Supply for GPS - non-switched W210

[dave.partridge]

My GPS antenna and phone dock has a lighter type plug to supply the necessary volts to keep it running. This is all fine, but the moment I turn off the ignition, everything is lost as the cigar (cigarette) lighter is switched with the ignition. Re-boot time for the GPS can be very slow (up to 20 minutes) as it's an old chip-set - changing this isn't really an option as it's specific to the phone.

Is there a simple modification (re-orient a fuse perhaps) such that the lighter socket is fed with 12V regardless of whether the ignition is on or not.

Also once this is done, what's the simplest way to add an additional outlet in either the driver or passenger foot-well?

 

[Diesel Benz]

My GPS antenna and phone dock has a lighter type plug to supply the necessary volts to keep it running. This is all fine, but the moment I turn off the ignition, everything is lost as the cigar (cigarette) lighter is switched with the ignition. Re-boot time for the GPS can be very slow (up to 20 minutes) as it's an old chip-set - changing this isn't really an option as it's specific to the phone.

Is there a simple modification (re-orient a fuse perhaps) such that the lighter socket is fed with 12V regardless of whether the ignition is on or not.

Also once this is done, what's the simplest way to add an additional outlet in either the driver or passenger foot-well?

The front cigarette lighter usually has two positions to choose between, one gives switched power, the other one permanent.

But if you are going to install another power socket, why not feed that from a spare circuit 30 fuse?

 

[dave.partridge]

OK, so there are two positions to choose from - which fuse is that, and where is it (under back seat, or under bonnet)? For now I'll settle for the cigarette lighter being the only outlet and always on.

As for running a new cable from fuse 30 (?) I'd rather like to avoid major dismantling - running an additional outlet off the same wire as the existing one is easy to do as all the work is in the same location (by the ash tray).


Thanks
Dave

 

[Diesel Benz]

OK, so there are two positions to choose from - which fuse is that, and where is it (under back seat, or under bonnet)? For now I'll settle for the cigarette lighter being the only outlet and always on.

As for running a new cable from fuse 30 (?) I'd rather like to avoid major dismantling - running an additional outlet off the same wire as the existing one is easy to do as all the work is in the same location (by the ash tray).


Thanks
Dave

It looks like it would be more complicated for the W210. The fuse diagram talks about another fuse for the cigarette lighter to get permanent power. I could not properly decode this from the wiring diagram, I'm not sure if the standard fuse should be removed and another one inserted, sounds odd if both could be seated simultaneously (that would short-circuit circuit 15 and 30).

Do you have your fuse diagram from the car? Perhaps someone can help from experience, I could have another look at this some time later.

 

[dave.partridge]

No, I have neither a wiring nor fuse diagram ...

 

[Diesel Benz]

No, I have neither a wiring nor fuse diagram ...

The wiring diagram should not come with the car but a fuse diagram should be inserted to one of the fuse boxes or accompanied with the tools.

I could send you a copy if you were able to PM your email address.

 

[dave.partridge]

I can't PM you as my post count is too low, but my email is david dot partridge at perdrix dot co dot uk

I have the list of fuse locations printed on a piece of paper inside the top cover of the fuse box under the bonnet - that just says Cigar lighter is on location 2 or 5 and it is in fact on 2 (5 is only connected on one side?)

The car wiring diagram (or relevant part) would help massively.

Thanks
Dave

 

[dave.partridge]

Oh my! That was so easy it is embarrassing!

Fuse 2 is fed by a fat white wire with a yellow trace. This is 12V switched with ignition.

Fuse 5 is fed by a fat red wire (no trace). This is 12V always on.

Cigar lighter is fed from fuse 2 by default,, thin black wire with yellow trace.

So, remove fuse block 2, and then fuse block 1.

Remove 15A fuse from fuse way 2

Push red blocking bars for fuse ways 2 and 5 out of the fuse block as far as needed to move wires.

Move fuse connector with thin black/yellow wire from fuse way 2 to fuse way 5.

Push blocking bars back in, and reinstall fuse blocks.

Install 15A fuse in fuse way 5

Job done!

 

[Diesel Benz]

Oh my! That was so easy it is embarrassing!

Fuse 2 is fed by a fat white wire with a yellow trace. This is 12V switched with ignition.

Fuse 5 is fed by a fat red wire (no trace). This is 12V always on.

Cigar lighter is fed from fuse 2 by default,, thin black wire with yellow trace.

So, remove fuse block 2, and then fuse block 1.

Remove 15A fuse from fuse way 2

Push red blocking bars for fuse ways 2 and 5 out of the fuse block as far as needed to move wires.

Move fuse connector with thin black/yellow wire from fuse way 2 to fuse way 5.

Push blocking bars back in, and reinstall fuse blocks.

Install 15A fuse in fuse way 5

Job done!

Glad to hear you got it sorted. I still don't understand why it was made this complicated compared to the approach on more recent models.