want to install a 12v power outlet in my w129?

[chillcat]

My 91 500sl does NOT have an accessory outlet anywhere, I thought the cigarette outlet gave power (but doesn't) I want to tap into an ignition remote wire (so the power will cut off when engine is shut off) Anyone know where I can tap into a wire to run an extra outlet ?

[MB-Dude]

Originally Posted by chillcat

My 91 500sl does NOT have an accessory outlet anywhere, I thought the cigarette outlet gave power (but doesn't) I want to tap into an ignition remote wire (so the power will cut off when engine is shut off) Anyone know where I can tap into a wire to run an extra outlet ?

If the cigarette lighter currently installed in your SL doesn't work, why not fix it? It is probably just a fuse. There is little else in the circuitry that could be broken. In my '94 SL500, it's fuse #12 (labeled "cigar lighter". It should be an 8-amp (white) fuse. There are no moving parts in the cigarette lighter socket, itself.

[chillcat]

oh ok, I didn't know the cigarette lighter was a 12v source, but anyhow I guess I should fix it, I'd still like to have an extra outlet next to the cd player area under the dash somewhere so I can plug in my ipod for charging along with a police scanner. Any tip where I can tap the power wire into to hook up my power outlet I bought? thanks

[MB-Dude]

Originally Posted by chillcat

oh ok, I didn't know the cigarette lighter was a 12v source, but anyhow I guess I should fix it, I'd still like to have an extra outlet next to the cd player area under the dash somewhere so I can plug in my ipod for charging along with a police scanner. Any tip where I can tap the power wire into to hook up my power outlet I bought? thanks

Please do not laugh, but the best location to tap an additional 12vDC power source is from the… back of the cigarette lighter. Seriously! According to a MB Shop Foreman, that is the ideal location because very little else of the car is used on that particular circuit. Certainly nothing that would keep the car from driving is on the circuit.

I have my built-in radar detector wired to the back of the cigarette lighter socket and it works great. The 8-amp fuse protecting the cigarette lighter circuit is more than sufficient to handle a myriad of different electronic gizmos... unless you use the cigarette lighter element. No extra fuses, fuse holders, wires penetrating firewalls, etc.

Getting to the back of the cigarette lighter socket is fairly straight-forward and anyone with basic mechanical skills can access it. Unfortunately, there are a number of different cigarette lighter installations in the R129 series, so one set of instructions does not fit all.

[Pete Geither]

Fathers Day project on the SL

[MB-Dude]

Pete - Very nice install.

[tomasito]

There is also a cheaper solution to have multiple 12v power outlets... see accesory socket system... : http://rep.speedycarparts.com/parts/speedycarparts/wizard.jsp?year=1983&make=MB&model=380-SL-002&category=Z&part=Accessory%20Socket%20System&dp=true