12v Sockets are different sizes in on X250 & X290 (1 Viewer)

[Lenny HB]

Anyone else noticed?
Got the Fiat pump (one from my last van) out of the garage today to do the tyre pressures, plug wouldn't fit in the socket on the dash, had to get the new pump out of the Motorhome garage that was fine.

Everyone used to complain about the sockets on the X250's with satnavs etc., plugged into them the plug was wobbly and made poor contact. The sockets appear to be on the top limit of the DIN tolerance or non standard. I found out the hard way when I went to rescue my daughter with a flat tyre a couple of years ago. Took the Fiat pump with me, plug wouldn't fit either her or my car.

On the X290 they appear to have fallen in line with the rest of the car industry, took a while for me to find out as I don't normally use the socket on the dash.

 

[DBK]

Interesting, that might explain why I had problems running a compressor coolbox from a 12v socket due to the plug being a bit loose.

But a first for the automotive industry: a new model smaller than the current one.

 

[The Dudess]

Aah! That explains why, in the previous van, I had to wedge the plug for the dash cam in with a piece of card, but it fits securely in the new van. I can stop blaming the dash cam manufacturers now. Thanks.

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[Mr Chrysalis]

I used to run Saabs. We had 6 or 7 of them over the years. The 12 V sockets on them are all slightly larger then all the other cars I have had, makes the plugs a bit wobbly. Some plugs fitted better than others. I don’t know what the standard is but it seems to have quite a bit of tolerance. I guess it was designed as a cigar lighter in the first instance and the size and shape is better suited to that. I would have expected the industry to move to a more suitable ( smaller ) shape some time ago. Many now have a more suitable USB supply rather than the 12v socket. There can’t be many things left that still need 12v in cars. Mohos are a different story of course, but there are already at least 3 different 12 v sockets I have had in Mohos and caravans.