable socket (not a cigarette lighter one) and a location at the lower right of the dash as shown on this image:

[frame][/frame]

Looking at the wiring diagrams I am assuming (it's been a while since I worked on an old car) that the white wire on the ignition switch is the 'switched' one i.e.no power until the ignition is on and was thinking about taking the supply from that .

Is this feasible, will it work on a 1959 car (has been rewired though) and am I likely to cause any issues?

I just want to be sure before I go ahead and try to fit it as I don't want to fry any electrics...........

[mike.perry]

With the number of mods to the car already, heresy is not a consideration. I have my power supply in the "floor" of the dash, just to the side of the steering column, out of sight but still accessible. I wired it to the permanently live fuse since I want to use it when out of the car, tent lights etc.
If that is a convertible then I would have used the triangular bracket for an interior light.

[C6Dave]

OK, I'll take a look at the wiring diagrams again and see if I can find the permanent live. It may actually be better that way thinking about it than having the ignition on to get power.

Thanks for the feedback

[Alec]

Hello Dave,

if I remember correctly there is a permanent live (purple) going up the right hand winscreen pillar to the interior light. It should be quite easy to tap into that (with an in line fuse if you like but it is a fused supply)?

Alec

[C6Dave]

Thanks I'll take a look later.

[mike.perry]

Run a separate wire from the fuse box. If your car is a convertible then it will not have an interior light in the roof.

[bmcecosse]

Make sure you get the polarity right for the 'charging' !

[C6Dave]

Very good point as the 'socket' is for a modern negative earth system so am I right in assuming that the centre 'pin' needs to be negative on the Minor?

[PSL184]

Very good point as the 'socket' is for a modern negative earth system so am I right in assuming that the centre 'pin' needs to be negative on the Minor?

It will depend if your car is pos or neg earth. On modern cars the tip is positive.....

[RobThomas]

You might find that if you have the opposite polarity for your phone plug then you might get a massive spark if your phone touches earth somewhere. Might be better to go for -ve earth throughout the car (ie reverse battery and repolarise the dynamo.)

[C6Dave]

I should have taken a look rather than making an assumption the car has been changed to negative earth (probably when re wired) so no dramas, though I will get an in-line fuse holder before connecting up.

Thanks for all the tips.