Wiring for fridge in a Prado 120
Submitted: Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 20:51
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37641
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DOBBO60
I have recently bought a 2005 model Prado GXL,and are heading off with the family in a couple of weeks, but I need to run a dedicated power point to the cargo area in the back to run my Chescold fridge freezer, and I'm after some advice as to the best way to run it ie do I run it from the battery,under the car and drill an entry point for the cable somewhere under the wheel arch up inside the trim panel or do I run it through the firewall and under the carpet and under the door kick panels to the rear.If it would stop raining here long enough, I could get underneath and have a good look to see how to run it, and check out how the cargo area trim panels come off, but I'm hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. I imagine that the standard power outlet back there might not be suitable to run the Chescold, as they draw so many amps and may make the wiring get too hot.
Appreciate any feedback from anyone who has already done this.
Cheers
Dobbo60
Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:07
Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:07
We ran 6mm wire through the vehicle right to the back,,, we went through the kick panel, scuff plates etc etc....
There is a grommett which you can cut with a
stanley knife and it still remains quite watertight after you feed the wire through..
Have a look and you will see it on the passenger side...
AnswerID:
194040
Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:17
Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:17
TJM did
mine and took the wire thru firewall and down drivers side under the scuff plates and the little rear step just in front of the rear wheel arch.
The 6mm wire terminates at two hella plugs that are mounted in the front wall of the small recess/pocket on the drivers side wall of the cargo area. That way the plugs are in out the way and there is less chance of them being knocked out of the socket while travelling or shifting gear around.
They are wired to my 2nd batt and are live all the time (independent of ignition).
This leaves the factory rear outlet available for light duty devices but this one only works when ignition is on and _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx from main vehicle battery.
Cheers
Muddy
AnswerID:
194045
Reply By: Road Runner - Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:22
Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 21:22
I took the easy way out and had it installed. The local ARB centre fitted a dual battery. This was wired through to the wheel-jack cover on the left hand side of the cargo area and a fused cable passed through the cover with a suitable plug (Engel) attached.
I also had them run a second cable to the tow bar connecting to an Anderson plug. This charges the AGM batteries in the camper trailer.
The wiring was a professional job. Two circuit breakers were installed under the bonnet, one to the Anderson plug and the other to the Engel. Heavy duty cable was used. The ARB installer said that the standard cable powering the cigarette lighter in the cargo area would be inadequate to sustain the loads of the refrigerator.
The cables follow the left hand chassis member to the rear of the vehicle, the Engel cable entering a cross-member through a grommet behind the rear wheel arch (just in front of the tail light housing) where it leads to the wheel-jack compartment.
AnswerID:
194048
Follow Up By: Member - eerfree(QLD) - Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 22:37
Monday, Sep 11, 2006 at 22:37
I have run a line from front to back inside the chassis rail, it was not as difficult as I thought (I have not used it yet ,just a piece of stringline in there) but with corrugated conduit or garden hose over the cable it should not cause any problems.
eerfree
FollowupID:
451950
Reply By: Member - Drew T (Melbourne) - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:23
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:23
I have a Prado120 & have run cable down both sides of the car, under the carpets/kick panels as described above. I have terminated them with 50A Anderson plugs as i reckon there is less chance the connections can be broken, ie: if they are a fixed connection you have to be very sure nothing is going to rest against it
AnswerID:
194093
Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:23
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:23
Hi Dobbo
Congrats on your new 4wd.
Send me your email and I will send you photos of how to do it.
Regards Derek.
AnswerID:
194094
Follow Up By: DOBBO60 - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:48
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:48
Derek,
I now know how I'm going to do it, but some pictures would be great.
You can send them :peter.davey@au.harveynorman.com
My main concern is how easy it is to get the trim panels off, assuming they are just held on with those pin and socket arrangements.
Appreciate your assistance.
Cheers,
Peter
FollowupID:
451989
Follow Up By: Rob - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 09:24
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 09:24
Hi Peter,
I have run a dedicated fridge line from my second battery, to actually replace the rear socket (its basically useless anyway). Running through the firewall is easy, and lifting the trim panels is a simple procedure (pin and socket type). The hardest section was the rear panel, but be persistent.
Rob
FollowupID:
451996
Reply By: DOBBO60 - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:59
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 08:59
Thanks to all for the good information. With the weather predicted to be fine this weekend, looks like I'll be able to get stuck into this little project.
Appreciate all your help.
Dobbo60
AnswerID:
194098
Reply By: Oz Travellers - Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 15:28
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2006 at 15:28
I ran a 6mm cable inside the chassis rail (from the rear) and took the wire out thru a hole in the chassis just under the top of the front LHS mudguard. (The hole already exists in the side of the Prado chassis). Then I enclosed the cable in 20mm corrugated flex. conduit (from the chassis rail to the engine bay) by pushing the end as far into the chassis rail as it would go. Then I just attached the flex conduit with cable ties to the hydraulic lines to get into the engine bay. Then I connected it to a fuse to my dual battery. At the rear end, I came out of the chassis and teed off to:
-An Anderson plug on the tow bar and
-A loose Anderson plug stowed in the "jack" storage area. I just notched the jack cover door & pull the cable out when I want to connect the Frig.
Sparky
PS: I used a "yellow tongue" plastic strip to push thru the chassis rail and then tied the cable to it as a pull thru.
AnswerID:
194156