12v sockets

[Andyjack]

Hi while looking through the booklet and paperwork that came with my caravan i found this. Please see photo. It plugs into the 12v socket but i can’t work out what its use would be. Nothing can be plugged into it or so it would seem. It has a small plastic piece that lifts uo but to what purpose I don’t know. Any ideas please

 

[Ukdave2002]

Its a Hella DIN male cigarette lighter plug, that can be used on both 12v cigar sockets and the Hella 24v socket, hence the red adaptor. Personally I hate cigarette lighter sockets, the plugs are not properly secured. I replace the ones in our Swift with a double USB socket, far more useful.

 

[Mr Plodd]

But you cannot power an awning light, a tyre compressor or an awning inflation pump or a fair few other 12v items from a USB socket that only provides 5

 

[toad a caravan]

Also it's a nifty idea when they have a replaceable fuse included(usually the end cap requires removing)

 

[IanB1485]

I prefer the DIN socket /plug rather than the standard cigarette lighter versions ( on yours the red collar is not used). The current rating is bigger and the combination doesn't get hot under about 70W rating( I swapped from an external cigarette socket powering my 60W cool box ( for my beer) as on prolong use the various plugs started to melt!!!) the DIN socket and plug handle the power without getting hot. Added a second one to power an outside WI-FI router.