Running Camping lights from Disco

Wondering if anyone can help me.

I just bought a new tent, quite a sizeable one 6.7m x 3m and want to light it when it gets dark.

I don’t want to go down the route of rechargeable lanterns and other things, what I’d LIKE to do is treat it a bit like my mum and dad’s static caravan. Get 2 – 4 small 8w 12v flourescent lights and wire them up so that I can plug them into the towbar electrics on my 98 Disco 300TDi.

I maybe able to turn a screw driver and take control of a Stanley knife but I don’t know about electrics. So far I have managed to find out that it could be a 12n or a 12s socket.. Which doesn’t help me in my limited capacity as it’s the same plug but the wiring is different.

Any ideas?

Cheers

second battery - split charge system - 12S socket wired to second battery and robert is ya mothers brother.

Cheers mate, I am actually planning a second battery but that won't be until later in the year, was thinking of going down the second alternator route possibly (don't have air-con). Need to look more into these nearer the time as behind the passenger head light there is gubbins for the EGR valve, not sure about removing this or where any of it goes to. I have blanked the EGR off, drives better and get an extra 40 miles to the tank.. NICE ; )

BUT, that still leaves me not knowing how to wire these things up, at least I now know it's a 12s though cheers mate.

Would that mean wiring it to pin 4' Continuous power supply' and pin 3 'Return for cable 4' as it says on my little diagram of the sockets?

Also, I would'nt have to keep the ignition on would I?? We don't at the caravan, but would I for this??

Cheers

and what are you going to charge with the second alternator?

do the job proper - or not at all - you will either fry yoself, the motor or both.

I thought getting a second alternator for the second battery was the proper job, but comment duly noted, last thing I need is to fry stuff.
Had a look and found that the socket on the towbar is a 12n. So I think I'm going to take your suggestion and wire a 12s socket straight to the battery. Do I need an inline fuse on this???

As mentioned, I'm going to be looking into the finer points when it gets nearer the time so I can plan it out and then buy the kit and install.

Basically I want two batteries to run:

• The stereo
• An amp for a sub in the back door (nowt stupid just an 8")
• The camping lights when needed
• A fan or two in the back to keep the dogs cool in the summer
• A a pair of 12v cigarette lighter power points
• Set of spots
• Compressor
• Oh and to start the car and the normal electrics

Obviously not all at once. And it's going to take me sometime to get all this stuff, but I just want to make sure I have enough power to run this stuff when needed.

The stereo is deffo going to be connected up to the second battery, that way I can play it when camping or parked up without the ignition on and not have to worry about the car not starting because I've drained the battery.

for your camp lights have a look around for led ones as they take up alot less power.