How To - Convert accessory power outlets to always on

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smwalker
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How To - Convert accessory power outlets to always on

Post by smwalker »

G8 guys were talking about keeping your accessory plugs (cigarette lighters) powered up at all times, as opposed to shutting off with the key. Looked up the wiring diagram for the Caprice and they are similar design. If you would like to convert yours to power on all the time the solution is a simple one. Just may have to take off some panels to get to the relay on the fuse box. The RAP relay is the small type on the Caprice so you will need some male push in connectors that are .110 in size to get into the relay terminals in the fuse block. Plus 2-3
inches or so of say 14 gauge wire? That should do it.

Picture of relay:
Image

Two Connector Needed:
Image

Fuse block with relay removed:
Image

Here is the jumper wire made up. Actually 2 inches of wire end to end. Strip back a bit and crimp on each connector.
Image

Here it is installed:
Image
Last edited by smwalker on Sat Oct 07, 2017 2:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
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storm9c1
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Re: How To - Convert accessory power outlets to always on

Post by storm9c1 »

Good idea! Another alternative to finding and buying the crimp terminal is to strip a piece of 14 gauge wire, flatten the strands on a table, and use a soldering gun and some solder to make your own flat terminal on each end of the wire. Diagonal cutters or tin snips can be used to trim it up if you make it too wide. Done this before on lots of different applications where I needed to tap into an automotive fuse box.
Tom (AKA: Storm)
2011 Caprice 9C3: L77, 8K miles, first-owner, purchased July 2011.
1995 Caprice 9C1: LT1, 178K miles, summer car.
1995 Impala SS: LT1, 21K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 62K miles.
1995 Caprice Wagon: LT1, 128K miles. Rust In Pieces
1994 Caprice 9C1: LT1, beater winter car.
1969 Chevy C30: 383ci stroker, 4L80E, rollback car hauler.
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elc32955
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Re: How To - Convert accessory power outlets to always on

Post by elc32955 »

Sounds good - in theory. But... how much battery consumption will take place with this mod for other things besides the lighter plugs being hot? Any danger of a battery (in reasonable shape of course) going flat in a few days through parasitic drain via the RAP being left on due to the jumpered relay?

Eric
System Manager and your tour guide for the day. 2015 Caprice w/LFX, former NC DPS staff car. Partial hybrid G8/SS/Camaro SS interior mods, SS MyLink radio upgrade, 2016 Camaro V6 rims, GMPP Malibu chrome exhaust tips, otherwise bone stock for now.
smwalker
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Re: How To - Convert accessory power outlets to always on

Post by smwalker »

Only the lighter plugs are on that Circuit (RAP2) There is another RAP relay (RAP1) that controls the other stuff that stays on before you open the door.

But yea you leave your GPS, Notebook and Phone plugged in for a week while you are away it cold drain the vehicle battery pretty good. Have to be more careful to monitor what you leave plugged in and if it really needs to be.

Diagrams are not conclusive because they show a few different set ups depending on the option package of the Car and one seems to be clearly wrong. But this is the one that seems to most match up:

Image

Shows RAP2 controls Fuse F14DA
Listing Shows fuse F14D in the insturment panel fuse block to be:
Image



Then this one shows the plugs coming off of RAP1, but that's not right. SO that's a bit confusing.
Image

Have to play with it some more but I am pretty sure the only thing that gets disconnected when you pull RAP2 relay is the accessory plugs.
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
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