Unswitched Power Source

[lBasket]

What is a good source for unswitched power behind the dash on a 97? I see some people have wires labeled and already back there for switched and unswitched but I do not. Trying to power a cooler, it will shut itself off if my battery voltage gets too low.

 

[macleanflood]

I personally would squirt a wire out above the HVAC box and the heater core/AC lines. 3' of wire gets you straight to the battery. Add an inline fuse and it's just too easy.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

I personally would squirt a wire out above the HVAC box and the heater core/AC lines. 3' of wire gets you straight to the battery. Add an inline fuse and it's just too easy.

-Mac

I was hoping to just throw a tap on something already back there for the wiring the 12v socket came with, it has an inline fuse. I am lazy lol

 

[macleanflood]

I was hoping to just throw a tap on something already back there for the wiring the 12v socket came with, it has an inline fuse. I am lazy lol

A straightened coat hanger taped to a wire...pull the glove box, maybe two screws for the fuse box. It'll take 30 seconds.

I don't trust any of my factory wiring.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

A straightened coat hanger taped to a wire...pull the glove box, maybe two screws for the fuse box. It'll take 30 seconds.

I don't trust any of my factory wiring.

-Mac

You just jam it through this foam rectangle?

 

[macleanflood]

You just jam it through this foam rectangle?

Yup. It'll come out on top of the HVAC box behind the glove box and you can push it just about anywhere on the dash from there.

-Mac

 

[lBasket]

Yup. It'll come out on top of the HVAC box behind the glove box and you can push it just about anywhere on the dash from there.

-Mac

Sweet thanks, easy enough. I can do that tomorrow

 

[Lou]

How many amps does the cooler pull? My cooler runs off ice.

 

[lBasket]

How many amps does the cooler pull? My cooler runs off ice.

It says 40-55watts, at 12v DC a random online calculator says that is a bit under 5a.

I can't do an ice cooler again after the meat fiasco. Plus this fridge one wasn't more expensive than a decent ice cooler

 

[rasband]

Trying to power a cooler, it will shut itself off if my battery voltage gets too low.

I'm going switched source with a delayed relay, I'd rather lose some food than kill a battery. But I did do one that can run on dc and a battery for when the vehicle is off.

 

[lBasket]

I'm going switched source with a delayed relay, I'd rather lose some food than kill a battery. But I did do one that can run on dc and a battery for when the vehicle is off.

Delayed relay has a timer on it or something? How long? I'm definitely going to do some expirementing in the driveway with it to make sure it doesn't kill my battery before I use it camping or etc.

I have a poor man's DIY jackery thingy I made for running it off a marine battery when I truck camp too

 

[rasband]

Delayed relay has a timer on it or something? How long?

The one I think I'm going to do is 10 seconds. My thought was I didn't want a "thundering herd" sucking all the juice before I can fire it up.

 

[lBasket]

The one I think I'm going to do is 10 seconds. My thought was I didn't want a "thundering herd" sucking all the juice before I can fire it up.

Oh delay on startup. Yeah that makes sense, I was thinking it stays on after shutdown for a while. Seems like a good idea.

What cooler did you get? If my math is right 5a seems super low and hopefully won't be an issue. But I guess I'll see if I need to change the wiring later.

 

[JMT]

Ran a Norcold on unswitched power in BFE for 6 days and never had an issue with a SuperStarter AGM. Consequences were high, but the cooler was perfect and never allowed it to get below cranking amps.

@lBasket do you have a probe? Just test each fuse in the panel behind the glovebox and find your winner.

 

[lBasket]

Ran a Norcold on unswitched power in BFE for 6 days and never had an issue with a SuperStarter AGM. Consequences were high, but the cooler was perfect and never allowed it to get below cranking amps.

@lBasket do you have a probe? Just test each fuse in the panel behind the glovebox and find your winner.

I do and I could do that, but I wasn't sure what it and isn't ok to tap into I guess. Like I'm pretty sure brake lights work with the key off, but will it dim my brake lights?

 

[JMT]

I do and I could do that, but I wasn't sure what it and isn't ok to tap into I guess. Like I'm pretty sure brake lights work with the key off, but will it dim my brake lights?

Do you have any fuse slots that you’re not using that are hooked up annd are unswitched?

My thought on the brake lights is you rarely use them so if the fuse covers the amps then you are good to go. Try for a couple days and see how things go.

I can’t remember where you are staying, so do you have access to AC power? If so just run an extension cord at night and don’t sweat that aspect.

 

[rasband]

Oh delay on startup. Yeah that makes sense, I was thinking it stays on after shutdown for a while. Seems like a good idea.

What cooler did you get? If my math is right 5a seems super low and hopefully won't be an issue. But I guess I'll see if I need to change the wiring later.

I know Sri well enough to trust his judgement and copied his. I don't need much space and like the battery option.

 

[JMT]

I do and I could do that, but I wasn't sure what it and isn't ok to tap into I guess. Like I'm pretty sure brake lights work with the key off, but will it dim my brake lights?

Put the probe negative on the negative battery terminal. Put the probe tip on the fuse where tiny metal sliver is showing and see if you have power without the key on. If it lights up you have unswitched power.

 

[lBasket]

I know Sri well enough to trust his judgement and copied his. I don't need much space and like the battery option.

Yeah I was deciding between the cooler he got and this one... Honestly the biggest deciding factor was that I was worried the tall and skinny form factor would annoy me to dig through.

 

[lBasket]

Do you have any fuse slots that you’re not using that are hooked up annd are unswitched?

My thought on the brake lights is you rarely use them so if the fuse covers the amps then you are good to go. Try for a couple days and see how things go.

I can’t remember where you are staying, so do you have access to AC power? If so just run an extension cord at night and don’t sweat that aspect.

I use my brake lights a lot when I'm driving what're you talking about I suppose the LEDs probably take a tiny amount of amps.

Yeah I am hoping the red desert has external outlets I doubt I will bother removing it and putting it every night if it doesn't.

I will poke around in the fuse box tomorrow with my probe light and see if I can find anything, more confident tapping into something with its tiny amp draw