12V Outlet/Receptacle Rant!

Got the same recptacles. You'd think they would come up with a better 12 volt plug. Of course all the junk we buy at Wall World would work then if it does now. If I run across some I may change them out and put the corresponding plug or connector on all the 12 volt do hickies.

I wonder what genius chose the mouse hole size? Maybe we could catch him and cut him down to size. Years ago I decided to use a small jack, several mm in diameter, in our van. Every time we got a new gadget I cut off the big plug and put on a little one. It worked very well.

There is a high amp standard called Anderson Connectors.
I think they go upwards of 300+ amps.

Ciggy plugs also don't carry much amperage either. The weak spring can cause arcing and pitting as well.

Even worse, we have a ton of 12 volt connectors, Yamaha has one, Honda has one, there is the type for motorcycles, the ciggie plugs, I'd love a NEMA standard that can handle "real man's" amperages, such as the 20 amps from my macerator pump. Add to this a connector that can stand a lot of insertion cycles. Most ciggie plugs have a good chance of dying out or the spring giving out before even 100 cycles.

I wish we can toss cig lighter connections altogether, unless one wants a cig lighter for smoking in their vehicle.

Ciggy plugs and their receptacles make for poor connections.

Another case of convenience overriding design and function.

Its just a matter of time before the springs no longer exert enough pressure to keep the contacting surfaces nicely mated. Then they heat up further, weakening the springs more, until failure.

I wonder how many devices with ciggy plugs have been discarded when only the receptacle or plug itself has failed.

Even if they do not fail they incur a good voltage drop across them, which means heat is being generated and power wasted.

The price for convenience can be very high.

They put it behind the TV location so you can plug your 12v tv in, that's about all it's good for, it's usually fused for 8amps.

There was just a thread in the Truck camper sub-forum about adding your own better quality 12v + usb plugs.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27709063.cfm

That receptacle is only intended for a television. The reason for the size is to maintain a tight fit and hold the television plug in place with good contact.

If you want to plug in other 12v accessories I suggest you add some regular 12v receptacles. I always add them inside and outside of all my RVs.

I don't care what Wikipedia says....
There are no real controlling (like an NEC, NMEA or SAE) standard for DC mouse holes. They are also extremely unreliable as a power connection.
When I did boat work before the depression, if an owner wanted a DC mouse hole to charge his cell, he would have to give me the charger he planned to use and let me search the boat and car part stores (at about 50$/hr) to find one that actually fit that charger. Then, he would get a new phone and the new charger wouldn't fit.

Thanks for listening

Matt

Many people have found plugs that will fit in those.. Some do, some do not, depends on if they are made to US or Eurpoean standards.

My complaint is the )(@#$@)# "Ciggy" type plugs fall out of the )(@)#$&#@() outlets so if I get one that is snug enough I need to sand the plug down a bit and use force.. I'm very very very happy.

The other thing is often those outlets are not all that HD, a cell phone charger, not a problem, a small TV, likewise, A large TV, iffy, an inverter, Forget it.

What I use most in my RV.. Well I have 12 volt aux outlets scattered about, some are the wall plate type some are automotive under the dash types (Mounted on an "L" bracket) but my favorite connector which I have at 5 locations about the coach starting with "Front grill" and ending with "Trailer hitch" is the Anderson Power pole

A strip of a dozen beside the driver's seat

One (fused) in the half-bath, radio/electronics work room

One (for the macerator) on the wall outside said room over the black/gray tank

And one on the front of my car (This with the aid of a matching extension cord keeps the batteries on the car full when long-distance towing) (or when parked for a week in a campground (Front connector).

And a strip inside the car that runs radios, inverter (small) and cell chargers.

Very handy devices those power poles.

Glad that you posted this and didn't know this. We bought a little 12V compressor in case we ever have to add air to a tire when not near a service station so it may not have fit.

Even if you do use the 12V outlet, why on earth do they put them on the ceiling, above a dinette seat and behind the TV where it's almost impossible to reach and see?? Pffft.

I just removed our Wineguard plate and installed a SensarPro signal finder (on the wall 4' above floor) so no longer have the 12V outlet. I have been planning to install a new 12V outlet next to the converter anyway.