Always hot mod

[whipkiller]

This has probably been covered on here before , so forgive me if this is a repost. (I searched and couldn't find it.) I noticed in some of your sig lines where you have made the 12 volt accesory outlets constant hot so the key doesn't have to be on. How exactly is this done, and is there a downside to doing this? Note: If this is being answeredby someone well-versed in electricity, please be aware that I am not. Thanks in advance.

 

[4RUNNER4MARLEY]

glad you reposted about this mod. I am going to Yosemite and want to charge cell phone and camera batteries while im up there (if I can) I was planning to just plug them in and leave them in the car w/ out keys. But now I know that I can tweek the wiring to be hot all the time.

hope somebody has the answer, I know it will come.

 

[nserpa9248]

the best way on a 3rd gen is to run a constant 12v wire to the (+) side of the ciggarette lighter plug of choice..

You can get constant, behind the radio (prob not the best spot, unless you are only charging a GPS / Cell Phone only), at your ignition harness, or right at the battery.

 

[whipkiller]

So does the plate that the outlet is mounted in just pop out so you can get to the back of the terminals? I'm speaking of the outlet in the rear, by the way.

 

[4RUNNER4MARLEY]

whipkiller you read my mind!!!! I want the back to be hot all the time as you do.

 

[nserpa9248]

ohhh your looking for the one in the "trunk"

Let me take a look at how its mounted today on mine...

However it is you get it off, all you will need to do is find which wire is positive, and which is negative.

From there, cut the positive wire (and tape it, heat-shrink it, butt-cap it, or anything to make sure the lead doesnt touch anything) and connect a wire from any of the places i mentioned in the previous posts, to the wire you cut (the one going to the plug)

Thats all there is..the hardest thing is probably going to be getting to the panel, and running a wire from a +12v constant source..

Btw...what are you looking to plug into the port? I can guestimate what size wire you will need.

You may need to re-ground it if your using something like, 10ga wire, since the factory wire is 16 or 18 i belive

 

[whipkiller]

Thanks, what to do w/ the hot from ign. is one of the things I was wondering about. Mainly, I plug in a portable shower to rinse off after surfing. It's got a small bilge pump in it. But at times it would also power a small tv/dvd unit, or spotlight. Nothing too major.

 

[Kmvreter]

Check the Sticky threads at the start of the forum section about mods. The link to removing the relay is in one of my posts in that thread.

 

[Deep_palancar]

This has probably been covered on here before , so forgive me if this is a repost. (I searched and couldn't find it.) I noticed in some of your sig lines where you have made the 12 volt accesory outlets constant hot so the key doesn't have to be on. How exactly is this done, and is there a downside to doing this? Note: If this is being answeredby someone well-versed in electricity, please be aware that I am not. Thanks in advance.

Under the hood, on the left front wheel well, remove the cover of the fuse/relay box. Note that the 'Pwr Outlet' relay is labeled on the box cover. Remove this relay. You will see 5 sockets where it was. Three are aligned ||| beneath these are two aligned = . With a short section of wire (14ga will work) attach a male crimp-on spade lug to each end of the wire. Insert these two lugs into the two slots that are aligned " = ". Store the relay away in case you want to return to key-on operation.
The only down-side is you have to remember to not leave a device plugged in for long parked periods lest you return to a dead battery. A cell phone will be safe for days whereas a laptop will kill the battery overnight.

 

[whipkiller]

Just what I was looking for, you guys rock!:biggrin2:

 

[Rock Slide]

If you need more info on pictures and what not, check out J.A.s site on the "full time power outlet mod": http://www.top4runners.com/ja/electrical.html

I've done it and it works great. Cool thing is, it only takes a minute if you want to remove it.

 

[99' SR5 guy]

Yeah that is a great mod but be careful it actually killed my 3 year old battery in about 3 weeks of use; I also drove the car at least 30 miles a day.

But that is the beauty of the mod because it takes 30 seconds to take out or put the 4 inches of wire in your fuse box.

 

[nserpa9248]

in reply to those "JUMPING" the relays, thats on a 4th gen.

Also, hooking up a switch, to make it selectable, is a great way to keep the truck from lighting on fire (large"r" gauge wires that are aftermarket can do that if ran incorrectly)

 

[whipkiller]

Yeah, I like the idea of not lighting my truck on fire...