More of an annoyance than a problem but how easy would it be to make the 12 volt socket (cigarette lighter type) permanently live on a 2.1 2014 Panda? Rather than having to turn the ignition on to charge a phone, etc., or watch my sat-nav die as soon as I turn off the ignition, it would be so much better if it was permanently live.

MuddyPaws said:

More of an annoyance than a problem but how easy would it be to make the 12 volt socket (cigarette lighter type) permanently live on a 2.1 2014 Panda? Rather than having to turn the ignition on to charge a phone, etc., or watch my sat-nav die as soon as I turn off the ignition, it would be so much better if it was permanently live.

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I can think of quite a few folks here who'd love to get their hands on a 2.1 Panda .

Seriously, this should just involve disconnecting the existing cabling to the accessory socket and running new cabling to either a known permanently live terminal or the battery itself. If you can find the source feed for the accessory socket in the fusebox, you may be able to retain part of the existing cabling. Obviously make sure to include a suitable fuse!

How difficult this will be in practice may come down to how easy it is to remove the various bits of trim.

Oh, I see what you mean, oops... a 2.1 Panda would be rather good though!

But beware of draining the battery!
I'd put an inline fuse as close to the battery as possible and run a wire trough the firewall. My 2006 (older model) has a grommet in where the top of the passengerfootwell would be in a RHD.

gr J

There is a permanently live feed on the fuseboard behind the glove box. Much better to tap from one of the live feeds here than try going through the bulkhead. There are a couple of threads on here explaining how to access the fuseboard, by removing the glove box assembly.
Edited to add - see this thread https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/451860-12-volt-accessory-supply-always-live.html
Check with a multimeter to find which of the fuses there are permanently live, and use a piggy back fuse to tap into that supply.

I agree with Fillipe. Source the perma live and spur off to substitute it for the switched live on the fuse for the Cig/12v socket. No power issues. That way there will be no reverse feed back through the ignition system. Charging a phone etc will not drain the battery...even overnight.

Just don't use a 12v kettle if you've fallen out with the missus and in the car without the key!!!

There is a grommet in the n/s (left) wheel arch behind the plastic liner that may be there for the towing wiring. Its roughly directly behind the side indicator repeater lamp. I was told of this by the company who supplied my towbar wiring. It was easy to get through this into the car. I agree that using a live from the fuse box would be better for the accessory socket though, if you can determine which to use. I would strongly recommend soldering all connections and heat shrink insulation (available from Halfords etc) as the crimped connectors seem relatively unreliable over time.