12V feed from fusebox in W211

[jeremy156]

Hi all,

I'm looking to hard wire a GPS to my E-class right in the bottom right corner of the screen and I'm tempted by the fact that there's a set of fuses just below there, accessible when opening the door. A quick look in reveals a few gaps and I thought I'd simply insert a blade to get a feed, however I realise there aren't any wires behind the empty ones.

Would anybody be able to advise if/how I could get a 12V feed (+ and -) from this area, or do I need to go to the ashtray and take it from back of the cigarette lighter socket?

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[HumberMart]

If you have a cig lighter socket at the rear of the centre console, it's usually easier to take on from there than the front one.

In my R Class, I found it easier to take a feed from the interior light console (it unclips quite easily) and run the cable around the edge of the windscreen.

 

[jeremy156]

Hi, that's an interesting thought..... run a cable under the carpets rather than through the dashboard, you mean? I'll take a look in the morning and see how easily I can get to the rear cig lighter.

 

[HumberMart]

Hi, that's an interesting thought..... run a cable under the carpets rather than through the dashboard, you mean? I'll take a look in the morning and see how easily I can get to the rear cig lighter.

Yeah, well the rear gig lighters are usually easier to pull out and get behind to run a cable from. However I've been a bit lazy and leave a cig extension lead plugged in my rear socket all the time (you can tell by the smile on my face )

 

[Alex Argent]

I have thought about doing this too......I'm fed up with the supply cable dangling all over the dash, in the way of indicator and cruise control levers, and sometimes even getting tangled around the gear selector

Taking the supply from the centre armrest 12v supply (if present) seems to be the easiest option.

However, don't forget that most - if not all - standalone GPS units do not run on 12V. The cigar lighter adaptor plug also includes a step-down transformer to whatever voltage the specific unit runs on. IIRC my TomTom 910 runs on 6V.....which means still having an 'in-line' type cigar lighter socket to plug into! (or soldering the 12V + and - cables directly onto the GPS cigar lighter plug and insulating well )

Let us know how you get on once you've managed to have a look.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[HumberMart]

I
However, don't forget that most - if not all - standalone GPS units do not run on 12V. The cigar lighter adaptor plug also includes a step-down transformer to whatever voltage the specific unit runs on. IIRC my TomTom 910 runs on 6V.....which means still having an 'in-line' type cigar lighter socket to plug into! (or soldering the 12V + and - cables directly onto the GPS cigar lighter plug and insulating well )

Good point Alex, fortunately in the R Class there was enough room inside the interior light moulding to fit the TomTom power adaptor. I generally buy a cheap cig lighter extension, and cut off the male end to solder the cable on the rear of the fixed 12v socket, or in the case of the R Class, the 12v supply to the interior light. Of course you could come unstuck with the CAN BUS system and set off a few alarms (I mean fault codes!), but I've never found it a problem (that is until I tried to fit reversing sensors to my wife's B180!)

 

[richard]

That W211 fusebox is permanent positive. If you have any blank fuse holders then you can just insert a contact in the back of the holder (I think part nr is A004 545 52 26) if not, if you have any spaces then you can get the fuse holder to fit in. Work out the fuse number (remembering the whole fusebox is upside down compared to the picture on RHD cars) and ask MB dealer to look up what fuse holder fits in that location (they are all keyed and colour coded, presumably to help assembly)

R