12 volt outlet in Tvan fridge box

[ivatvan]

Good morning all,
We have a 40 ltr Engel with a 12 volt plug made to fit into the vehicle cigarette lighter.  The plug will not fit into the outlet in the box which is the standard Narva or Hella one used throughout the Tvan.   The plug on the fridge when pulled apart has two pins at the rear which look as if they may fit an adapter which in turn may fit the Tvan outlet.  However the fridge plug also has a fuse inside which I am reluctant to dispose of for obvious reasons.

Visited the local camping store who suggested that the outlet in the van has to be replaced with a vehicle cigarette outlet.  Not sure this is correct as Track would have wired the larger outlet in when the van was being built.

I therefore turn to the forum of knowledge for advice on what to do, can anyone assist please?

Jeff 

[Graham Norfolk]

Morning Jeff,
You can buy a small adadaptor cord with the cigarette lighter socket one end and the Hella plug the other end I use this in the Nissan as I have both Hella and cigarette sockets fitted. I can't remember which store I got them from but they are usually on a table with all other nic nacs at shows and should be available at most camping stores.
Cheers
GHraham

[apsilon]

One of the reasons the merrit/hella/narva plug is used instead of the cif light plug is it has a more positive connection that's less likely to fall out over bumpy roads. May people go so far as using anderson plugs and sockets instead.

I'd just replace the plug. I believe the circuit is fused anyway. Using an adaptor is certainly possible (Jaycar probably sell them or at least sell the parts required to make one) but you're introducing extra plugs that could come loose etc.

[ivatvan]

Thanks Graham and Apsilon,
I originally intended to replace the cord from the fridge to the merit plug but was told at the camping store that no such device exists.  They also didn't have an adapter.  Apsilon just checking that if I don't use an adapter you are suggesting that I can just cut the cigarette lighter plug off the cord and wire on a merit plug in its place? 
Cheers and thanks again for your response.
Jeff

[apsilon]

Yep, that's what I'd do. Just cut it off and put a merit in it's place.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Hi All.
I Would keep Your original and get/buy another lead to modify, or viceverca. so you could still use the fridge in the tow vehicle as well.
Seems a shame to lock the fridge to the trailer for use.  You may want to use it for BBQ's or shopping, and not need the trailer.
Do you have the Canvas travel cover on the fridge, in the Box of the trailer.  Or is the fridge naked?

Robert
Cruiser 105Tvan.

[Wilf]

Jaycar sell these then you have both

CAT. NO. PP2094 - $6.95

[oldblade]

Jaycar sell these then you have both

CAT. NO. PP2094 - $6.95

Our fridge came with one of those and I replaced it with a proper merit plug as those plugs don't seem to hold very well the last thing you want is you beer getting warm

[Eelezy]

Yes..and the red tip of mine got stuck inside the vehicle socket once too! I have definitely found from many years experience ( Waeco 50litre) that the quality of the wiring and PLUG makes a huge difference to getting the correct and maximum current at all times. I have contemplated using anderson plugs, but then I would have to have an adapter from when I use it in other vehicles, or with the 240/12vlt supply transformer etc. This issue also happens with my LED vesalite-style camp lights...have to change plugs or use adapters...life wasn't meant to be easy!

[Rusty]

Hi Rusty here

My Waeco 80Ltr fridge came with one of those duel type plugs, bloody useless after a drive over some corrigations my plug melted due to heat build up from poor contact. Changed all my plugs to Merrit type which have a more firmer contact and have not had any problems since. If I carry the 35ltr fridge in car on back seat I have a longer spare lead that runs to the 2 Merrit outlets I have at the rear of my cruiser.

Rusty
(You may have heard what my luck is with electrics)

[MYT150]

Jeff,

Change the plug to a proper merit plug, should be some in the box of spares from Track. Then if you want to plug it in in the car to a cigarette socked make up a short adapter to convert it back.
I have made a number of therm up to convert each way a s I only run merit sockets in my cruiser for the accessories power from the second battery.

Aidan

[rooview]

You can get one of these kits from Baintech. the Merit plug eng should just screw into the original Engel plug lead. The 3 Engels i have had over the years you could just unscrew the cigarette lighter plug off the end and then just screw the lead end into a genuine Engel battery power cable.
So the merit plug in this kit screws straight on to the end of your genuine Engel lead.
This keeps your lead original and will fit all 3. Cigarette lighter plug, a Merit plug and an Engel plug.
http://www.baintech.com.au/sockets/baintech-plugger-3

[Lc100]

The Engel plug is one of the best going around, the cigar section screws off leaving a 2 pin plug, somewhere like the 12volt shop they sell pre-made adaptors with a high quality merrit a short lead into a real Engel socket allowing the plug to screw in.

The other way to achieve the same is buy a short Engel brand extension lead cut the plug off that replace with a good quality Merrit plug and you still always have the original Engel lead.

The fuse in the cigar adaptor is a thermal due to the lighter sockets of the limit of supply to a fridge, a real connection fixes the connection and stops that risk.

Matthew

[ivatvan]

Thanks everyone for your advice, there is a lot of information to work through and it is much appreciated.  Cruiser 105 Tvan the Engel has a canvas cover on it, I think it was designed to reflect heat away from the fridge but I find it keeps a lot of the dust off as the Troopy leaks like a sieve.
I'm inclined to go down the path of another extension lead with a merit plug wired on one end. 
Thanks again everyone.
Jeff   

[Camperman2]

Jeff and others:  I believe:
•   It to be important to retain the fuse built into the fridge plug (or some other type of fuse) so in any reconfiguration you need to keep this in mind; and
•   The adaptor cords mentioned are very handy (I have a mix of Merit and Cig sockets in my car and Tvan) but keep in mind if using them on a fridge, the cable is below the accepted load size for appliances with such a heavy demand – fine for lights and small battery chargers etc.
Gordon.