I'm looking for a suitable 12v power supply point in my Skoda Octavia mk2 that I can use for the towing electronics.

Please can someone help me find where I can attach it?

The passenger compartment fuse box at the drivers end of the dashboard?

That is where the power for my 13pin socket comes from.

The accessory socket in the boot area is a convenient high current source if you use a suitable in line fuse.

 

The universal towing relays draw a slight current the whole time (in case you park car & trailer & need to leave lights on), this can reduce the main battery standby autonomy by up to 50% (the newer ones consume less) so it can be usefull to remove the in line fuse when not towing or when the car is left standing during a holiday away.

19 minutes ago, J.R. said:

The accessory socket in the boot area is a convenient high current source if you use a suitable in line fuse.

 

The universal towing relays draw a slight current the whole time (in case you park car & trailer & need to leave lights on), this can reduce the main battery standby autonomy by up to 50% (the newer ones consume less) so it can be usefull to remove the in line fuse when not towing or when the car is left standing during a holiday away.

Is that an unfused supply? I would be putting in my own fuse. Thanks for the tip about removing the fuse if not towing or leaving the car unused.

No its a fused supply but rated at a very high current for the spare wheel inflator etc, the fuse for the trailer lighting would probably be smaller, its a question of protection and also not blowing the main circuit if there is a problem with the trailer wiring although with the accessory socket there wont be other important stuff on the same fuse.

3 minutes ago, J.R. said:

No its a fused supply but rated at a very high current for the spare wheel inflator etc, the fuse for the trailer lighting would probably be smaller, its a question of protection and also not blowing the main circuit if there is a problem with the trailer wiring although with the accessory socket there wont be other important stuff on the same fuse.

For a 13 pin trailer socket I would be fitting a 30 amp fuse as thats the norm, is the other fuse a higher capacity?  To be able to fit everything in the back would be very convenient.

 

Edited 2 September, 20205 yr by lotrjw

On 02/09/2020 at 20:35, J.R. said:

The accessory socket in the boot area is a convenient high current source if you use a suitable in line fuse.

 

The universal towing relays draw a slight current the whole time (in case you park car & trailer & need to leave lights on), this can reduce the main battery standby autonomy by up to 50% (the newer ones consume less) so it can be usefull to remove the in line fuse when not towing or when the car is left standing during a holiday away.

Do you have a wiring diagram for this?

If you're fitting a 13 pin then the feed really needs to come from the battery (as per the original tow bar).

 

Since the 13 pin has 2 high current 12v feeds for the caravan battery charging and running the fridge.

 

The 12v socket in the boot won't cut it for that.

2 minutes ago, Phil-E said:

If you're fitting a 13 pin then the feed really needs to come from the battery (as per the original tow bar).

 

Since the 13 pin has 2 high current 12v feeds for the caravan battery charging and running the fridge.

 

The 12v socket in the boot won't cut it for that.

Will it do for the lights 7 way bypass?

Yes. For just a single 7 pin it's more than adequate since there's no massive current being drawn.

5 minutes ago, Phil-E said:

Yes. For just a single 7 pin it's more than adequate since there's no massive current being drawn.

Ah OK I could wire for the lights and sort the proper 12V supply at a later date, I am fitting a 13 pin socket but I will only be using a small trailer for the time being not a caravan.

Yes I think so. The only thing to be wary of is that it gets tested as part of the MOT.

 

But I seem to think if the tow bar isn't there (removeable) then they can't test it.

3 minutes ago, Phil-E said:

Yes I think so. The only thing to be wary of is that it gets tested as part of the MOT.

 

But I seem to think if the tow bar isn't there (removeable) then they can't test it.

You mean the ball?

either way I plan to sort it long before the MOT which isnt due till the Autumn