'05 Prius: Always-on sockets added! :-)

Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
guidance from others I appreciate you all.

The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
coolers and such should be powered continuously.

Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
sells for under US$7.

It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.

For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.

The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
fuses.

This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
occupation.

Brent

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe wrote:
[color=blue]
> Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
> thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
> guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>
> The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
> ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
> for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
> coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>
> Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
> seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
> easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
> of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
> sells for under US$7.[/color]


Glad it worked for you!

I used to be an Eletronics Technician, with an aptitude for automobiles.
You should see a couple of my cars! From the days before the add-a-circuit! :)
[color=blue]
>
> It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
> fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
> positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
> your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
> but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>
> For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
> driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
> with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
> great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
> off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
> the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>
> The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
> able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
> I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
> diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
> fuses.
>
> This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
> neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
> occupation.
>
> Brent[/color]

On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe
<bsecombover@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
>thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
>guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>
>The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
>ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
>for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
>coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>
>Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
>seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
>easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
>of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
>sells for under US$7.
>
>It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
>fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
>positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
>your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
>but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>
>For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
>driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
>with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
>great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
>off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
>the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>
>The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
>able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
>I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
>diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
>fuses.
>
>This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
>neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
>occupation.
>
>Brent[/color]

Now...are you going to get on here and bitch when you can't start your
car cause you forgot to turn off your 'low drain' devices?

--

Scott in Florida

Still Voting Democratic?

You are Stuck On Stupid!

Scott in Florida wrote:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe
> <bsecombover@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
>> thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and
>> general guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>>
>> The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on
>> the ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's
>> fine for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
>> coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>>
>> Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
>> seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
>> easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
>> of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
>> sells for under US$7.
>>
>> It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
>> fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
>> positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
>> your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
>> but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>>
>> For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
>> driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
>> with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
>> great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the
>> cowling off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet
>> -- about the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>>
>> The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
>> able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal,
>> but I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
>> diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
>> fuses.
>>
>> This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
>> neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying
>> morning's occupation.
>>
>> Brent[/color]
>
> Now...are you going to get on here and bitch when you can't start your
> car cause you forgot to turn off your 'low drain' devices?[/color]

He's got another battery that'd power the ECT machine the docs been trying
to get you to use.
Take him up on any offers.

"Scott in Florida" <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote in message
news:cllgk1hm1iimv5ebi1ukgeh2jf3ajcgfd4@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe
> <bsecombover@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
>>thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
>>guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>>
>>The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
>>ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
>>for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
>>coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>>
>>Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
>>seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
>>easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
>>of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
>>sells for under US$7.
>>
>>It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
>>fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
>>positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
>>your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
>>but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>>
>>For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
>>driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
>>with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
>>great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
>>off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
>>the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>>
>>The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
>>able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
>>I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
>>diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
>>fuses.
>>
>>This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
>>neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
>>occupation.
>>
>>Brent[/color]
>
> Now...are you going to get on here and bitch when you can't start your
> car cause you forgot to turn off your 'low drain' devices?
>[/color]

You don't start a prius, it boots up, that won't need much power at all.

mrcheerful

On Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:32:26 +0000, mrcheerful
. wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "Scott in Florida" <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote in message
> news:cllgk1hm1iimv5ebi1ukgeh2jf3ajcgfd4@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe
>> <bsecombover@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
>>>thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
>>>guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>>>
>>>The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
>>>ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
>>>for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
>>>coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>>>
>>>Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
>>>seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
>>>easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
>>>of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
>>>sells for under US$7.
>>>
>>>It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
>>>fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
>>>positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
>>>your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
>>>but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>>>
>>>For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
>>>driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
>>>with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
>>>great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
>>>off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
>>>the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>>>
>>>The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
>>>able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
>>>I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
>>>diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
>>>fuses.
>>>
>>>This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
>>>neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
>>>occupation.
>>>
>>>Brent[/color]
>>
>> Now...are you going to get on here and bitch when you can't start your
>> car cause you forgot to turn off your 'low drain' devices?
>>[/color]
>
> You don't start a prius, it boots up, that won't need much power at all.
>
> mrcheerful[/color]


If the 12V battery goes dead, nothing starts.

"Hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
news:pan.2005.10.09.11.41.24.464592@ae86.gts...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 09 Oct 2005 07:32:26 +0000, mrcheerful
> . wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>> "Scott in Florida" <JustAsk@Florida.com> wrote in message
>> news:cllgk1hm1iimv5ebi1ukgeh2jf3ajcgfd4@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> On Sat, 08 Oct 2005 16:52:29 -0400, Brent Secombe
>>> <bsecombover@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Today I succeeded in adding always-on 12V sockets to my '05 Prius,
>>>>thanks in part to specific advice from Ray O and Hachiroku and general
>>>>guidance from others I appreciate you all.
>>>>
>>>>The Prius comes with two 12V power sockets. They are conditioned on the
>>>>ignition. If the car is powered down, so are the sockets. That's fine
>>>>for a radar detector, say, but cellphone chargers or solid-state
>>>>coolers and such should be powered continuously.
>>>>
>>>>Hachiroku pointed me to Littlfuse's Add-A-Circuit fuse tap. I'd never
>>>>seen one. It's a brilliant idea cleverly implemented. It made the job
>>>>easy. Hats off to Littlfuse. The kit includes the tap and a selection
>>>>of mini-fuses for protecting the device you're adding. At AutoZone it
>>>>sells for under US$7.
>>>>
>>>>It turned out I didn't need to tap into an existing circuit. In the
>>>>fuseblock located above the driver's knee I found a continuous 12V at
>>>>positions 27 and 28. There might be others; I didn't look further. If
>>>>your options list differs from mine, 27 and 28 might already be used,
>>>>but with Add-A-Circuit that's no impediment.
>>>>
>>>>For ease of access I removed the plastic panel at the sill of the
>>>>driver's door and the cowling just forward of it. They just pull away
>>>>with a gentle tug. Under the cowling is a hex-head bolt that makes a
>>>>great ground for the unfused side of the new circuit. With the cowling
>>>>off you'll also get a good view of the parking brake ratchet -- about
>>>>the only physical threat to new wiring in that area.
>>>>
>>>>The one downside to the Add-A-Circuit approach is that you won't be
>>>>able to put the fusebox lid back on. I concluded it's no big deal, but
>>>>I immediately put the lid in the glove compartment. Its attached
>>>>diagram is the owner's only clue to the functions of the individual
>>>>fuses.
>>>>
>>>>This project has freed up the car's built-in sockets and has greatly
>>>>neatened the interior's appearance. The job was a satisifying morning's
>>>>occupation.
>>>>
>>>>Brent
>>>
>>> Now...are you going to get on here and bitch when you can't start your
>>> car cause you forgot to turn off your 'low drain' devices?
>>>[/color]
>>
>> You don't start a prius, it boots up, that won't need much power at all.
>>
>> mrcheerful[/color]
>
>
> If the 12V battery goes dead, nothing starts.[/color]

yes, but a LOW battery will still be enough