C4 Cactus power outlet?

[Jacob]

Hi Guys!

A few days ago I noticed that inside my car - on the right side (passenger side) I have something looks like the power outlet.
I spent a lot of my life in Sweden and I assume that this is for preheating the car in winter - but I remember that in Sweden it looks differently - every time I saw this system it was an only little connector in the front bumper. Do you know what is it? and if I'm right (preheating) what kind of cable do I need for this? To be honest - I really don't like winter and here in Poland sometimes in winter is really cold and the preheating system will be good for me - and for my car of course :)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ilkjep9usmn324z/image2%20%282%29.jpeg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nabw0mmi9klsvnc/image1%20%284%29.jpeg?dl=0


Have a wonderful day,
Jacob

[yason]

That is the outlet for the cabin heater, for example https://m.motonet.fi/fi/tuote/455047/Defa-Termini-II-1000-sisatilanlammitin-1000-W-430072, that you plug in that outlet.

When the small connector in the front bumper is connected to the mains outlet at your parking space, not only the block heater will heat your engine but the cabin heater gets power too and melts all the ice and snow from your windows.

[olli__o]

Most probably it is related to that:
On bumber somewhere is connector to wall outlet cord (manufacturer spesific) and under hood are more similar cables and splitter, one cable goes to engine preheater and other cable goes to that outlet inside. Inside outlet is for electric heater/blower (spesific car device) that heats indoors.

If you google sisätilanlämmitin you'll find pictures of them.

You can normally find the manufacturer name somewhere in plastic parts, most common are Defa and Calix

An example from some shop:

https://www.clasohlson.com/fi/Auton-sis%C3%A4tilanl%C3%A4mmitin-DEFA-Termini-II-1200/36-7010

The other manufacturer: https://www.defa.com/

But then again it might be anything else too: if somebody needs to charge custom stuff on the road: inverter+outlet...
It is not allowed to use heaters for homes in cars for safety reasons
[Edit: other reply in between about the same]

[Jacob]

Thank you guys!

Yeah, I thought that this socket is for some kind of heater. Maybe tomorrow I'll check is there any electricity in this socket -  should be power here if electricity isn't connected from outside?

One more thing: if I have this power outlet in my car should I have this little connector I mentioned before? I don't have any connector in my bumper (but there is a possibility that my car had it before the collision - I know that the latest owner had an accident and now I have a new bonnet, bumper, the left side lights, and a few other things)

Thanks,
Jacob

[yason]

Yeah, I thought that this socket is for some kind of heater. Maybe tomorrow I'll check is there any electricity in this socket -  should be power here if electricity isn't connected from outside?

No, the cabin outlet gives that 220-240 VAC from mains. Just consider it a fixed-installed extension cord that runs through the engine bay to the cabin.

One more thing: if I have this power outlet in my car should I have this little connector I mentioned before?

Yes, there wouldn't be any point installing the internal outlet if you had no way to plug the circuit to mains from the outside (bumper).

You can track the outlet's armoured cable that comes through the firewall. It should snake through to the front of the car. The cable probably has a splitter junction where a similar cable branches out to the engine heater.

If your bumper was indeed replaced there is probably a loose end of the armoured cable somewhere in the engine compartment. With luck it still has a socket for that little plug, and all you need to do is to find a hole through the bumper and fix it in place.

[Jacob]

Thank you Yason!

Tomorrow I'll check this!

Jacob

[olli__o]

To me that outlet seems more like Defa-type, they have also some intstallation information in their webpage, but most often it is about how to install engine block heater element: www.defa.com

and you can also buy separate cables and some spare parts also from autopart stores, for example:
https://m.motonet.fi/fi/haku?q=defa&category=605

Sometimes the plug in bumper is also not so clearly visible, in some Cactus it was just beside registration plate: small dark plastic flap cover in dark plastic background.

[Ralle]

Yes , cabin heater can be connect to that. Our Cactus has that small plug installed next to registration plate and is not so visible.

[Jacob]

Hi,

I just checked and unfortunately, somebody cut off the connector from bumper :( Maybe someday I'll fix this, but it's good to know what the power outlet is for :)

Thanks guys!
Jacob