Hard wire in refrigerator

[VanKitten]

I have a 12v portable refrigerator.    It has a ciggy lighter connection


I would like to cut it off and hardware this in.

But..before I do that, 18 do not see any markings on the power cord that indicated + -

I made the mistake of cutting such a cord once before....I tried to figure it out and messed up the little charger .... shorted it out.

So...How do I know the difference?   I know others have done this before me.

 

[VagaboundSusan]

I am with you on this one Kat, messed up my first set of over priced LED lights doing this also. [emoji79]

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[tx2sturgis]

Do you have a multimeter with a continuity setting?

Continuity setting icon will look like a little speaker or it may have several curved bars.

I can tell you how to do it that way and its easy.

 

[MrNoodly]

If it's a Dometic, the half with ribs is positive. I believe that's the universal standard.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I've seen tracers on both positive and negative....I want to be sure about this!

 

[MrNoodly]

I've seen tracers on both positive and negative....I want to be sure about this!

Okay, then open up the plug. The wire that goes to the pointy end (rather than the two tabs on the side) is the positive one.

 

[VanKitten]

^^^^exactly.

Too pricey to short this out.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Is the plug a molded unit or one that you can open up?

 

[highdesertranger]

split the wires, strip a little insulation off of each wire. take your multi-meter and hook it up to both wires. when it's hooked up correctly it will read battery voltage, when hooked up backwards there will be a negative symbol(-) in front of the battery voltage. now take some tape and mark the wires. now you can cut the wires. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

Is the plug a molded unit or one that you can open up?

Cut it open, smash it open...

 

[tx2sturgis]

Cut it open, smash it open...

lol.....yeah that could work too...

 

[VanKitten]

I did this with a little charger. Used a 9v battery to test which was +
Fried the thing.

You don't mean to hook this up to the battery....??? Even backwards?

That was my understanding of what you wrote.... when hooked up correctly it will show tha battery voltage....so...batteries hooked up? If I guess wrong...zap and fried the frige? Like i did that little charger.

I have not turned on the batteries yet. Don't want to wire this "live"

I am guessing I can smash the ciggy end (gently....is that even a thing..smash gently). Well...it is a solid molded piece, but with a hammer and a light touch???

 

[Weight]

split the wires, strip a little insulation off of each wire. take your multi-meter and hook it up to both wires. when it's hooked up correctly it will read battery voltage, when hooked up backwards there will be a negative symbol(-) in front of the battery voltage. now take some tape and mark the wires. now you can cut the wires. highdesertranger

You would plug into the cigarette outlet to test which wire is positive. You could push a pin into one wire at a time to make contact with the meter lead. Then test to a metal part of the dash.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Kat, do you have a multimeter?

 

[John61CT]

If not, as others said, the wire that goes to the center bit with the spring is positive.

 

[La Tortuga]

I've seen tracers on both positive and negative....I want to be sure about this!

I opened up the plug on my Truck Fridge 51.  The ridges went to the negative (outside terminals) and the one w white writing on it went to the positive (center terminal or pointy part).  
Thanks for the help guys it's always good to be sure!

 

[tx2sturgis]

Yep....there is no 'standard' for tracers across brands....the tracers (ribs, white markings, etc) can be on positive OR negative...so its best to check before you let some smoke out.

 

[WalkaboutTed]

I cut the wires for my Truckfridge, hooked it up to a big marine on/off switch, put a fuse on it and then heatshrinked a couple of ring terminals and then connected directly onto the batteries.

I second the multimeter for determining the polarity. You can get one cheap. If you need more info, you chin find it on Youtube.
Ted