Three Hole 12 Volt Accessory Outlet Box

Jim1348 · Post by **Jim1348** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:01 am

Hopefully this isn't too far off topic. If it is, then crucify me then or forever hold your flamefest. Anyway, I I looking for a three hole 12 volt accessory outlet box. I have one in my work car, but I think that better ones are out there. The one that I have is hard wired and each outlet has a rubber plug that goes in the outlet when not in use, but it is simply a piece of monofilament fishing line holding it to the device. I have seen some like this one http://www.deltakits.com/dki-catalog/a124m.html that have rubber flaps that cover the outlet. I think that I would like that style better than the one that I have now. Anyway, since there are people here that have experience doing vehicle installs, I suspect that many vehicles may have these. Are all of these created equally? (I am guessing not.) Are there any certain brands that are good and any others that I want to avoid at all costs? Also, if I can narrow down which of these is most suitable, also please advise of some wholesalers or retailers where I can buy these. I think that I would prefer a hard wired one over the ones that have a cigarette lighter plug, but I realize that I can clip that off and hard wire it. I also might prefer a style that has an on/off switch, but that is not critical

firegood · Post by **firegood** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:26 am

i have seen two outlets with a switch for each, and i have a three outlet with battery meter on the rescue. theres not a whole lot of difference between them, just make shure they are wired to good power if you are going to be running multiple strobe packs off them.

ESDA20 · Post by **ESDA20** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 5:38 pm

I've never had any problems with any kind I've installed. I've picked them up at Walmart, AutoZone, and Farm n' Fleet.

irsa · Post by **irsa** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 6:15 pm

Avoid ones that plug into your OE cigarette lighter outlet. I had a double outlet one that did and had nothing but grief with it. Fine when I had the CB and UHF plugged in when new, but after the first weekend it started having trouble. I suspect it developed an internal short so every time I plugged it in with nothing plugged in to it, it popped the fuse. Either that or it simply wouldn't work unless you jiggled the various plugs. It went into the trash when I got my proper CB in the car.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:37 am

YOu shoudln't be running mobile radios from a lighter plug let alone a dual plug adapter!!!!!!

Most likely overheated and that caused a short from the internal parts moving into contact from the heat.

BAD!

Jim1348 · Post by **Jim1348** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:46 am

These are NOT for two way radios. This will be for a cell phone charger cord.

crazyboy · Post by **crazyboy** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:03 am

Jim I believe Apco was talking to irsa.

ten8 · Post by **ten8** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:11 pm

personal pref is the sho-me ones. If the customer insists on cig plug dashlights, we use the two outlet with switches version.

If we're looking for extra outlets, we use the 3 outlet version, which is what i have on my truck. I have 20 amps running into it, but i never need them. (usually just have 2 cell phone chargers and the belkin FM modulator on it.)

irsa · Post by **irsa** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 11:05 pm

apco25 wrote:YOu shoudln't be running mobile radios from a lighter plug let alone a dual plug adapter!!!!!!

Most likely overheated and that caused a short from the internal parts moving into contact from the heat.

BAD!

I suspected as much, was a few years ago that I used it. These days I prefer to hardwire everything, with proper blade fuses.