Disable Rear Accessory Power Outlet (12v)

[acbliss]

Hi-

I'm going to be having a 2yo in the back seat of my Volt and wondering if anyone had any issues w/the rear seat 12v accessory power outlet and inquisitive hands. E.g. is there an easy way to disable that outlet and/or put some sort of child guard on it?

[Mybatcar]

how about a simple rubber stopper, tapered shape ? ......

[BDP]

Teach the kid the meaning of the word no & you'll be fine. It's not always easy but we did it & it paid dividends in the later years.

[MTN Ranger]

A few years ago when my kids were 2 years old they were strapped into car seats and they couldn't reach or touch anything. I have a rear outlet in both of my cars and didn't even consider this before.

[Raymondjram]

There are two alternate solutions, and both need some knowledge about the outlet.

The first solution is to pull the outlet out (it is usually a snap-in type), reach behind the outlet and pull off the power wire. If you wish to reconnect it in the future, attach the loose wire to the outlet side with tape so it will not fall down inside that cavity (it may get lost), and reinsert the outlet. You may place a plug to cover it, but if anyone tries to insert any metallic object, it will not cause any harm. Maybe you can remove completely that power outlet from the vehicle and cover up the hole if you can find a plug with the correct size. If you do remove completely the outlet, there could be a second wire to the outer shell for the ground connection. Be sure you keep both wires taped to the inside so they can be found and reconnected.

The second solution (which is easier in a way) is to find the correct fuse that feeds that power outlet, and remove the fuse. Look through the Owners Manual for the fuse boxes and search for the correct fuse according to the diagram, also on the fuse box cover. That fuse may feed other circuits, so read well and be sure to identify the correct one. If the fuse is difficult to pull, buy a plastic fuse puller. After the fuse is out, save the fuse by taping it to the cover on the inside. Use a masking tape that will allow you to write down the position where it was pulled from.

In both solutions, just reverse the procedure to reactivate the outlet when needed. But knowing which fuse has a better advantage over the disconnection: if the child does put something metallic inside and blows open the fuse, you know how and where to replace it.

Raymond

[Rich Remund]

Its 12 volts.. nothing to worry about, you can not get a shock from it.. unless you stick your tongue in the socket, even then it not going to electrocute anyone. 12. volts at what.. 15-20 amps
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/4.html

[sparks]

A 12-volt outlet presents absolutely zero shock hazard -- it cannot hurt your child. The most it could do is give him/her an unpleasant experience if they stick their tongue into it, but even that will not result in an injury.

My only concern would be the possibility of the child sticking a coin or other conducting object into the socket. That would make the object hot and blow the fuse.

[acbliss]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! I was more worried about other children in my backseat than my own daughter, who is perfectly behaved, of course. :P

I guess ultimately I was curious if there was some sort of 'disable' function/switch/override, just like there is a way to disable the back door pulls and the rear electric windows (aka 'child safety lock').

Perhaps would be a cool option for a future Volt iteration?