Non boaty - 12v sockets

dolabriform

dolabriform

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Hi all

I'm about to wire up a summer house for the MIL, which will all be 12v.

We've been looking at 240v floor standing lamps that we can put 12v bulbs into, and ideally want them to plug into a wall socket. It seems wrong to use normal 240v sockets for this, and just label them as 12v, but the only other option I've come up with is cigar sockets, which I'd prefer to avoid.

Any ideas folks?

Thanks

David
 
I work in the film / TV industry and all my 12v kit tends to use 4 pin XLR plugs and sockets.

I also use the chrome and brass connectors on my boat but they can be quite expensive.
 
Bilgediver said:
The old wee ones are still made a some folk use them as lighting outlets. The wall sockets are available too. Not siure if they were 5 or 2 amp.
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Yes, but they are normally used for mains voltage. Nothing terrible will happen if someone plugs something expecting 240 volts into a socket supplying only 12, but if something from the summerhouse expecting 12 volts was taken elsewhere and plugged into a socket supplying 240 the results might be unfortunate.
 
alan_d said:
Yes, but they are normally used for mains voltage. Nothing terrible will happen if someone plugs something expecting 240 volts into a socket supplying only 12, but if something from the summerhouse expecting 12 volts was taken elsewhere and plugged into a socket supplying 240 the results might be unfortunate.
Click to expand...

This was the thinking for me against using normal mains sockets.
I think the round ones will suffice as there is no chance of anything being taken out and plugged in elsewhere, and as we are only talking about light bulbs if they blow they just get replaced. I will be installing cigar sockets for the laptop chargers and usb sockets, so it's just for the lights.
 
Teddingtown said:
I work in the film / TV industry and all my 12v kit tends to use 4 pin XLR plugs and sockets.

I also use the chrome and brass connectors on my boat but they can be quite expensive.
Click to expand...

I thought about XLR's, but as you say they are quite costly compared to the round pin plugs linked above.

Edit: also quite fiddly compared to a switch on a mains socket
 
Cheaper and more rugged. You can even buy extension cords and switched cords or match for about $12. 14 and 16 AWG are common.

SAE 2-pin. Two for $15 in the US.

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How about something nice, not horrifically expensive and you can have the 12v sockets and the USB sockets all nicely matching. If you also need 12v laptop charging sockets and don't want to swap the cig lighter plugs on the chargers, make some patch cables up, DIN plug on one end, cig socket on the other.

If you want the light sockets to be switchable you can fit a matching switch next to the socket, or you can have the switch somewhere more convenient.

Furneaux Riddall & Co Ltd
 
Bilgediver said:
I suspect the wee wee ones may be 2 amp . They are dinky things. Found this web page but I think I have seen them in B & Q

kenable 2 Amp 3 Pin MINI Round Pin Industrial Unfused Small Mains P...
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I gave a link above to CPC who have 2A, 5A and 15A. They are still used in India and South Africa but not in UK for at least 50 years. I have only come across them once in UK about 20 years ago in a grade 1 listed building where I was working. It is very unlikely that you will come across one still wired to 230V so they will be safe for 12V use.
A lot of the other plugs mentioned will stick out from the wall and be susceptible to damage so I think these 2A round pins are a good option.
 
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