Near my auxillary battery, I have a ciggy type plug for 12V accessories and also another which I think may be for a TV.

However the socket has two oblong pins, one horizontal oblong one at the top and a vertical oblong one underneath it.

Although not touching, the two oblong pin holes are in a "T" Shape. 

Can anyone tell me what they are for please, and also where the corresponding plug for these would be bought?

Thanks

Vic 

Does it look like this?

http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php

... and the plug:

http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=9110

-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 6th of July 2013 07:40:40 AM

-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 6th of July 2013 07:41:58 AM

Sorry, the first link should have been ...

http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8446

Thanks Goldcoaster, what do you use yours for ?????

Thanks Dorian, the first link said product not found, but the second one you posted for the plug (I haven't got one for it though...yet) showed a picture of a related product which was the the socket, yes that is the one, thank you..ps pictures from the second link you posted below;

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 6th of July 2013 12:00:06 PM

Well, well, well, I have two external plugs like those on the front of my camper (connected to the AGM). There's a regular ciggie lighter type next to them with a rubber cover.

Is the AGM your auxillary (house) battery Gary?   My single socket has the same ciggy type as your too alongside it with cover over it.

So what do you think yours was used for?   Watching TV outside etc?????

Thanks Doug, mines inside near my auxillary battery and I suspect it might be for a 12V TV or maybe pc or whatever, but 12V as the 12V ciggy plug is alongside it.   

It doesn't make sense though as it would mean you would have to have the same type of plug on whatever lead you were using to plug something in, most of which have the normal 3 pin plub, unless an adaptor was used.

Thanks for the further info Mark, Gary and JC, gives me some idea what hey are for.  

Hi folks

These sockets are 12 volt DC outputs, or inputs.
Can be used for anything 12 Volt, just a more secure connection than the standard 12 Volt push in things, that have a tendency if touched to "pop" out and lose the connection.

most generators have them too which gives you around 8amps @ 12 volts.

Hope this helps

Mark

Hi Duh

As others have said commonly used as a 10A  heavy duty outlets for power other than 240V AC

So it is difficult to say just what yours are fitted for

I would suspect they are simply 12V outlets  which could be easily verified with a voltmeter

While they MAY be using them as INlets that would not be a good choice  due to live pins on the plug!!'

However the surest way is to trace them back to see what they are connected to!!!

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Saturday 6th of July 2013 11:12:01 PM

Thanks all I have learnt something else on this great forum!

Commonly known as a Tee plug , 15amp. I have been using these for many years on all my 12volt systems, solar, fridges, camp lights, etc.

Never had a failure in 25yrs. Normal wireing code is positive to the top of the T & neg, to the leg of T.

JC.

BTW, Clipsal's version of these plugs is cat number "492/32".

See page 18 of the catalogue:
http://updates.clipsal.com/clipsalonline/Files/Brochures/A0000123.pdf

"Flexible Plug, extra low voltage (32V) 15A configuration, two polarised pins, 8.7mm cord entry size, suitable for 0.75mm and 1mm ordinary duty three core flexible cords."

"Note: Where the ELV (extra low voltage) supply is referenced to Earth, the radial pin should be the Earth pin. Outside of these situations it is recommended to consider the radial pin as Neutral and the remaining pin as Active, although these connections can be reversed."

The base is referred to as a "surface socket", cat number "402/32" (page 28).

"Front Connecting Surface Socket, 32V, 15A, two polarised flat pins, 4.8mm live contact terminal bore to accommodate 4 x 2.5mm cables, suits 492/32 plugs"

Here is a complete range, including wallplates and weatherproof versions:
http://www.12volt.com.au/General%20Htmls/webcat2003/plugs2.html#plugs

-- Edited by dorian on Sunday 7th of July 2013 07:29:09 AM

Thanks PeterQ, PeterD and Lance.

Will have a closer look at the socket and try to get a pic of it (in a tight spot behind a seat and behind a cupboard) both the T socket and Ciggy socket are near a fixed amp meter inside a Perspex case which is over the top of an auxillary battery.  Reading is about 10amps at present, possibly 12amps, a bit hard to read.

Duh wrote:

---

Thanks Goldcoaster, what do you use yours for ?????

 

Thanks Dorian, the first link said product not found, but the second one you posted for the plug (I haven't got one for it though...yet) showed a picture of a related product which was the the socket, yes that is the one, thank you..ps pictures from the second link you posted below;

 

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 6th of July 2013 12:00:06 PM

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 6th of July 2013 01:24:15 PM

---

 I have a lead made up to go from T plug to Cigarette socket , mine too is behind a seat , hard to get to, but directly above house batteries. I've plugged numerous things into it, all have worked fine.

dorian wrote:

---

BTW, Clipsal's version of these plugs is cat number "492/32".

See page 18 of the catalogue:
http://updates.clipsal.com/clipsalonline/Files/Brochures/A0000123.pdf

"Flexible Plug, extra low voltage (32V) 15A configuration, two polarised pins, 8.7mm cord entry size, suitable for 0.75mm and 1mm ordinary duty three core flexible cords."

"Note: Where the ELV (extra low voltage) supply is referenced to Earth, the radial pin should be the Earth pin. Outside of these situations it is recommended to consider the radial pin as Neutral and the remaining pin as Active, although these connections can be reversed."

The base is referred to as a "surface socket", cat number "402/32" (page 28).

"Front Connecting Surface Socket, 32V, 15A, two polarised flat pins, 4.8mm live contact terminal bore to accommodate 4 x 2.5mm cables, suits 492/32 plugs"

Here is a complete range, including wallplates and weatherproof versions:
http://www.12volt.com.au/General%20Htmls/webcat2003/plugs2.html#plugs

---

 Thanks for the info and product link Dorian, I am no techo and not techo minded, but it will be of help to other members who are.

The previous owner of my van was an electrician, so I guess whatever was put in there was done properly.  Unfortunately I have not been able to contact him, the dealer I bought it off told me.   I may have to get a sparky or auto electrician to look at it sometime.

Again, Thank you.

goldcoaster wrote:

---

Duh wrote:

---

Thanks Goldcoaster, what do you use yours for ?????

---

 I have a lead made up to go from T plug to Cigarette socket , mine too is behind a seat , hard to get to, but directly above house batteries. I've plugged numerous things into it, all have worked fine.

---

 Thanks Goldcoaster, I am not following you, are both the cig socket and T plug outlets, if so why does the T plug have to go into the cig socket?   I'm just a bit confused.   Below are a couple of photo's of my sockets and amp meter, one of the main leads go from the aux battery to the vehicle battery (left side looking at) while the right side (looking at) has a heavy lead that appears to go to the fridge and possibly other 12 lights etc in the back of the vehicle.    The previous owner of the vehicle was said to be an electrician.

The cardboard indicator stuck to the amp meter box was put on by me as my eyesight is not too good and gives me a rough idea of the reading of the needle without using my glasses or squeezing in closer.....by the photo's looks like it's showing about 13 amps at present.

goldcoaster wrote:

---

Duh wrote:

---

Thanks Goldcoaster, what do you use yours for ?????

---

 I have a lead made up to go from T plug to Cigarette socket , mine too is behind a seat , hard to get to, but directly above house batteries. I've plugged numerous things into it, all have worked fine.

---

 Thanks Goldcoaster, I am not following you, are both the cig socket and T plug outlets, if so why does the T plug have to go into the cig socket?   I'm just a bit confused.   Below are a couple of photo's of my sockets and amp meter, one of the main leads go from the aux battery to the vehicle battery (left side looking at) while the right side (looking at) has a heavy lead that appears to go to the fridge and possibly other 12 lights etc in the back of the vehicle.    The previous owner of the vehicle was said to be an electrician.

The cardboard indicator stuck to the amp meter box was put on by me as my eyesight is not too good and gives me a rough idea of the reading of the needle without using my glasses or squeezing in closer.....by the photo's looks like it's showing about 13 amps at present.

GaryKelly wrote:

---

Well, well, well, I have two external plugs like those on the front of my camper (connected to the AGM). There's a regular ciggie lighter type next to them with a rubber cover.

---

 Just looking at the pic on your original post Gary, I know the ciggy socket has a cover, but notice the two T plug have no cover on the and are facing forward on the front of your slide on, so driving into driving rain could present a problem.   When you have the other work done, ask the sparky if they are ok like that or should they have covers?????

Duh wrote:

---

The cardboard indicator stuck to the amp meter box was put on by me as my eyesight is not too good and gives me a rough idea of the reading of the needle without using my glasses or squeezing in closer.....by the photo's looks like it's showing about 13 amps at present.

---

 To me it looks like 12.5 V, not amps.

Looking at your pic the two plugs are power supply for accessories, you can see the wiring entering the plastic box & going to a fuse block.

JC

PeterD wrote:

---

Duh wrote:

---

The cardboard indicator stuck to the amp meter box was put on by me as my eyesight is not too good and gives me a rough idea of the reading of the needle without using my glasses or squeezing in closer.....by the photo's looks like it's showing about 13 amps at present.

---

 To me it looks like 12.5 V, not amps.

---

 Yes, sorry for the confusion Peter, you are dead right, even written on the box, sheeesh, I'll have to change my sign to read volts instead of amp.  Thanks for pointing that out!

justcruisin01 wrote:

---

Looking at your pic the two plugs are power supply for accessories, you can see the wiring entering the plastic box & going to a fuse block.

JC

---

 Thanks for that JC, what sort of accessories would you run off them?  Would you be able to run a 12V TV and if so for how long, assuming the auxillary battery is full charged ?

Duh wrote:

---

justcruisin01 wrote:

---

Looking at your pic the two plugs are power supply for accessories, you can see the wiring entering the plastic box & going to a fuse block.

JC

---

 Thanks for that JC, what sort of accessories would you run off them?  Would you be able to run a 12V TV and if so for how long, assuming the auxillary battery is full charged ?

---

 You can run a variety of things such as portable lights, fans, fridge,tv, anything that has a lower power draw.

As for how long that has to be determined by the size & condition of your battery, then calculate the amps being used as in what is stated on the accessory's.

This will give you a indercation of time, however there is no golden rule as to how long because there is no perfect world.

One thing to remember is that when a battery's volts drop the amps usage will increase a little to compensate the lower volts, therefore hard to state an exact time frame.

JC

PS, dont try to run an inverter from these points, it will need to go direct to the battery.

Thanks JC, that gives me some idea of what to use them for, albeit for brief periods without solar, generator, driving or 240V battery recharge facilities...