What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

[vetting]

Im replacing all of the cig adapter/outlets on my boat. There are 2 to 3 on each side for running various temporary lights and for charging cell phones. I already have the marine duplex wire and have a fuse panel in the back of the boat. So the question is, can you daisy chain them together - for instance have the port side go to one fuse and have the starboard side go to another fuse? Also, what is the proper connector? It just has spade terminals on it, so do you just use on of the female spade connectors? Seems like it would be kind of easy to pull the wires loose.

 

[Don S]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

No, you can't daisy chain them like that. The original fuse would be the one that protects all of them.

From a fuse panel, come from the fuse to an outlet set. Typically using 14 ga. wire and a 15A fuse. The second one should again start from a different fuse on the fuse panel and go to the other outlet set.

Negative wires will also come from each outlet set back to the negative bus.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

the correct way to do it is to run 2 wires to each which i did on my boat as i believe that if you install a cig lighter it should be able to light a cig and not worry about what else is also plugged in to the chain of cig lighter sockets. (i installed a fuse block next to battery because i wanted 4 sockets) The not so correct way you can daisy chain them but you have to remember the fuse protects the wire so if the cooler is plugged in one and you plug the million candle power spot light in the other the fuse is going to do its job and everything on the cig sockets will quit working until you replace the fuse. The big no no is to use a fuse that is bigger than the wire as this will lead to smoke and melted wiring. The only reason i say that you can daisy chain is to do with smart phones and the amount of sockets required for chargers. If you plan to use heavy loads then install it the correct way

 

[Don S]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

Do it the right way. Then the next owner of the boat isn't on a forum wondering what the previous owner was thinking with 10 to 20 sockets on one fuse.

 

[matt167]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

Not even the 2 accessory outlets which are side by side on my truck are daisy chained.The 2 grounds are bundled where they go back to the dash support which I thought was odd.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

Do it the right way. Then the next owner of the boat isn't on a forum wondering what the previous owner was thinking with 10 to 20 sockets on one fuse.

Words to live by, Don S.
I never try to take shortcuts, even building houses. Do it once. Do it right. It's our company policy.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

Words to live by, Don S.
I never try to take shortcuts, even building houses. Do it once. Do it right. It's our company policy.

lol must have one hell of a fuse panel in these houses you are building if you never daisy chain receptacle's its the same argument as daisy chaining sockets

 

[vetting]

Re: What is the proper way to hook up 12v cig adapter/outlets

Thats why I was wondering about daisy chaining them - thats they way I did it in the house. Its no big deal running wires to each, but it seeems kinda pointless when the a few of the outlets are just USB outlets. I have enough spots in my fuse panel, so I might as run wires to each.