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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wiring an Sockets

I have purchased a multi accessory power socket to fit into my 1275 midget. It comprises a digital voltage readout, a 12V power supply (similar to a cigarette lighter) socket, and a double USB socket. Each of these has 2 spades on the back for power supply. What is the best way to connect these sockets to the car's electrical circuit. The sockets fit into a flat plastic bracket approx 6" x 2" and I want to fit this below the centre of the dash. Hopefully I can find, or make, a metal bracket that I can screw the plastic one to.
I cannot find anything in the archives on this topic so any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray
Ray Rowsell

Not alot of info to go on as to what it does and lokks like

My thought would be to install it in the glove box hidden from view, it sounds like the funtion will clash with the cars stylimg and will appear out of place

The glove box can hide its preseance yet be easily accessable when you need to charge up a smartphone

Prop
1 Paper

Gday Ray, wiring it will depend on how much current drain you expect. If your only charging iphones etc it can be connected to any wire which has 12volts on it all the time (so that you can charge devices while the ignition is off), anything heavier will require a dedicated wire from the battery with a fuse.
HTH
Cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your feedback. I have agonised for a while on what it will look like and I think it will be ok as the panel is matt black plastic. I don't have a glove locker. The main use will be to power my satnav and occasionally to recharge my phone via the USB socket. However, as there is also a cigarette lighter type socket that could well get used to power an emergency light or to recharge my 12v emergency battery pack. The voltmeter is a novelty that came with the kit! I would rather "over engineer" the fitting than find it inadequate in the future so I think a separate fuse is essential.
For some reason my system refuses to upload a picture but I will try again later.
Ray Rowsell

THe usb units tend to be 15w so that would be about 2A continuous fuse. The main sockets are rated at about 100/120 watts, so that's 10A continuous.
I would use in-line fuses tucked up under the dash off a common power supply from the existing fuse box.
Don#t forget glass fuses are usually rated at their failure current whereas modern fuses are rated at their running current.
But surely the current capacities are on a leaflet with the device?
Graeme Williams

Graeme,

I like your responce esp up under the dash... it might be possiable to use a radio wire or the courtacy light ... i think those wires are there

But there is something is under the dash to tap into
1 Paper

Thanks Graeme (& Prop),

No leaflet or instructions. I must admit, I purchased it as much for the way it looked, i.e. would not look out of place in the Midget, as for anything else although, of course, I expect it to work. I will wire it as you suggested as there is plenty of room to hide (fix!) the connectors up behind the dash and running a new cable should not be difficult. The USBs are marked 2.1A and 1.0A respectively, and this is the same as my modern car. Each unit has the correct EU markings and appear to be well made. However, I am going to rig it all up in the garage and make sure it will power up my satnav, phone, inspection lamp etc., just to be sure.

Thanks again.

Ray
Ray Rowsell

Ray, if max. current is around 2/3A typically, I see no problem tapping into the unswitched supply under the dash. Is the inspection lamp an LED type? If so current should be quite low.
Bill Bretherton

Thanks everyone,

Sockets fitted and seem to work well. I used a feed from the switched side of the fuse box as I didn't want the voltmeter to be live all the time. Graeme, thanks for the reminder on the fuse ratings, I know I would have had to spend time trying to remember how that worked. I had a "play" using a speedometer app on my phone. Very interesting - I can see a lot more playing with apps coming up!!

Cheers,

Ray

Ray Rowsell

Ray

Sounds like a good time, there used to be a dyno app (rolling road) several years ago that you could run on a smartphone thst measurwd everything from various G forces to speed to torque to everything else ... i could spend 10 years with something like that just testing and analyzing data

Keep us posted
1 Paper

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2017 and 28/08/2017

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.