3rd Gen 12V Always on

Is there a way to have 12V always on for the 12V socket outlet in the dash? I saw where someone soldered on their fuse panel, and I do not want to go that far.

Has anyone found the relay for that outlet? If they have found it, have they been able to change the relay to be always on?

 

Not my post, but I did similar. I used a 1" wire soldered under the left knee panel that connects the fused side of the supply for sunroof to the fused side of the 12V socket. The 12V socket fuse is open circuit so current only sources from sunroof. I soldered to the top of the fuses, not sure how others do it. This way there is no effect to the structure of the vehicle.

Over 12 months no problems with always-on 12V socket.


Edit- I wouldn't wire a relay to be always on, that just drains current for no reason.

I /think/ my wire above is after the relay, but can't guarantee-- please correct if I'm wrong.

 

So you jumped between the Sunroof and the 12V socket fuses on the fuse side of the panel?

 

soldered to the fuse itself? why not just 2 fuse taps?

 

I found something like this on Amazon...

 

yeah like that, i've never seen one that was fused on both ends so that was my comment about needing 2...
this is what i was picturing with them wired together
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...ode=PromoUnder100_MARCH&gStoreCode=8041&gQT=1

 

I saved $5 and 2 days waiting for delivery after looking at it. Also I made it extremely low profile so the stock plastic cover still fits.

 

so like soldered to the test points on top of the fuse? i'm more or less trying to picture what you did not pass judgement, that's all.

 

Yes and make sure there is not a fuse making a connection in the 12V socket spot which could backfeed current via the sunroof jumper.

 

Yes in the interest of simplicity I soldered to the test spots. Worked a treat. Essentially making the necessary parts of an add-a-fuse without the extra height.

No passing of judgement was assumed.

Also above I mentioned I am not sure there is no relay being held all the time with this jumper. I assume there isn't because this is the high current side which /should/ be after the relay but in all fairness I never looked at their schematic.

 

I'm doing the double ended fuse taps. I'll report back. I guess I'll be double fused, unless someone thinks that could cause issues?

 

Since you mention it, theoretically fuses have a finite resistance so having 2 in series adds unnecessary voltage drop. Doesn't really matter, it just isn't the right way to do things for several pedantic reasons like that.

 

That makes sense. I don't believe that power can pass through both ends without a fuse, though. I'll find out this weekend.

 

My add a fuse arrived today. One thing I found was that I was able to get the 12V socket powered all the time, but it also powered on the radio as well.....did you have a similar result? I didn't have too much time, so I unhooked the add a fuse and went on with my day.

 

I have been looking at adding a circuit off my switch panel so I can have a constant power source if I wanted but I don't know if I would want the risk for a potential power draw by feeding a 12v socket constantly

 

No my radio is unaffected. Did you ensure there is no fuse backfeeding current the wrong way on the 12V circuit which might thus cause the radio issue? Maybe post a schematic of what you did.

 

In my 1gen I had a switch that let you choose whether the 12V socket was always on or switched by the ignition. Had another switch that did the same for the stereo.

I like the simplicity of leaving the 12V plug pulled out a little from the socket if the voltage should not be applied.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/always-on-12v-power-outlet-mod-3rd-gen.432620/

 

I figured it out, I was backfeeding my 12v....Thanks for your help.

 

A diode would prevent the back feed. Interesting those double ended fuse adapters.