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12 Volt Always On for Small Freezer

Discussion in 'Model S: Interior & Exterior' started by SkiTrak, Oct 11, 2019.

  1. SkiTrak

    SkiTrak Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Messages:
    19
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    I got a 12 volt portable freezer for when I go to Cosco and won't get home for a while. It is fused for 15 amps. I can use the 12 volt cigarette lighter plug but it powers down when the car is off. I am looking for a place to tap 12 volts that is not switched. I noticed the power seats are fused at 30 amps and I was thinking since you rarely move the seat that would be a good source of power. Anyone have any thoughts on this.

    I was also thinking of putting the car in camping mode, would that leave the power on the 12 volt cigarette lighter plug?

    I know some people use the power lift gate but I am concerned if you open the lift gate while the compressor is running you might blow the fuse.
     
  2. BerTX

    BerTX Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    3,505
    Location:
    Texas/Washington
    Leaving the car in camper mode will not keep the 12v plug active.

    What year is your vehicle? Older MS's can be modified fairly simply to keep the plug powered, but not since about 2016.

    Sorry, I don't know about where it can be tapped. I got power from the OBDII plug, but that was just for electronics, not a heavy load. I don't know how big the fuse/wiring is for that.
     
    • Helpful x 1
  3. doghousePVD

    doghousePVD My grandfather’s car

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2018
    Messages:
    572
    Location:
    New England, USA
    My solution is a large Yeti cooler. Stuff keeps frozen for days. Way better than a cheap mass market cooler.

    My experience with little camper refrigerators has been generally poor. BTW, they are horribly inefficient.
     
  4. JzCastle

    JzCastle Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    Messages:
    45
    Location:
    Helsinki, Finland
    Get a "OBD-2 cigarette lighter/car DC power connector".
    OBD-port has power always available. I have had my dashcam connected to it for almost two years with no problems.
     
  5. scottf200

    scottf200 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2013
    Messages:
    3,759
    Location:
    Chicagoland ModelX S603
    I keep my 12v fridge on in my X just by having Sentry Mode on. This is a side effect of SM.
     
    • Informative x 1
  6. BerTX

    BerTX Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    3,505
    Location:
    Texas/Washington
    Certainly a possibility, but there is a BIG difference between running a dashcam drawing a few hundred milliamps and a 15 amp freezer.
     
    • Informative x 1
  7. SkiTrak

    SkiTrak Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2016
    Messages:
    19
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Mine is a December 29, 2016 S90D
     
  8. Kurtbe

    Kurtbe Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2019
    Messages:
    53
    Location:
    Ghent/Belgium
    I 've been looking at a solution, but found nothing better than changing the ODB2 fuse to 10 Amps (my fridge - custom built- is 9 Amps). Other than that, one could go through the firewall and draw current straight from the 12V battery.
     

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