Install an additional 12V power socket in the trunk

[lupo1972]

Hi,

I learned in antohter thread that it is easy to install a power socket for 12V in another thread as the cables and fuse are already on place.

So I drove to a car shop and bought a 12V power socked and on the weekend I started to install.

Indeed - the cable is already there - AND if I would have bought the socket directly from Fiat (or other EV2 dealer) I could have even used the existing connector there -great - however I already bought the socket for 5 EURO and I do not know what the original one would cost - but IF you buy the original, just plug and play.

So I removed the original connector and mounted my universal connectors where I learned that a) there is power in the cable even when the ignition is off and the key is not in and b) I know now THAT there is already a fuse on place and where I can change the burned one

All in all - it is a no-brainer and for just 5€ I have now a connector in the trunk for my cool box.

The only thing I wonder is WHY do they NOT put the socked by default in the car - is ist worth for those 5€ to NOT mount it?

For those of you who will do the same - please see my pics below how easy this goes - but please do NOT do it if you do not feel yourself comfortable with +/-, voltmeter, .... this is on your own risk!

[Uwe_rossi]

Originally Posted by lupo1972

Hi,

I learned in antohter thread that it is easy to install a power socket for 12V in another thread as the cables and fuse are already on place.

So I drove to a car shop and bought a 12V power socked and on the weekend I started to install.

Indeed - the cable is already there - AND if I would have bought the socket directly from Fiat (or other EV2 dealer) I could have even used the existing connector there -great - however I already bought the socket for 5 EURO and I do not know what the original one would cost - but IF you buy the original, just plug and play.

So I removed the original connector and mounted my universal connectors where I learned that a) there is power in the cable even when the ignition is off and the key is not in and b) I know now THAT there is already a fuse on place and where I can change the burned one

All in all - it is a no-brainer and for just 5€ I have now a connector in the trunk for my cool box.

The only thing I wonder is WHY do they NOT put the socked by default in the car - is ist worth for those 5€ to NOT mount it?

For those of you who will do the same - please see my pics below how easy this goes - but please do NOT do it if you do not feel yourself comfortable with +/-, voltmeter, .... this is on your own risk!

5€ here and 5€ there it makes the sum of the small amounts wich counts.

I hope your connector has no ring with light, otherwise it will drain your battery

[lupo1972]

thx - no light ring - but I guess if I leave the cool box connected it will finish my battery.

I wonder if this part also gets NO engergy when the energy-save-mode starts after 20 mins....

[davidwfaulkner]

Originally Posted by lupo1972

I wonder if this part also gets NO engergy when the energy-save-mode starts after 20 mins....

I think you will find this is "live" all the time
My coolbox drained my battery very nicely last year - well it had been parked with it running for over 6 hours on a very hot day !

I now carry a portable booster battery box with jump leads

[DirkS.]

Originally Posted by davidwfaulkner

My coolbox drained my battery very nicely last year - well it had been parked with it running for over 6 hours on a very hot day !

Same happened to me already twice. First time, I found a nice guy with jump start cables who helped me out. Second time, I found two nice policemen who helped me in push-starting my Phedra.

[lupo1972]

good point "pusch-starting" - question (it came up when I mounted the socket in front of my mountain hut) - what happens if the battery is completely empty - is it then still possible to push-start (or in my case let it roll down the upward road) or will the motor need some battery-help to be possible to start - or will the electric generator produce the necessary power for the motor to start when I begin to roll down - of course it will not be easy as the motor is cold but I wonder if that works anyway with all the electronic without power - I did not want to try as in the worst case if it does NOT work I would roll down the upward road without help of the brake servo on duty like a 2 tonns sledge .

Does anyone konw if this works with a complete empty battery and cold motor?

[Uwe_rossi]

Originally Posted by lupo1972

good point "pusch-starting" - question (it came up when I mounted the socket in front of my mountain hut) - what happens if the battery is completely empty - is it then still possible to push-start (or in my case let it roll down the upward road) or will the motor need some battery-help to be possible to start - or will the electric generator produce the necessary power for the motor to start when I begin to roll down - of course it will not be easy as the motor is cold but I wonder if that works anyway with all the electronic without power - I did not want to try as in the worst case if it does NOT work I would roll down the upward road without help of the brake servo on duty like a 2 tonns sledge .

Does anyone konw if this works with a complete empty battery and cold motor?

If I remember correct, push starting is not recomended in the handbook. Generally.

[lupo1972]

... and who is reading a hand book ....

ok - in the case of the EV2 I of course read it - I did it already BEFORE I got the car - I could not wait

[DirkS.]

Prior to calling road assistance in a foreign country, I rather push-start the car. Actuall, it started right away at the first attempt, so no risk of damage anywhere due to unburned fuel residues (that why push-starting is not recommended, especially with gasoline engines).

When I jump started the car, this was really a nightmare. The poor guy had it's engine idling at 10.000 rpm and I still couldn't start the engine. Recommandation here: Let the battery charge for 5 minutes prior to start the engine, that should help.

[Uwe_rossi]

Originally Posted by DirkS.

Prior to calling road assistance in a foreign country, I rather push-start the car. Actuall, it started right away at the first attempt, so no risk of damage anywhere due to unburned fuel residues (that why push-starting is not recommended, especially with gasoline engines).

When I jump started the car, this was really a nightmare. The poor guy had it's engine idling at 10.000 rpm and I still couldn't start the engine. Recommandation here: Let the battery charge for 5 minutes prior to start the engine, that should help.

and then there are two cars with drained battery

[Ron807]

When I started to get worried about the condition of my battery, I purchased a portable jump starter. Very usefull, also has a tyre inflator and torch integrated.
push-starting is definately not recommended on newer cars....

[lupo1972]

how long can you store the portable jump starter without charging when you do NOT use it? Means it does not help if you carry arround the portable jump starter but if you need it itself is empty or not strong enough to jump start the EV2.

[Uwe_rossi]

Originally Posted by lupo1972

how long can you store the portable jump starter without charging when you do NOT use it? Means it does not help if you carry arround the portable jump starter but if you need it itself is empty or not strong enough to jump start the EV2.

I would say about 3 month...

but in case of a EV2 it will never drain. because you have to use it more often

[Ron807]

I use it quite often to inflate bicycle tyres, but 3 months sounds right.
It can also be charged via a 12 volt sigarette lighter, so if you permantly leave it in the car, can charge it that way (only when driving ofcourse )

They are very usefull, especially the tyre inflator. No messin with a footpump or so. And as it has it's own battery, very portable

[Meech]

Hello - I just took of the peg in the trunk of my 2004 C8 2.0 HDI and there was no connector attached to it. Difficult to see something through the hole, but the only cable I can see down there seems to run from the wall down through the floor. No connector. Maybe not all cars have the cabling ready for an extra 12V socket..