Hi Mark and others,

        Thanks to all for solving this mystery.

        I’ve heard talk of this but my 85 and my first 84 Wolfsburgh did not have the silver socket. 

        My 84 does and now I’m paying attention.  Mine is currently not hooked up, but I have a hot wire needing a home that is right near it.  Now that I know I can get accessories for it I need to have it working. 

        Any tips how a blind guy can know which of the two tabs on the back is the hot and witch is the ground?  They are in a T shape I believe. 

        I found a USB and volt meeter that fits it so plan to just pop that in to show off my cool silver socket, also with the cool name Powerlet.. 

Eric Caron 
84 and 85 Westfalia.

> On May 5, 2025, at 8:31 PM, madvws <madvws@cox.net> wrote:
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> For 30 years here on the List we have called it the "silver socket" and it came on VW camper vans from the 60s up to I think 1985 Westy, according to Bus Depot who sells a cable for it.
> Silver Socket Power Cable
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> Silver Socket Power Cable
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> Nothing to wire, just plug it in. One end plugs into the Silver Socket on your dash, and the other end is a stan...
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> Mark
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>    On Monday, May 5, 2025 at 05:03:18 PM PDT, Edmund Hintz <ed@hintz.org> wrote:
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> Well I'll be darned. You're spot on. I've been looking at that thing
> mildly pondering what it is for a few years now. Funny story: Like 4
> feet away from it, I've got a BMW R1150RT, and I'm using that for the
> float charger that I keep it on when not riding. Just pulled the
> connector out, plugged it into the Vanagon, and voila 12.84v. Mystery
> solved.
> 
> I'd put good money on it being stock, at least for some models. Mine's a
> 1984 auto Westy, I'm basically 3rd owner and I met the original. His
> parents bought it new off the lot here in San Diego..........