Why are the sockets always on?

Does anyone know why the sockets in the Cayman are all hot? It seems like an invitation for trouble given all the accessory electronics available that can accidently be left connected to run the battery down.

Because it's written in the manual, and no one may violate those commandments. (AFAIK, all European cars have always had hot sockets. It's not just a Porsche thing.)

Two-edge sword......people want them active to constantly charge cell phones, iPods, and other gizmos.....but those same people are probably the ones that will curse Porsche when they can't start their car days later.....

Porsche 's installation of always hot sockets long predates iPods, cell phones and other electronic devices and goes back to when they were primarily used as ... cigarette lighters. Why turn on the ignition to light your cig? What a pita for a 2 pack a day smoker. We all know how quick Porsche is to design/engineer for cultural changes. No cup holders allowed in the 911 until the 996 model. IPod integration yet to come? Maybe switched sockets by the 2020 model year? How about a non-smokers' ashtray delete option by 2030?

I used to love how BMW and Porsche dealers would look at you like you were a clown for wanting cup holders. "You should be driving with your hands." But chain smoking was OK.

I have owned a few Japanese vehicles, which most of the time have switched outlets. It was always a pain. I would want or need to charge my phone and couldn't leave it in the truck to charge it. I was playing golf with a guy that worked at the Lexus dealer and I asked him if there was anything I could do. He said sure, just find a hot circuit in the fuse box and jumper it over. We have customers come in all the time to have it done. I can't stand having switched outlets in my vehicles.

seems like them being always on is a nicer feature on my certain other german brand of car, I had to turn the ignition on to use my 12v air pump to put the correct pressures in my tires that was annoying I guess if your battery was drained, at least you'd have either a fully charged ipod to entertain you, or a fully charged phone to call for help

In Europe, cigarette smoking is still popular. And as we all know, when you need a light, you need a light right now

I have a Honda SUV and my Cayman . The other day I was out and about and needed to charge my cell phone FAST....but I could not stay with the SUV....I had left the phone on the charger and went to run an errand on foot. When I came back.....the cell phone was still dead. Grrrrrrrrrr It was then that I realized the Cayman sockets were always hot. I was like.....sheesh why don't they all cars have this feature? And yes, one can run the battery down not paying attention. If its worth anything, most smart electronics and techno gadgets these days have an auto off feature if left unattended with no user input for extended periods. An ipod for example. Cant speak for your old ham radio Santa Fe. I am VERY happy all sockets are hot. I guess it means people just have to pay attention and not leave their kids in the car alone playing Super Mario on the plug in video game in the back of the Cayman . Dan, I just read somewhere....I think either Christorphus or Panorama, that Porsche announced that all future builds will have iPod integration. I guess we forced Porsches hand.

Do not leave charger plugged in with out gadget attached I just got back from my dealer's service department where I learned that I should not leave my charger plugged into the socket unless my cell phone (or iPod or what ever) is attached. If you do, you may have the socket blow the fuse. No reason given. By the way, the rear socket's fuse is in slot #8 under the dash. It is a 7.5 amp fuse.

On this note... Can anybody tell me what the fuse is for the front sockets? Specifically the one inside of the center console? I seem to have lost my fuse diagram and in a total dumb@$$ moment I tried to use it, instead of the cigarette lighter socket, to power the air compressor. I tried seeing if someone had uploaded the fuse diagram into the files or articles, but no luck. Thanks, Suneet

Interestingly enough, here in the UK most of our wall sockets at home are also live (hot), so perhaps unplugging or turning off stuff your not using is just a European thing! :cheers:

Ummm...all wall sockets are always hot/live in most (if not all countries) correct? This is because the power company wants your money! THANK GOD you dont have to "start the house" in order to get your wall sockets to go live! What a PITA that would be!

I would prefer the one in the passenger's foot well to be switched. That would make it easier to have the radar detector plugged in. Until I get it hardwired, you either have to unplug it or switch it off. I have a tendancy to forget to turn it on so I typically unplug it. My last car had a switched socket and it was easier.

....or worse still, update it every few months with some 'improved' software - then watch the roof fall in

Leaving the power socket always hot allows you to use the power socket to trickle charge the battery with the Porsche or another after market battery tender . I picked up a solar powered battery tender that plugs into the cigarette lighter in case I ever have to park my Cayman S at an airport for a few days. I agree that having the power socket in the right foot well switched would be great for me. That's where I keep my Valentine One plugged in and usually left "on".

On a not totally unrelated subject, does anyone know how much current the car draws when switched off, in my case it has the Porsche Sat Nav fitted if that is relevant, or to put it another way, how much output would a solar charger need to supply to ensure it would still work after being left standing?

Socket in the "passenger's foot well" There is not such? 2 in the console thats all. What do you refer to?

Should be in the passenger footwell right under the dash on the inside covered by a flap. Take a closer look.

Nope I dont have it. Got 2006 CS man RHD. Programming port on left side and a light, no cig lighter socket.

Nobody's responded to the question I posed in resurrecting this thread... anybody know which fuse covers the power sockets in the Cayman? I lost my fuse diagram.

L8Apx did a brilliant assessment of current draw under various scenarios LINK Unfortunately, no PCM