12v socket

[bimmel20]

I am adding 12v sockets to my travel trailer for off grid use. The socket that I ordered from Amazon came with two of those tiny led indicator lights. These were not visible in the initial picture. Should I return this socket or do they not draw enough extra juice to worry about? I am planning to add three. So if they are going to be an issue, I would rather know now before installing the first one.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Typically, LED's draw very minimal current, often in the range of 0.06 amps or thereabouts.  If you were talking about an RV where it was unused for months at a time, I might be tempted to pull the fuse before storing it.  Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[SternWake]

I'd expect those tiny leds to draw much less than 0.06a.

The LEDs I have that consume that much current are much too bright to act as indicator lights.

I would be more concerned with the quality of the receptacle's contacts, and how well plugs on the appliances fit into them. 

The Blue Seas plug receptacle/plug combos can more firmly hold the plug in place than generic spring loaded options.

A much more reliable electrical connection, if one has to use such an inferior connection.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...0_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3Z9H036W8B4V2PW568BB


I'd still not ask for more than 60  to 80 watts continuously through these plugs and less than that through the ciggy plugs provided with many appliances.

Feed them wire no thinner than 12AWG.

These quick connects will take 10AWG and make a good connection on back of Blue seas receptacle.

 https://www.amazon.com/Nylon-Insula...0?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1475802379&sr=1-10

Minimizing resistance to and through these receptacles is very wise.  The spring loaded connections and design of the  plugs causes a lot, which gets worse with time and use.

 

[GotSmart]

The Blue Seas sockets are well worth the extra cost.  I bought other brands first, and had every one of them break on me.

 

[Vanholio]

The Blue Seas plug receptacle/plug combos can more firmly hold the plug in place than generic spring loaded options.

A much more reliable electrical connection, if one has to use such an inferior connection.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...0_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3Z9H036W8B4V2PW568BB

The timing of this thread could not be better for me. I just had a 12v socket "break" after just two months. I don't see how! I figured it must be a wiring problem, either a short or a loose connection. Nope. Stupid socket. I'll upgrade to this OR maybe go for a better style of 12v connector. What do you recommend as a more reliable style of 12v plug/terminal?

 

[SternWake]

Usually the plug is at fault, not the socket.

I use Anderson powerpoles in 30 or 45 amp flavors for my connections.

These have no fuse though. There should be a fuse rated to protect the thinnest wire on the circuit.

The ciggy plugs have a fuse within them, but this is also a failure point, not the fuse itself so much as the contacts holding the fuse.

The Blue seas plug and receptacles good enough up to a certain current. But when approaching their limits are wasting battery power as heat.

if someone wants a similar type plug, trolling motor plugs appear similar and utilize larger contact surfaces and can handle more current.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tro...gs&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[SternWake]

Here is the 12v ciggy plug which failed on my DC to DC laptop car adapter.  it is a very common design on plugs provided with 12v appliances.

It got so hot passing ~65 watts that the coil spring lost all of its spring, and discolored compressed and melted the surrounding plastic.
The fuse also got so hot it spooged out the solder holding the fusible material to the metal endcaps.
You can see the fuse is not visibly blown, but it would not pass current when tested.
Here are some more in depth photos of the Blue seas plug and receptacle.

I am not keen on inserted stranded wire, crush under screw type connections.  One can improve their longevity with a little dielectric grease to the stranded wire retightening screws after a while.
This Blue seas plug will barely accept 12awg in receptacles but it will be pretty fat where it exits plastic.
The BS plug will mate tightly inside the BS receptacle, especially when the ribber O ring is used. they really did try and improve this type of connection as best as possible, but it is still an inferior electrical connection.
There are lots of videos on you tube for wiring of Anderson powerpole connectors.

 

[Vanholio]

if someone wants a similar type plug, trolling motor plugs appear similar and utilize larger contact surfaces and can handle more current.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tro...gs&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I like the look of trolling motor plugs. They're similar to the ciggy plugs in terms of ... lifestyle, I guess. They look like I can more or less swap them out on my panels and devices, and conveniently use them. At the same time, they look much more sturdy and, I read, don't lose nearly as much juice. It's a bit pricey, but given I've gone through three ciggy sockets in the last year for one reason or another, I consider it money well spent.

 

[SternWake]

You'd do the forum a service if you could do a write up on them.

There is no doubt the convenience of the Standard ubiquitous 12v plug is hard to beat, it is just they are limited in current carrying ability when new, and degrade quickly from there.

 

[Vanholio]

You'd do the forum a service if you could do a write up on them.

There is no doubt the convenience of the Standard ubiquitous 12v plug is hard to beat, it is just they are limited in current carrying ability when new, and degrade quickly from there.

Here's the writeup finally! It's not too deep, but I think I got some good links in there to get folks started. http://www.vanholio.com/2017/05/install-marine-plugs-on-high-amp-12v.html