Auxillary Electrical Outlet/Plug

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Brit303

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Any one care to enlighten moi on the original Factory reasoning for the Auxillary Electrical Outlet/Plug?

And what practical use this power source might be used for, considering the voltage and ampreage are un-regulated and the positive ground might just upset my made for North America tea kettle?

Love the English: the Centurion tank had a built in hotplate so the crew wouldn't have to expose themselves to hostile fire just to brew a cuppa.
 
I think the outlet was probably originally intended for electricly heated riding gear.
 
Referred to locally as 'the shaver socket' [/quote

I can remember the advert well, the rider standing beside his Commando with his electric shaver pluged in.

Cash
Click to expand...
 
I thought I saw an ad where there was a tea pot for it. And also a light on a wire too, For night time repairs.
 
Hortons Norton said:
I thought I saw an ad where there was a tea pot for it. And also a light on a wire too, For night time repairs.
Click to expand...

that would be VERY optimistic thinking!! let me think, lucas electrics, a roadside work light and you are broke down on the side of the road at night. your probably broke down because of old joe's parts anway :lol:
 
I've got one on mine 'cause it looks pretty. Never fancied shaving me legs.
 
Brit303 said:
Any one care to enlighten moi on the original Factory reasoning for the Auxillary Electrical Outlet/Plug?
Click to expand...


Quote from a Commando Riders Manual:

"Power take off socket

A socket is provided, mounted on the side of the battery tray at the right hand side. A plug is provided also to fix to any useful accessory desired by the rider (e.g. wireless, electric shaver, and numerous other items)......"

"...Apart from providing a power source, a battery charger may be plugged in at the socket"
Click to expand...
 
The original power point, with its proprietary plug, is nearly useless. However, it can be easily modified to a standard 12v automotive plug; marine grade plugs are water resistant. The photo below shows my mod on my Mk3.
Auxillary Electrical Outlet/Plug

The plug floats, so it is easy to wire it as a pseudo negative ground, i.e., the center plug point is grounded to the bike chassis, and the plug case runs to -12v, conforming to modern automotive standards. As lomg as the electrical device being driven, say a gps, has an isolated case, no care is needed. A device with a grounded case (unusual for modern automotive electronics) will pop the 15A power point fuse if it contacts the bike frame.

I do use the power point to charge the battery.
 
that would be VERY optimistic thinking!! let me think, lucas electrics, a roadside work light and you are broke down on the side of the road at night. your probably broke down because of old joe's parts anway
Click to expand...

Triumph (or was it Ariel or Matchless?) from the '30's had a light in the tank mounted dash panel that was mounted on a cord so you could use it as a trouble light! I always thought that was ironic!
 
that would be VERY optimistic thinking!! let me think, lucas electrics, a roadside work light and you are broke down on the side of the road at night. your probably broke down because of old joe's parts anway
Click to expand...

From the Workshop Manuals, " POWER TAKE-OFF SOCKET - located on righthand side of machine and provides a power source for any accessory, providing battery capacity is borne in mind. Capacity of 12 volts at 17 1/2 amps. we recomend the engine is run up as soon as possible after the power take-off socket has been used to restore the battery to full charge. Caution: do not discharge the battery completely. The same socket is used for charging the battery from
an outside source. "

And yes, the Book does mention using a worklight. The wording implies the motor is shut off while shaving or whatever. Seems to me I'd want the motor running but that might cause interesting reactions in anything containing electronics as the voltage and amperage are not regulated.

The plug itself has round sockets for the plug ... European specs ? Wasn't the Norton build before the EEC ?

Me thinks it might be worth the trouble to build a small hot plate and carry an enamal mug one can heat just to annoy non-Norton owners on a rainy fall day.
 
Has anyone ever seen the auxcillary accessories the plug was supposedly to power?
I use a volt meter and rev up the engine to check charging output of altenator from time to time at the socket plug.
I've never even seen the two pronged plug shown in some pics inserted in the socket.
I wonder if they came w/ the bike when new and became lost over the years?
Marshal
 
Does anyone know where to obtain the male plug for this socket? I'd like to use it for keeping my battery charged.
 
The mating plug did come with the bike when new. Mine is somewhere around here.... There are two types. I think they changed when the 850s came out.

Russ
 
MarshalNorton said:
Has anyone ever seen the auxcillary accessories the plug was supposedly to power?
Click to expand...


As far as I'm aware, there were none!

Those were the days when you supplied your own accessories, remember!
 
I found a two prong plug on the net at a brit bike vendor site. I'll look it up if anyone wants. I think I Googled commando socket. The prongs were equal size. One needs to be larger- so I pushed on a metal sleeve- the push to click end from a ball point pen. Fits the '71 socket. I do use it for charging the battery.
 
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