Newbie with a problem ?

**784cy** · 11-05-2009, 07:36 PM

Firstly can i just say...what a fantastic forum this is...from what I've read so far my head has exploded.....I didnt even know you could do half the stuff people have done.....

I'm hoping my problem is a small one and can be easily sorted, but so far I'm not having alot of luck....

I purchased a zafira a couple of months ago.... I noticed a cable coming in through the glove box...at the time I left it...until I got round to looking into it.....the cable is quite long, as if it was needed to reach something......

At some point this Zaf had a roof mounted DVD player, well.... roof mounted something, because the headlining had been cut etc to fit it !!
I have rectified the headling accordingly, just so it looks smart.....

Now....back to this cable......it looks as though it has been routed from the cig lighter....I can not confirm that, as I don't really want to remove the panels......I have no cig lighter, just a hole and when I shone my torch into it, I can see cables running past it........

I have also found a rocker switch which controls this lead,so when I turn on the ignition and press the rocker switch, it powers.....the only thing I can find to plug it into is an old dictaphone, purely cos the plug is quite big...poor dictaphone....it's only 3v and it smoked.....

From the research I have done so far, it seems to be a normal running these power leads from the cig lighter feed ?

But what I am most confused about...is what I can actually plug this bloody thing into because it doesnt fit anything useful, apart from an old dictaphone...not much use !!

I've tried.....

Portable DVD player
Laptop
LCD TV.....

These have all got different size dc input's

I've loaded a picture...its not very good and I've managed to get some info off the cable itself....

(UL) E167861 SPT-2 18AWGX2C VW 105C KENIC CSA LL79248 SPT-2 18AWGX2C FT2

I'm not even sure if you call it a DC plug.....

Please help.....it would be a shame to just leave it and not use it.

Thanks

Tracy

**Enforcer** · 11-05-2009, 08:25 PM

That is a DC plug.

Now the most likely is that it is a straight 12v from the battery.

However it could be connected to anything, it might be 3v, 4.5v, 6v, 9v, the previous owner could have put a universal adapter back there.

Best thing is to put a Multimeter/Voltmeter and find out what voltage is coming through, trouble is it may give you a false reading (higher) without a load on it.

Personally I would either trace it back to it's source, or if that is too much trouble, just tape it up and tuck it away somewhere.

What I wouldn't do is just plug random things into it to see what happens.

**784cy** · 11-06-2009, 07:16 AM

Mmm...looks like I'll have to trace it back, because I was hoping to put a DVD player in the car...........

**Moysie** · 11-12-2009, 08:23 AM

Hi, Did you manage to find out any info on your cable?

Regards Michael

**784cy** · 11-12-2009, 11:15 AM

Nah...not found anything to fit it.....

Don't rely want to pull all the dashout to see where it's going to...all I know is, its powered by a switch located on the gearstick console !!

I did think about trying to look behind the fuse box, but I've not got round to it yet...

**Moysie** · 11-12-2009, 04:53 PM

Ok, cool.

Did you know you dont need to keep that connector on the end and that it can be cut off and a new one soldered/spliced on to suit the device you are wanting to use.

Do you have or know someone with a multimeter/ voltmeter. If you do you could quickly check to see what level of voltage is on the connector i.e. 12V or 5v etc.

**soundman98** · 11-12-2009, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Moysie

Ok, cool.

Did you know you dont need to keep that connector on the end and that it can be cut off and a new one soldered/spliced on to suit the device you are wanting to use.

Do you have or know someone with a multimeter/ voltmeter. If you do you could quickly check to see what level of voltage is on the connector i.e. 12V or 5v etc.

just a note about cutting a 2 conductor wire like that-- either triple check that there is no power going to it, and/or cut the wires one at a time-- if you cut it while there is still power, it will blow a fuse, and if you do not know where the fuse is, you will end up tearing the car apart looking for it...

**Moysie** · 11-12-2009, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

just a note about cutting a 2 conductor wire like that-- either triple check that there is no power going to it, and/or cut the wires one at a time-- if you cut it while there is still power, it will blow a fuse, and if you do not know where the fuse is, you will end up tearing the car apart looking for it...

Yeah, well i didnt think of writing that as it is just something that i would do naturaly before working on any electrical/electronic circuit. I suppose i should of made that clear, so thanks for pointing that out mate.

There is the switch to isolate the power, as an additional measure as you mentioned cut one wire at a time.

I would also state that once the cable is reconnected ensure the conductors are sufficiently insulated to prevent short circuits etc.

Regards Michael

**784cy** · 11-13-2009, 10:59 AM

ok guys, thats good...I'm sure I can find someone with a voltmeter.....

Just one other question....i've seen universal adaptor connectors, you get one small double dc plug which I'd have to put onto my own cable and that then can be used on various plugs supplied in a set....do you reckon I could do that ?

thanks

Tracy

**Moysie** · 11-13-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by 784cy

ok guys, thats good...I'm sure I can find someone with a voltmeter.....

Just one other question....i've seen universal adaptor connectors, you get one small double dc plug which I'd have to put onto my own cable and that then can be used on various plugs supplied in a set....do you reckon I could do that ?

thanks

Tracy

Do you have any pictures of the conectors you are talking about?
Is it the one's with interchangable heads?

One other note about changing the connector is to ensure you get the polarity correct.