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wiring constant power to relay for


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generalgoomz 
Member - Posts: 31
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Joined: May 29, 2014
Posted: October 20, 2014 at 11:15 PM / IP Logged  
Hey I want to add a 2nd power outlet in my car and wire them to constant power. I am not sure if I should wire a relay to do this? I was thinking of wiring it 86 and jumping it to 30 to the ign harness constant wire, 85 to chassis ground and 87 to both cig pos wires. Now I heard a relay powering something 24/7 can drain a battery...but what if it's just energized, with nothing connected to either cig port at night to draw any power? I'm trying to use a plug in power inverter for 2 laptops chargers without needing to turn the ignition at all. And i don't want to blow any fuses. Is it safer if I just run a 12ga fused wire to both cig wires from the constant ign harness wire in the car? If so would a 20a fuse be too much?
generalgoomz 
Member - Posts: 31
Member spacespace
Joined: May 29, 2014
Posted: October 21, 2014 at 12:00 AM / IP Logged  
Or I have a switch from a remote start...its rated for 6amps is this strong enough to turn the relay on and not burn out if activated from the ignition harness to the relay coil?
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
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Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: October 21, 2014 at 3:15 AM / IP Logged  
If you have nothing connected to the power outlet then there is no drain.
You only use a relay if you want to switch the feed on or off - ie, to ensure things are off when not charging or with IGN or ACC or manual switch off etc.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
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Joined: January 09, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: October 21, 2014 at 5:12 AM / IP Logged  
No relay but keep the 20 amp fuse.
Suggest you only use it to charge the laptops when the engine is running.
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
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Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: October 21, 2014 at 3:39 PM / IP Logged  
Added note - tho the Euro aka Merit etc sockets are rated for 20A (and AFAIK will handle that), traditional cig sockets are only rated for up to 15A - and many won't handle more than a few Amps.
12V fridge manufacturer Engel use 10A thermal fuses in their cig plugs - even for fridges with a max draw of 2.5A. Isn't that nice - an accessories manufacturer that provides safety protection for a fault that is not theirs. I can only assume they have a great community concern, or they found the thermal fuse was cheaper than being blamed for flamed cars & campers.
generalgoomz 
Member - Posts: 31
Member spacespace
Joined: May 29, 2014
Posted: October 21, 2014 at 11:38 PM / IP Logged  
Thanks guys I ran a fuse it seems to be working great!

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