DC Power on TTG

pilot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2004 Posts: 36

I have an 04 Laguna and wish to connect the DC power to the TTG - in the centre arm rest box there is an additional 12v socket where I can connect the supplied DC power lead to - problem is it won't reach the TTG. I planned on buying 2mtrs of cable and a DC plug and socket to make an extension lead - then I can bury it under the carpet at bring it up behind the dash. Problem is I have been to the local Maplin store and tried every DC plug and socket possible and none fit - they seem to use there own plug/socket size (ala Sony).

Anyone managed to buy a plug and socket yet ? If so can you let me know or if any of you reading are retailers and can sell me one.

BTW I bought the external aerial as the windscreen was a real problem, I used to receive no signal at all - but with the aerial 9 - 11 satellites every time.

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

Have you thought of doing it the other way round, i.e. by buying a cigarette lighter socket and plug, and extending that end of the lead? You could probably hide that somewhere too.

pilot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2004 Posts: 36

sgould · Frequent Visitor Joined: Oct 05, 2004 Posts: 1320

Why not insert a bit of cable in the middle? You will have to make 2 joints, but they can be as small as you like with any suitable connector. The smallest is solder with heatshrink tube over.

pilot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2004 Posts: 36

bestyman · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:15 pm Post subject: Maplins do have a plug

Hi,
I made my own power supply complete with plug for power supply at rear of tomtom Go .
The thread is here.

The plug was purchased from Maplins at Leeds and was the type that pluged into two prongs on a power cable so the polarity could be reversed.

Lost the receipt Im afraid but 100% sure that they do sell them.

Regards
Mark

Frazzle · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 66

Bestyman,

Glad to hear you managed to build a power supply for your TTG.

One comment though..... you have trusted your 500 GBP TTG to a basic 78 series linear regulator without also employing a crowbar circuit. This circuit would blow the fuse if ever the regulator failed and tried to deliver 12v to the TTG.

To use your psu without such protection is brave as I often have to repair equipment that has been damaged by a failed 78 series regulator. Don't get me wrong , the regulator you have used is OK for the job but it is a very simple, cheap animal so you can't expect it to be perfect. It aslo tends to get pretty hot.

Most car chargers are switching regulators and these, if designed properly, are very reliable and low risk.

bestyman · Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 1:09 am Post subject:

Hi,
Thanks for the advise as to be perfectly honest what I know about transformers could be written on the back of a stamp. At the time tomtom did not sell the cig lead as an extra but only the other day I was thinking if I should buy one but as the one I have is working it goes to the back of my things to do list .
Your right about it getting hot. As an afterthought I housed it in a metal box and also fitted a heatsink and it still gets warm..erm hot ! Rumor had it that tomtom chargers were going mad and blowing tomtoms so this was my trump card ;O).
Seriously, do you think I should invest in said cig lead?
Also, I think I remember the jack plug been a 1.6mm, does that sound right to you?
Cheers
Mark

sgould · Frequent Visitor Joined: Oct 05, 2004 Posts: 1320

pilot,

I meant cut the wire on your car charger. Solder in a length of wire between the two bare cut ends. You then have a longer cable with the same ends that you know will fit.

Lotus_Esprit_Turbo · Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:30 am Post subject: Re: DC Power on TTG

Frazzle · Regular Visitor Joined: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 66

Bestyman,

Yes I would recommend buying the "official" TTG cig lighter charger.

I understand that there were some problems with the charger but it would appear that a new charger is now supplied. On another furum we discovered that early TTG's had a 12 Volt only Cig lighter charger. I and others who bought a TTG recently have 12Volt/24 Volt units that work in Lorries. They may be more reliable ?

I tested mine (3 of them) With a 4.7 Ohm resistor as a load (I Amp) and they passed the test without problems and stayed cold.

I purchased two "extra mounts" direct from Tom Tom for about 16 GBP each.... a bargain. AND you don't risk your TTG warranty :-)

F

pilot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2004 Posts: 36

I found a DC plug yesterday in a local Maplin store - the size is 4.0 x 1.7mm - cannot found an inline socket of the same size so have ordered a chassis mounted one from CPC and plan to mount this is a small box.

fleng · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:54 pm Post subject:

I amy be missing something but why not just buy an extension cable from Halford's?

pilot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2004 Posts: 36

zoomzoom · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 06, 2004 Posts: 2

I used the Halfords method. Silver unit with two female sockets and a cig lighter socket connected to a 1m cable and plugs straight into your existing cig socket. Hide all the junk behind dash/carpets and job done. Sells at £9.99. Some shops sell similar for cheaper but this suited me.

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