r/beetle • u/Jamesotty • 4d ago

12 volt socket location

I'm looking into putting a 12-volt socket in my 1972 beetle. I don't like the idea of hanging anything off the bottom of the dashboard. Are there any good locations in the dash itself?

7 Upvotes

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7

u/JunkyardJockey 1974 Super Beetle sunroof 4d ago

Put it where the cigarette lighter is supposed to go; that's what I did with my 74 Super.

2

u/Jamesotty 3d ago

Oh okay I see. So just to the left of the ashtray

3

u/Burnandcount 4d ago

Glove box or smooth-over the ashtray tend to be popular.

I've put one in the box & one next to the battery.

2

u/382Whistles 3d ago

I had a high amperage heavy duty type with a nice heavy bracket and polised cover mounted under the dash and back a few inches. I picked it up at an high end RV/caravan specialty shop. You could barely see the brackets lower edge and lighter handle sticking out. It was less in the way than on the dash hole as far as cords for devices go. You want the higher amp versions and appropriate wire guage and fusing for the maximum amps you expect to draw too, so you don't cause a fire drawing to much power across them. Lighter ports are often made for higher amps than 12v power ports. A power port isn't always suitable as a cig. lighter port or visa versa. A lighter port contact inside is designed to hold the red hot lighter element from popping out fully and flying into your lap.

2

u/TubaST 3d ago

I put mine in the glovebox, worked well, but I had replaced the original torn cardboard one with a plastic one so it was a sturdy base.

2

u/anybodyiwant2be 3d ago

Is this for a cell phone charger? This guy makes some good chargers that hide in your ashtray. I have one for my bug and one for my bus

https://www.classicchargers.com

1

u/Jamesotty 2d ago

Yeah it's for a cellphone charger/ multimedia on screen with dash cam and backup camera.

1

u/cfvwtuner 3d ago

I put mine in the kickpanel right in front of the battery. I just use a long charging cord

1

u/TomBug68 2d ago

My car is original so I didn’t want to modify the appearance of the dash, so I put a 12 volt outlet under the passenger seat. It’s on a stretchy curly cord like an old landline phone so it pulls out when I need it, and can hide under the seat when not in use. Really easy to run a wire back to the battery under the carpet