Extra 12v trailing socket under front dinette

[barryd]

I am hoping @MERL will see his has he knows my van but it would be useful to have another 12v trailing heavy duty socket in the front dinette. When we (well Merl) upgraded my batteries and solar system we fitted two of these which just flip out from the bottom of the rear lounge seats when needed. They are great. Very useful but there are none in the front. I could do with one coming out of the front dinette.

There are two ways I can see to do this. The easiest way would be to run a length of cable to the socket out of the bottom of the rear battery box, along under the van (outside) and back in under the front dinette where there is a small access hole. The hard way would be through the ducts behind the bathroom which is huge and then the ducts in the front dinette. I think the latter is a none starter for me.

Question are though will there be an issue with voltage drop as its a long way, what size cable will I need and how do I fix it under the van so it survives the elements?

This is one of the ones in the rear.

 

[st3v3]

No problem with under the van, use flexible conduit to protect the cable. Voltage drop is cured by using thicker cable, but what current are we talking about?

 

[barryd]

No problem with under the van, use flexible conduit to protect the cable. Voltage drop is cured by using thicker cable, but what current are we talking about?

Thanks.

The most it will power is a laptop which from dead might pull 65w. A bit more if it's using the 300w bestek inverter so I assumed 4mm twin core.