Aux. Socket earth??

[Concizat]

Hi all, just been fitting another aux. socket and have taken a piggyback fused lead from fuse 9 in the fuse box for the positive.
For the negative I connected a wire to bolt holding the bonnet release catch. When tested it gave a good earth.
I was most surprised when, on replacing the fuse, I found that the new socket was permanently live, yet the original socket is only live with the ignition on. I need the new socket to work through the ignition switch as it's for a dashcam.
I can only assume that the negative is switched to provide power to the original socket via the ignition switch and wonder if anyone knows where I can find a switched earth in the vicinity of the fusebox. Thanks in advance.

[brodfather11]

There are systems which stay on until a timer shuts them off. Have you tapped into one of them ?. (ie curtesy interior lights ).
Check if still alive after 5 mins or so.

[Concizat]

Hi Brodfather, thanks for your reply.
I'm tapping into the fuse for the same supply as the original socket which shuts off as soon as the ignition is switched off, so, if the positive is switched then the piggyback should be the same.

[Sol]

Why not splice into the original socket wire then and see if that works. It's odd that its not switching off when a piggyback is used.

You can get Wera wire taps from Screwfix for a few quid and they are mains rated.

[Concizat]

Thanks for the reply Zion. I've been in deepest France with no internet and poor mobile phone reception for the last couple of weeks so didn't get your reply till now.
I'll give you suggestion a try, although I'me not sure how to get to the wiring for the socket.I would have assumed that fuse 9 went straight to the original socket.

[Sol]

Just unclip the socket from the console. The wiring is easy to get at once the original socket is out. It just pops up using a plastic spudger.

[Concizat]

Just unclip the socket from the console. The wiring is easy to get at once the original socket is out. It just pops up using a plastic spudger.

Thanks Zion. Just love this forum. Everyone is so helpful.

[Sol]

You're welcome - by the way I said Wera, they are actually Wago connectors (Wera is an electricians screwdriver brand), search Screwfix for them. They're mains rated and we use them for professional wiring connections now in the industry. Inexpensive and very reliable. Light years beyond the old Scotchloks.

[lasercat]

Hi Concizat,

Did you ever get this sorted? I'm in exactly the same situation, piggybacking off fuse 9 (aux sockets). I thought I might have done something wrong when I didn't see my dash cam turn off as I would have expected. 

I don't really fancy splicing into any exiting wiring, as I like the idea of reverting back to stock if needs be. Did you find another fuse to tap into?

Alternatively, I'm wondering if I can rely on eco mode to save my battery from getting drained, and have the dash cam act as a bit of a bonus CCTV camera until eco mode kicks in?! Until I get some new jump leads, I haven't dared test this theory yet!

I know you can buy 12v DC to 5v USB boxes which sense battery voltage and switch off automatically, but I would like to use the one I've already got.

Thanks in advance!

[Concizat]

Hi lasercat, I haven't sorted it out yet. What I did was to connect one of the Poundshop 3 way cig. lighter sockets which has a usb socket in it to the spur from fuse 9, and fitted it in the overhead locker. That way I just unplug the usb cable ( if I remember) to disconnect the dashcam.
When I get time I'm going to try Zion's idea of tapping into the rear of the existing socket the I can leave the other socket in the locker for charging mobiles etc.