12v power supply

Mac25 · Nov 13, 2011

Not sure what to use it for.......possibly a cell phone charger or something, but I had it laying around the garage and decided to mount it. I used the dead plate next to the PTO and 3 pt hitch levers for the location.

RoyJackson · Nov 13, 2011

I added a 12v outlet to my Deere 4400. The first use will be for a warning light to be mounted on my ROPS. See the attached picture.
I'm sure I'll find other, occasional, uses...

Travelover · Nov 13, 2011

I use mine to plug in a float charger (I added a 12 v plug to the charger) as well as a flashing light for use on the road.

jinman · Nov 13, 2011

You'll find many uses for a 12V outlet. Is it fused? I would think 5 amps minimum and no more than 10 amps. What gage wire did you use? I think it's a great idea, but as you can tell, I have lots of questions.

RoyJackson · Nov 13, 2011

jinman said:
You'll find many uses for a 12V outlet. Is it fused? I would think 5 amps minimum and no more than 10 amps. What gage wire did you use? I think it's a great idea, but as you can tell, I have lots of questions.

I used an inline fuse (10 Amps) and ran from the battery to the panel just below the ignition switch.
I did a thread on this:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/217876-adding-12volt-outlet.html

I used a Marine type outlet and plug for making it as weather proof as possible. You can buy automotive style inline fuses at any hardware or auto parts shop.
One thing I would have done differently is use 12 gage wire rather then the 14 gage I did use. All terminals were crimped and the run of the wires is in a heat resistant sheath. I wiretied the sheath about every 10-12 inches.
My installation is to power a warning lamp (see post #2).

Mac25 · Nov 13, 2011

I have not actually wired it yet, but will probably use 12 gauge wire as well as some type of fuse as stated.

patrick_g · Nov 13, 2011

My Kubota came stock with 12 volt power outlet.

Patrick

RoyJackson · Nov 13, 2011

patrick_g said:
My Kubota came stock with 12 volt power outlet.

Patrick

So do some of the Deeres...but if one has an older tractor (my 4400 was built in 2000), the only way you'll get one is install it yourself.

RoyJackson · Nov 13, 2011

Mac25 said:
I have not actually wired it yet, but will probably use 12 gauge wire as well as some type of fuse as stated.

The inline fuses I found had 12 gage pigtails...so I had to crimp 12 gage in one end, 14 gage in the other end...not my preference, but I had all ready ran the rest of the wiring....one reason I'm posting this (and I had posted the same in that linked thread). No use making the same mistake I did...

Time will tell if that 12 to 14 gage terminal will hold up.

CompactTractorFan · Nov 13, 2011

RoyJackson said:
I added a 12v outlet to my Deere 4400. The first use will be for a warning light to be mounted on my ROPS. See the attached picture.
I'm sure I'll find other, occasional, uses...

A also used it for a warning light. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/217536-my-new-wolo-light.html

I actually was the one who gave Roy the idea.

pat32rf · Nov 13, 2011

At ten amps, 14 gauge is plenty, for that matter you could fuse 14 at 15 amps with no problem. The male portion that you plug into the power outlet may be another matter. Most are either meant for short heavy loads Ie cigar lighter, or lighter long loads such as cell phone charger. Buy the best you can find if you are making something up....

SuperCobra · Nov 14, 2011

jinman said:
You'll find many uses for a 12V outlet. Is it fused? I would think 5 amps minimum and no more than 10 amps. What gage wire did you use? I think it's a great idea, but as you can tell, I have lots of questions.

Jinman,
Doesn't your New Holland have one? My 2006 TC40DA has one on the floor behind the seat on the right side. Bad location for it in my opinion as all the junk (chains, tools, etc) I throw behind the seat broke the little plastic cover off and now it is full of dirt and rust.

RonMar · Nov 14, 2011

Handheld spotlight immediatly comes to mind. My work lights dont point off to the sides...

mjncad · Nov 14, 2011

I put two on my 4200. One on the ROPS and the other just to the left and down of the seat on a panel in case I ever splurge for Gerbing heated clothing.

Mine run through a switched relay for each outlet and are protected by 10-amp fuses as I recall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/110106108324823291002/LightsCameraACTION#5169594148849670786

The ROPS mounted one is just to the right of the left turn signal/flashing light.

mmurphy · Nov 14, 2011

One thought is a inverter if needed in some remote location would make that power supply handy.

RoyJackson · Nov 14, 2011

CompactTractorFan said:
A also used it for a warning light. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/217536-my-new-wolo-light.html

I actually was the one who gave Roy the idea.

Yep, it was CTF's post that inspired me!

RoyJackson · Nov 14, 2011

pat32rf said:
At ten amps, 14 gauge is plenty, for that matter you could fuse 14 at 15 amps with no problem. The male portion that you plug into the power outlet may be another matter. Most are either meant for short heavy loads Ie cigar lighter, or lighter long loads such as cell phone charger. Buy the best you can find if you are making something up....

For an inline fuse, all the ones I found used 12 gage wire for the pigtails (as I'd previously written). Probably better to use the same wire gage throughout and especially if the run needs an inline splice (inline fuse pigtail to the rest of the wire) like mine did.

jinman · Nov 14, 2011

SuperCobra said:
Jinman,
Doesn't your New Holland have one? My 2006 TC40DA has one on the floor behind the seat on the right side. Bad location for it in my opinion as all the junk (chains, tools, etc) I throw behind the seat broke the little plastic cover off and now it is full of dirt and rust.

Nope! That was something that came with the "DA" models. I've often thought of putting one in, but for now it's "coulda, woulda, shoulda". . . I'm the king of procrastination.

RonMar · Nov 14, 2011

mmurphy said:
One thought is a inverter if needed in some remote location would make that power supply handy.

Watts are watts regardless of the source. 10A at 14VDC after factoring in inverter efficiency is only going to power about 120Watts of AC load... Any surge on an inverter would snap that 10A fuse like a toothpic

An inverter that is going to be worth anything needs to be hardwired to the battery with short, FAT cables to handle surge and startup currents. But it will only be able to sustain a load = to the alternator's output to the battery... As an example, a 60A alternator could sustain a 700W load on a properly wired inverter.

RoyJackson · Nov 14, 2011

RonMar said:
Watts are watts regardless of the source. 10A at 14VDC after factoring in inverter efficiency is only going to power about 120Watts of AC load... Any surge on an inverter would snap that 10A fuse like a toothpic

An inverter that is going to be worth anything needs to be hardwired to the battery with short, FAT cables to handle surge and startup currents. But it will only be able to sustain a load = to the alternator's output to the battery... As an example, a 60A alternator could sustain a 700W load on a properly wired inverter.

Good points!
These outlets are very nice convenience items, just as they are in a car or truck, if you need to charge a phone, laptop or something of that nature.
But, not a substitute for a PTO generator...