Hi! I've just bought a 2010 Focus Zetec (my first car) and I'm absolutely in love with it, but the 12v sockets are on all the time, so I want to hardwire the dash cam later today with one of those fuse tap kits you can get and just have a couple of questions I'm hoping someone can help with.

1. I noticed in the manual theres a place for a sunroof fuse, but my car doesnt have a sunroof. Can I just use this and then i dont have to mess with anything thats actually in use?

2. I don't have a multimeter, but understand that the rear wiper fuse is likely the way to go (if the sunroof one isnt possible). Is that correct?

3. I understand that you can put a fuse tap in the wrong way round, which would increase the chance of a fuse blowing as it then passes through both fuses or something. Without a circuit tester/multimeter, is there any other way to tell which way round the fuse tap goes, or does anyone know which way it goes for this particular model?

Thank you all for your time.

1 hour ago, CheddarBeard said:

... but the 12v sockets are on all the time...

 

This is an absolutely ridiculous set up by Ford, and goodness knows why they designed a 12v socket that was permanently live. If you intend keeping the car for a bit, may be worth investing in the installation of a socket  that comes live with the ignition key!

Someone will be along shortly to answer your original question.

2 hours ago, CheddarBeard said:

1. I noticed in the manual theres a place for a sunroof fuse, but my car doesnt have a sunroof. Can I just use this and then i dont have to mess with anything thats actually in use?

There may not be any pins in the fusebox for a sunroof fuse on a non-SR model. 

Buying a multimeter sounds like the best option.  

2 hours ago, CheddarBeard said:

1. I noticed in the manual theres a place for a sunroof fuse, but my car doesnt have a sunroof. Can I just use this and then i dont have to mess with anything thats actually in use?

Probably not. As Tom has already said the fusebox probably does not have the pins fitted in that location. You could use Fuse 77 (20 Amp) for the screen wash pump which should only operate with the ignition on.

2 hours ago, CheddarBeard said:

2. I don't have a multimeter, but understand that the rear wiper fuse is likely the way to go (if the sunroof one isnt possible). Is that correct

It would be a good idea to buy a cheap digital multimeter (£15). The rear wiper fuse will also be OK to use but it is located in the engine compartment fusebox which is not very convenient.

2 hours ago, CheddarBeard said:

3. I understand that you can put a fuse tap in the wrong way round, which would increase the chance of a fuse blowing as it then passes through both fuses or something. Without a circuit tester/multimeter, is there any other way to tell which way round the fuse tap goes, or does anyone know which way it goes for this particular model?

Yes you can put the fuse tap in the wrong way round. With out the need for a meter you can do it as follows. Remove the fuse from the circuit that you are going to use, (lets say the 20A screen wash). Now fit only that fuse in to the fuse tap and put it back in to the fusebox. Now check that the screen wash pump is working, if it is not then you need to put the fuse in the other slot of the fuse tap. So now you know which slot is for the main fuse. Remove the fuse from the fuse tap (and remember which slot it came out of). Next fit only the fuse for the dashcam (normally 3 Amp) in to the other slot on the fuse tap and check to see if the dashcam powers up when you turn the ignition on. If it does not come on then you need to unplug the fuse tap and turn it round and plug it back it. When the dashcam is working correctly then finally put the 20A fuse for the screen wash pump back in to the fuse tap and the job is finished.

Just encase you don't have the owners handbook here is the link to the online version. Page 179 for the fusebox.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/ENUSA_CG3568_FOC_og_201009.pdf

Just to add to what unofix has said here's a sketch showing how the power is routed through a typical fuse tap. As you can see if the tap is the wrong way round the current for the cam goes through both fuses. In practice I don't think the cam current would be enough to blow the original fuse. I hope this adds some clarity.

The point here regarding the fuse tap is if it’s upside down there is no fuse protection for the camera.

4 hours ago, MrRedman said:

The point here regarding the fuse tap is if it’s upside down there is no fuse protection for the camera.

Not actually correct. There will always be a fuse in circuit no matter which way round the fuse tap is fitted, but it maybe the wrong fuse value in circuit for the camera. Or the camera maybe drawing it's power both via it's own fuse and also via the host fuse. Either way there will be at least one fuse in circuit, and possibly two if incorrectly fitted.

If the positive side of the slot is at the top and you put the tap in upside down the power will go to the leg of the tap directly connected to the wire to camera,so no fuse protection as I see it? . 

If you have daylight (typically 5w5), you can plug a power relay which be piloted by the ignition

13 minutes ago, mougly said:

If you have daylight ...

If he doesn't have daylight, can't he simply use a torch? 😁

1 hour ago, MrRedman said:

If the positive side of the slot is at the top and you put the tap in upside down the power will go to the leg of the tap directly connected to the wire to camera,so no fuse protection as I see it? . 

Wrong !!

The wire of the fuse tap is not directly connected to either leg. The wire is connected to only a slot in to which a fuse must be inserted in order to connect the wire via a fuse to the leg of the fuse tap.

Take a look at the circuit diagram posted by mjt.

On 9/30/2022 at 1:15 PM, mjt said:

Just to add to what unofix has said here's a sketch showing how the power is routed through a typical fuse tap. As you can see if the tap is the wrong way round the current for the cam goes through both fuses. In practice I don't think the cam current would be enough to blow the original fuse. I hope this adds some clarity.

 

20 minutes ago, unofix said:

Wrong !!

The wire of the fuse tap is not directly connected to either leg. The wire is connected to only a slot in to which a fuse must be inserted in order to connect the wire via a fuse to the leg of the fuse tap.

Take a look at the circuit diagram posted by mjt.

 

So if a fuse is inserted would the leg of the fuse not complete the circuit regardless therefore bypassing the fuse 

On 10/2/2022 at 10:18 AM, MrRedman said:

So if a fuse is inserted would the leg of the fuse not complete the circuit regardless therefore bypassing the fuse 

IF a fuse was inserted the ONLY way for a connection for the wire of the fuse tap to be connected to to a leg of the fuse tap would be via the fuse.

The red wire of the fuse tap is not connected to either leg of the fuse tap. The circuit can only be made if a fuse is inserted.

No fuse fitted = no circuit = no supply to the wire.

I’m not having that if it’s in upside down (the wrong way I am right hopefully someone comes along and says the same ! 🤣

Fuses and relays location

https://fusesdiagram.com/ford/fuses-and-relay-ford-focus-mk2.html

piggyback on cigar lighter fuse to commute another power relay which could power your dashcam and other accessories

I GIVE UP !!!

There is only so many times I can explain something.

3 minutes ago, unofix said:

I GIVE UP !!!

There is only so many times I can explain something.

Well, I understood you, & I'm as thick a sh*t! LOL So not a total waste of time...

49 minutes ago, mougly said:

Fuses and relays location

https://fusesdiagram.com/ford/fuses-and-relay-ford-focus-mk2.html

piggyback on cigar lighter fuse to commute another power relay which could power your dashcam and other accessories

The link in your post is for North American cars. They have a different fusebox and different functions to European and UK models.

On the UK spec Mk2 model the cigar lighter is always on. It is not controlled by the ignition, so it is of no use for a dashcam

7 hours ago, unofix said:

I GIVE UP !!!

There is only so many times I can explain something

Me too

Oh my goodness! Sorry i didnt get any notifications for all this! I thought id been ignored lol

In the end, i bought a multimeter for 8.50 from halfords, did everything properly and tapped into the rear wipers. Everything works absolutely fine.

 

If anyone else comes across this with this exact fusebox the bottom pin is the live one, and theres a bolt which works as a grounding point behind the glovebox up and to the right. Its awkward to reach!

On 9/30/2022 at 1:08 PM, unofix said:

The rear wiper fuse will also be OK to use but it is located in the engine compartment fusebox which is not very convenient.

Regarding this, the rear wiper fuse on this particular model was in the passenger compartment. I believe it was fuse 131. Thanks for the other tips! 🙂

On 10/2/2022 at 11:49 AM, MrRedman said:

I’m not having that if it’s in upside down (the wrong way I am right hopefully someone comes along and says the same

I'll have one last try. Here's a sketch showing the physical construction of the tap. You can see the slot from the wire is not directly connected to either of the blades so it's not possible for the wire supply to the cam (or other accessory) to be unfused. If the tap is fitted reversed the current in the wire goes through both fuses.

39 minutes ago, mjt said:

I'll have one last try.

Rather you than me !

Are you offering lifetime membership of the Flat Earth society if the point is missed again ? 🤣

41 minutes ago, mjt said:

You can see the slot from the wire is not directly connected to either of the blades so it's not possible for the wire supply to the cam

On 10/2/2022 at 11:49 AM, MrRedman said:

I’m not having that if it’s in upside down