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Seeking positive terminal under dash

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Max Crittenden, Oct 22, 2019.

  1. Max Crittenden

    Max Crittenden New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
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    Location:
    Borrego Springs, Calif.
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My wife doesn't drive her 2004 Prius regularly. Living in the desert, this means it's vulnerable to rats nesting under the hood and/or chewing wires. I've installed an ultrasonic beeper under the hood (which has given me decent protection on my Alfa Romeo), but this means we also need a small solar panel on the dashboard to compensate for the beeper's current draw. Looking under the dash, I don't see an obvious always-on positive terminal to connect the solar panel to. (There is an open fuse slot that's always on, but I'm leery of jamming a wire in there. And it would prevent putting the fuse cover back on.)

    If I could get the whole white under-dash fuse box out and apart, I'm sure I could jury-rig a solution, but it's unclear which latches to undo to let me slide the box out.

    Alternatively, if I could get a 2-conductor wire through the firewall, I could wire the panel to the hot terminal inside the under-hood fuse box, as I did with the beeper. But there's no obvious path through the firewall.

    Any suggestions?
     
  2. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    746
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    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    since the 12v is in the rear of the car and its got that giant back window, hook the panel up in the rear. if its not too heavy you could pull out the cargo cover and lay it on top. it would get plenty of light. but what you really need is a good cat. you wouldn't have rodents within 100 yards of either car. until the coyotes eat the cat... might need a large, seriously vicious cat...
     
    SFO likes this.
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,728
    38,255
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    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    One of the OBD connector pins is a constant-on 12 volts.