Engel fridge into merit plug
Submitted: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:51
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maxmcclo
How do I plug an Engel fridge into a Merit socket ?
In other words how do I plug a cigarette plug into a Merit socket ?
Is there some sort of attachment which allows these 2 to match up ?
Reply By: Hairy - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:57
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:57
Whats a Merit socket?
AnswerID:
175671
Follow Up By: Member - Ed. C.- Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 21:21
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 21:21
Hairy,
Go to www.jaycar.com.au & enter "merit" into the search field, hit the search button, & all will be revealed....
(Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I, may wish to post the pics here;-))
Or, if ya happen to have the current Jaycar cattle-dog handy, they are illustrated on P138 (along with the Hella type adaptor)...
Cat. PP-2090 Merit Plug
Cat. PP-2092 Spring Flip Cover Merit Socket
Cat. PP-2094 Merit Plug with Cigarette Lighter Adaptor (fused 8A)
Regards, Ed. C.
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FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Ando79 - Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 07:31
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 07:31
And I always thought they were called DUNNY-LID plugs... at least thats what my auto-electrician callsem.
FollowupID:
431863
Reply By: Johnnotoo - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:04
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:04
There is an adaptor I believe. Maybe try the 12 volt type shops.
Good luck..........................
AnswerID:
175674
Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:14
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:14
Why not use the Engel adaptor....take off the cigi plug part of the Engel plug, revealing a screw-on fitting. Buy a suitable fitting from Engel supplier (comes in 2 variants, long or short electrical supply cable) and then the thing is very positively connected.
Mine stays plugged in and turned on 24/7/365....never a problem. Even a Merit plug can accidently be unplugged if a piece of luggage hits it etc.
Cheers
Roachie
AnswerID:
175676
Follow Up By: maxmcclo - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:29
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:29
The cruiser I bought has 3 merit sockets installed in it and so I don't want to start dismantling them. I would prefer to keep the 3 merit sockets and get my new Engel fridge to plug into them. I have searched the internet and can't seem to find any sort of cigi/merit adapter and so it sounds like I will need to buy another 12v lead for the fridge as
well as a merit plug and then wire these together myself. Seems a bit strange to me that merit plugs are so popular yet I can't easily plug an Engel fridge into them !!!
FollowupID:
431745
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 19:30
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 19:30
"Even a Merit plug can accidently be unplugged if a piece of luggage hits it etc."
Yes, but lets face it Billy Boy. NOBODY carries as much stuff in, or on their vehicle as you do:-)
For mere mortals, the Merit socket is satisfactory.
FollowupID:
431762
Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 22:47
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 22:47
'Merit' plugs vibrate out, or get knocked out just as easily as cigarette lighter style plugs.
Engel genuine socket is by far the best option, I have tried all of the above.
FollowupID:
431827
Reply By: Dirty Patrol - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:34
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:34
Hi I have changed my Engel to a merrit plug, no problems I have a fuse in the line between battery and fridge, easy to do my plugs are out of the way very hard to dislodge cable, in my opinion for what it's worth.
Cheers
AnswerID:
175681
Follow Up By: Hairy - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 20:42
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 20:42
So whats a Merit plug!
FollowupID:
431785
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:52
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:52
The correct name for a Hella Plug or what ever you call the DC accessory plug with the detented centre pin and a wider shoulder that most people use in vehicles instead of cig plugs.
I just cut my Engel plug off and replaced it with a decent Hella plug.
As best I can work out the thermal fuse is to blow before the lead catches fire due to a poor cigarette lighter connection. There's a 10A fuse in the back of the fridge too. Seems odd. Can anyone shed any light on what the purpose of the thermal fuse in the original lead is for?
Dave
FollowupID:
431848
Reply By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:50
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:50
Yep, there is such a beast, I bought one at the Rosehill 4WD show recently (TJM stand, I think.) I bought it as my CT has only Merit plugs. I wouldn't use it for the fridge though, only battery chargers, mobile phone, etc.
If you car is fitted with Merit sockets, my advice would be to cut off the cigarette lighter plug and wire it up permanently with the Merit plug. As some have said, an adapter of the type you mention would provide ample opportunity to knock the plug out, or worse still have it come loose with only intermittent contact. Can't be good for the fridge. If you need to use the fridge from a ciggy socket every now and then, make up a short piece of wire with a male cigarette fitting on one end and the female Merit on the other. Bith easy to get at Repco, etc.
Matt.
AnswerID:
175686
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:51
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:51
You can replace the original plug on the end of the Engel cable to a Merit plug, or a Hella plug. The Hella plug has a removable collar which allows it to connect to both a standard Cigarette socket, or the Merit socket, after the collar has been removed.
They are both around the $15.00 mark.
The Hella plug is available from Battery World.
The Merit plug is available from TJM outlets.
I have converted virtually all my sub 10 amp 12 volt accessories to either the Hella plug, or Merit plug, as I also have Merit sockets in the back of the vehicle and on the Thumper portable battery unit.
They are easy to wire up and do not require a solder joint.
The one advantage of the Hella plug is that you can plug it into a cigarette socket, if it's all you have. (eg a friend or relative's vehicle)
AnswerID:
175687
Follow Up By: Member - Matt M (ACT) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:54
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 18:54
What he said.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: agsmky - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:10
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:10
Talking to the State rep for Engel at the Quenbeyan 4wd show about this very issue....He stated they will not make one for the merrit setup as there isn't the demand for them.
Well, my
Kimberley Kamper has nothing but merrit sockets so we are annoyed that engel don't make one.
We bought a simple adapter below (ciggie to merrit) that works better than some of the other bulkier types. Some we tried actually get hot (feel the connector and there shouldn't be any heat dissipated from them). Can't remember where we got them from though :-(
photos here ==>
Andrew
AnswerID:
175770
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:57
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 23:57
Looks like the one Pirhana were selling with their (Versa)lite.
Only problem is it doesn't have a retainer in the bottom to hold a decent cig lighter plug in. Every
junction, particularly in a poor plug/socket combination, is a source of resistance and therefore voltage drop.
Better to cut the original plug off and put a new one on. If you aren't comfortable to do it any auto elec should do it for you for a few dollars.
Some Hella/Merritt plugs only have one earth tag on the side. Get the ones with two on opposite sides of the shoulder of the plug. Pressure on one side of the cheap ones can break contact in a worse case scenario.
Dave
FollowupID:
431849