Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-13-2015, 04:22 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
boywonder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,045
Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash Ford

I'm adding a 12V power outlet to the passenger side of the dash....(2008 E350)...where is the best place (to make the electrical connection) to get "always on" 12V power to the outlet?

__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
boywonder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 05:27 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
86Scotty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

I pretty much tap in to anything that's constant hot by probing one of the many wires under the dash with a test light, or if you know you only need a couple amps for it you can use the radio's clock wire, which is always powered. I've done this on countless vehicles and never overloaded a circuit or blown a fuse. I would fuse that power point though, of course. If something blows a fuse afterward and that power point quits working you'll know why.

Though not nearly as convenient, I do recommend running anything constant hot from the rear battery bank and not the van's battery. YMMV but if someone who doesn't know what's what plugs in a tablet charger or something you have a lot more reserve in your coach batteries............usually.

86Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 08:18 PM   #3
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

Quote:
Originally Posted by boywonder
I'm adding a 12V power outlet to the passenger side of the dash....(2008 E350)...where is the best place (to make the electrical connection) to get "always on" 12V power to the outlet?
The battery... Just kidding
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 09:08 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
boywonder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,045
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

86Scotty: That's also the way I've done it for years......was hoping there is a cleaner way........

Thanks dave!......of course I have to get the wires through the firewall....
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
boywonder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 09:22 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
LenS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

I put 3 12v outlets on our front center console. Wired them to the house batteries. So it I drain a battery its the house and not the starting.
__________________
Len & Joanne

The Green TARDIS
LenS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2015, 09:27 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
boywonder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,045
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

....I think you guys are trying to tell me something regarding that house battery thing.......
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
boywonder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2015, 08:06 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
86Scotty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,222
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

Quote:
Originally Posted by boywonder
86Scotty: That's also the way I've done it for years......was hoping there is a cleaner way........
Yeah, I agree. Here's what I think is a better plan, but a little more time consuming. I have found that over time I add little things here and there near the dash that require power. Lights, switches, removable electronics like GPS, radar, etc. etc. I think the best way would be to add a small aux fuse block under the steering wheel behind the lower dash panel, and spend the time running an 8 gauge wire to the coach battery bank. Make it about a 5 fuse model, and then wire in whatever you want whenever you want. Since you would go ahead and take everything apart to do this you could go ahead and run about 2 'pre' wires for future add-ons to the right side of the radio, then maybe one or two up the pillars to the overhead console, along with some grounds, then adding stuff later would be simple and not require removing all the panels. It would be pretty easy to access the wiring behind and beside the radio by just removing the doghouse.

86Scotty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2015, 10:35 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
carringb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

Have you looked to see if there's not already power there now? Mine already has a single, powered hot-wire in that exact spot.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
carringb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2015, 04:01 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East Bay CA
Posts: 1,078
Re: Adding an "always powered" 12V power outlet to the dash

Quote:
Originally Posted by 86Scotty
Quote:
Originally Posted by boywonder
86Scotty: That's also the way I've done it for years......was hoping there is a cleaner way........
Yeah, I agree. Here's what I think is a better plan, but a little more time consuming. I have found that over time I add little things here and there near the dash that require power. Lights, switches, removable electronics like GPS, radar, etc. etc. I think the best way would be to add a small aux fuse block under the steering wheel behind the lower dash panel, and spend the time running an 8 gauge wire to the coach battery bank. Make it about a 5 fuse model, and then wire in whatever you want whenever you want. Since you would go ahead and take everything apart to do this you could go ahead and run about 2 'pre' wires for future add-ons to the right side of the radio, then maybe one or two up the pillars to the overhead console, along with some grounds, then adding stuff later would be simple and not require removing all the panels. It would be pretty easy to access the wiring behind and beside the radio by just removing the doghouse.

This is a good way to go. You can get fused power block buss bars at marine places. Run and fuse a decent sized wire back to the van battery, through the firewall (there are usually holes with rubber grommets) and then put it on say the back of that panel on passenger side. On my 2001 you pull off the plastic and there's a fairly beef metal structure underneath. That gives you a bunch of sources of hot power for future use. I attached fuses and wires and use Anderson power poles for connectors. I even have a small inverter to attach there if I want to run say a laptop off it.

I have used the power going to the stereo in the dash, since it's easy to pull the unit out and access it. Messing with random hot wires can work, but I once ran into an issue with an alarm wire I spliced into, so now I'm more careful. Usually the stereo has always hot, and ignition on power sources.

Van power is good too, but sometimes you want the direct van power.
__________________
2001 Ford E250 Sportsmobile with Salem-Kroger 4x4 conversion
rob_gendreau is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:26 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.