@drinklikachamp Sure. When turned on, the WaganTech cigarette lighter port is simply a direct connection to the + and - terminals on the battery. You can pull 12v from it by plugging things into it OR you can input 12v to it to charge the battery using a cable like this: Search Amazon for this:"Schumacher SAC-109 Male-to-Male Connector"
Start your car, plug one end into your car's cigarette lighter port and the other end into the WaganTech. Turn it on and you'll charge your battery. That's it.
Please help me with wiring... I am at a stand still currently trying to wire everything together correctly. I have three of the same switched as you do and will be running all the same equipment as your build but the wireless speakers.
@Musaffa1 Thanks for responding. I actually finished wiring everything up, but the only question I have is how did you wire up the 12v/battery charger device? (12V Power, USB power, Battery gauge device to help charge the 12V battery) I have a double cigarette lighter cord, but I'm worried it isn't going to charge. Please help.
@Pesty1980 It'll charge, just make sure your car is on too. If all of the power indicator lights come on when you plug it into the WaganTech, then it's charging the battery. If the lights don't change, something is wrong.
Click the link in the description and look at the second picture. I ran a couple of bolts through the top as binding posts. I wired everything to them and then a single 8 guage lead from each post to the battery.
@Musaffa1 Couldn't you just use the two single 8 guage lead? What is the actual purpose of the binding posts? I am just asking alot of questions concerning the wiring since I don't want to damage the equipment.
The binding posts allow me to add or remove any single piece of the unit without cutting any wires. Every power wire has a ring terminal that I can simply slide on/off of the posts. Without the posts, all of the wires would be soldered, crimped, or taped together. It would be messy and difficult to repair or change. in other words;It's just my preference. I like things tidy and I believe that a little more work now means a lot less work later.
Can you please explain how to turn in the 12V Power, USB power, Battery gauge device to help charge the 12V battery? I am starting my build once the cooler is delivered and that is the only question I have. Please help me with wiring details on how to convert this to charge the battery. I am hoping to do a two way cigarette lighter to charge through my suv.
@Musaffa1 Thanks for posting this! This is the best cooler I've seen, period! I was inspired to attempt one. I'm pretty new at this stuff, are there certain type of fuses to use? And, where are they placed? Not sure if noticed them in the pictures?
Please do! And please reply with video/pics. I'd love to see what you come up with. Also, do yourself a favor and check out motorboatyourself. com. It's an amazing community devoted to the art of making music come out of coolers. If you want inspiration and constructive criticism, you'll find find plenty of both there.
@JamesStickel Thanks! The divider plate is an acrylic kitchen cutting board, $10 at Target. And I sealed it with LocTite caulk. Use the good stuff, like $7-8 a tube. Cheap caulk won't bond to the cooler wall or the cutting board,I tried 5 types before I finally wen to the good LocTite stuff. I used is a riding lawn mower battery. It's built to accommodate a large deep cycle if I ever want to upgrade,but I doubt I ever will.I get about 6-10 hours out of this now,no need to double the weight.
I am wiring a cd player up on mine, to a lawn mower battery. Should I put any fuses between the cd player and the battery? also, how do you prevent condensation on your wiring side?
ALWAYS use fuses. No exceptions. I've been in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years and owned a car audio store for a while. Believe me when I say that the #1 mistake self-installers make is not using fuses. And I don't worry about the condensation. I built this to take on camping and float trips. That environment has water,heat, humidity, dirt, and lots of physical abuse.I'm not expecting any of this equipment to last more than 2-3 years without needing to be replaced
@emugamer I chose the slit-top cooler so I would never need to open the lid over the radio. Besides, the head unit is touch screen (ie. no buttons) minimal splashing is quite harmless.
@TeaQue Yes, I use a trickle charger connected to a cigarette lighter plug. I plug it into the cigarette lighter receptacle in the cooler. Switching on the cigarette lighter/USB unit completes the circuit to the battery, thus charging it. I have a double ended cigarette lighter plug that I use to charge it away from home, I just plug it into the outlet in the back of my 4Runner. I made sure to buy 20 amp switches to pull this charging method off, 10 amp might have melted.
@TeaQue No amp, just using the head unit to power the speakers. And I'm using a small lawn battery from Wal-Mart (about $25). It's got a great weight/capacity ratio for the price. I can play it at a decent volume for about 6-10 hours.
@weettiddo007 The wireless transmitter uses a standard 3.5mm plug for it's input. I used a 3.5mm to RCA adapter plug and connected it to the front RCA outputs of the head unit.
Does your cooler ever get really hot?
Kolo824 2 weeks ago
I am looking to build just like this one. Can you send me pictures of inside the compartment? Alos how did the loc-tite end up working for the seal?
TheSum09mer 1 month ago
I have posted a few pictures of my 1st build!
Thank you for your help and feedback! Hope you like what I have done so far with it... Tomorrow I am going to add some more LED lighting!
Pesty1980 3 months ago
@Pesty1980 Where do I see the pics?
Musaffa1 3 months ago
@Musaffa1 Motorboat yourself dot com under the same tag!
Pesty1980 3 months ago
Please give more details about how your charging system. How do you get the wagan tech product to charge your battery?
drinklikachamp 3 months ago
@drinklikachamp Sure. When turned on, the WaganTech cigarette lighter port is simply a direct connection to the + and - terminals on the battery. You can pull 12v from it by plugging things into it OR you can input 12v to it to charge the battery using a cable like this: Search Amazon for this:"Schumacher SAC-109 Male-to-Male Connector"
Start your car, plug one end into your car's cigarette lighter port and the other end into the WaganTech. Turn it on and you'll charge your battery. That's it.
Musaffa1 3 months ago 2
@Musaffa1 Perfect! So I did do that right... I some how blew the LED out on the WagnanTech...
Pesty1980 3 months ago
Comment removed
Pesty1980 3 months ago
Please help me with wiring... I am at a stand still currently trying to wire everything together correctly. I have three of the same switched as you do and will be running all the same equipment as your build but the wireless speakers.
Pesty1980 3 months ago
@Pesty1980 What specifically did you need help wiring? I'm happy to assist anyway I can.
Musaffa1 3 months ago
@Musaffa1 Thanks for responding. I actually finished wiring everything up, but the only question I have is how did you wire up the 12v/battery charger device? (12V Power, USB power, Battery gauge device to help charge the 12V battery) I have a double cigarette lighter cord, but I'm worried it isn't going to charge. Please help.
Pesty1980 3 months ago
@Pesty1980 It'll charge, just make sure your car is on too. If all of the power indicator lights come on when you plug it into the WaganTech, then it's charging the battery. If the lights don't change, something is wrong.
Musaffa1 3 months ago
What size Quart Cooler did you use? 50qt 5-day, or 60 qt victory?
drinklikachamp 4 months ago
How did you actually wire everything together, but only run one wire to the battery?
Pesty1980 4 months ago
@Pesty1980
Click the link in the description and look at the second picture. I ran a couple of bolts through the top as binding posts. I wired everything to them and then a single 8 guage lead from each post to the battery.
Musaffa1 4 months ago
@Musaffa1 Couldn't you just use the two single 8 guage lead? What is the actual purpose of the binding posts? I am just asking alot of questions concerning the wiring since I don't want to damage the equipment.
Pesty1980 4 months ago
@Pesty1980
The binding posts allow me to add or remove any single piece of the unit without cutting any wires. Every power wire has a ring terminal that I can simply slide on/off of the posts. Without the posts, all of the wires would be soldered, crimped, or taped together. It would be messy and difficult to repair or change. in other words;It's just my preference. I like things tidy and I believe that a little more work now means a lot less work later.
ScottjSTL 4 months ago
@ScottjSTL I completely agree with you on it being tidy and the extra work. I want my first build to be on point!
Pesty1980 4 months ago
@ScottjSTL can you please explain what material you used for the top cover and the block the binding posts are going through?
Pesty1980 4 months ago
wow thats rel kool ...it really neat as well ......this gave me a ideas
bridglal1 4 months ago
Awesome! Just awesome!
jasongmcknight 4 months ago
No condensation issues on the electronics?
vaxcave 4 months ago
Aww.... I wanted to hear walk of life... :(
P2000Camaro 4 months ago
Can you please explain how to turn in the 12V Power, USB power, Battery gauge device to help charge the 12V battery? I am starting my build once the cooler is delivered and that is the only question I have. Please help me with wiring details on how to convert this to charge the battery. I am hoping to do a two way cigarette lighter to charge through my suv.
Pesty1980 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Musaffa1 Thanks for posting this! This is the best cooler I've seen, period! I was inspired to attempt one. I'm pretty new at this stuff, are there certain type of fuses to use? And, where are they placed? Not sure if noticed them in the pictures?
Stryker220 6 months ago
Comment removed
Stryker220 6 months ago
Going to steal some of your ideas. Thanks!
acoustrix 6 months ago
@acoustrix
Please do! And please reply with video/pics. I'd love to see what you come up with. Also, do yourself a favor and check out motorboatyourself. com. It's an amazing community devoted to the art of making music come out of coolers. If you want inspiration and constructive criticism, you'll find find plenty of both there.
Musaffa1 4 months ago 2
Here are pics of the construction: imgur.com/a/7X7bs
Musaffa1 7 months ago
@Musaffa1 Thanks for sharing the pics! Best design i have seen. What type of LED lights did you use?
drinklikachamp 6 months ago
@Musaffa1 What product did you get for charging this system? How did you wire it up?
drinklikachamp 6 months ago
Also, what's the divider plate made out of? And did you just use caulk to seal it up? What kind of battery are you using now?
JamesStickel 7 months ago
@JamesStickel Thanks! The divider plate is an acrylic kitchen cutting board, $10 at Target. And I sealed it with LocTite caulk. Use the good stuff, like $7-8 a tube. Cheap caulk won't bond to the cooler wall or the cutting board,I tried 5 types before I finally wen to the good LocTite stuff. I used is a riding lawn mower battery. It's built to accommodate a large deep cycle if I ever want to upgrade,but I doubt I ever will.I get about 6-10 hours out of this now,no need to double the weight.
Musaffa1 7 months ago
Nice work man! I'm definitely gonna use this as inspiration for when i get around to building my own.. Favorited.
JamesStickel 7 months ago
where did you get the switch panel?
psjaftbll21 7 months ago
@psjaftbll21 The switches are from Amazon, $5: amazon.com/gp/product/B002UZSN1Q
The sell like 4 different LED colors. Mine are blue.
Musaffa1 7 months ago
I am wiring a cd player up on mine, to a lawn mower battery. Should I put any fuses between the cd player and the battery? also, how do you prevent condensation on your wiring side?
simonspectra 7 months ago
@simonspectra
ALWAYS use fuses. No exceptions. I've been in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years and owned a car audio store for a while. Believe me when I say that the #1 mistake self-installers make is not using fuses. And I don't worry about the condensation. I built this to take on camping and float trips. That environment has water,heat, humidity, dirt, and lots of physical abuse.I'm not expecting any of this equipment to last more than 2-3 years without needing to be replaced
Musaffa1 7 months ago
You have the best build/design i have seen. What type of light are you running to illuminate your other side?
drinklikachamp 7 months ago
Oh and what type of bluetooth transmitter did you use?
draperjr82 8 months ago
what would you say you have invested in this awesome cooler...
draperjr82 8 months ago
tryputting a Plexiglas glass cover over the stereo would protect it from splashes
emugamer 9 months ago
@emugamer I chose the slit-top cooler so I would never need to open the lid over the radio. Besides, the head unit is touch screen (ie. no buttons) minimal splashing is quite harmless.
Musaffa1 8 months ago
nice work :)
where did you get the battery gauge with the usb's?
partymarty02 9 months ago
@partymarty02 - Amazon, $12 I think.
Musaffa1 8 months ago
Are you just using a trickle charger to recharge? Thats a pretty trick setup!
TeaQue 10 months ago
@TeaQue Yes, I use a trickle charger connected to a cigarette lighter plug. I plug it into the cigarette lighter receptacle in the cooler. Switching on the cigarette lighter/USB unit completes the circuit to the battery, thus charging it. I have a double ended cigarette lighter plug that I use to charge it away from home, I just plug it into the outlet in the back of my 4Runner. I made sure to buy 20 amp switches to pull this charging method off, 10 amp might have melted.
Musaffa1 8 months ago
Actually I'm an idiot. I just realized you're probably driving the speakers off of a headunit. I'm still curious about the battery though...
TeaQue 10 months ago
@TeaQue No amp, just using the head unit to power the speakers. And I'm using a small lawn battery from Wal-Mart (about $25). It's got a great weight/capacity ratio for the price. I can play it at a decent volume for about 6-10 hours.
Musaffa1 10 months ago
Thats awesome! Do you have a parts list? What kinda amp/battery combo are you using?
TeaQue 10 months ago
How do the wireless speakers hook up to the radio? Are they wired as rear speakers?
weettiddo007 10 months ago
@weettiddo007 The wireless transmitter uses a standard 3.5mm plug for it's input. I used a 3.5mm to RCA adapter plug and connected it to the front RCA outputs of the head unit.
Musaffa1 10 months ago
very nice
kapkaplui 10 months ago
I used a white kitchen cutting board and sealed it with Loc-Tite bathroom caulk.
Musaffa1 11 months ago
how did you make the seperate compartment what material????
Baloo275 11 months ago