Adding 12V sockets and USB ports to the back of a 4WD usually means cutting holes, crimping terminals and running fuses. The XTM 12V/24V Distribution Panel skips all of that: it’s a pre-wired box that you feed with one cable. We paid the BCF club price of $75 for ours, which you get by logging in as a member.
What’s in the box
A black metal box with two 12V cigarette sockets, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, an LED voltmeter and a circuit breaker on the front, and an Anderson-style plug with an on/off switch on one end. Two small mounting brackets and four screws are included.
What we like
- Plug and play: no wiring needed
- One Anderson cable powers the box
- USB-C and USB-A fast-charging ports
- Two 12V sockets
- LED voltmeter for battery voltage
- Brackets included for mounting
What we don’t
- 20 A in total across all outlets
- No switches for single sockets
- No Anderson outlets
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | XTM |
| Weight | 584 g |
| Size | 21 × 7 × 7 cm |
| Maximum current | 20 A in total |
| 12V sockets | 2 × cigarette socket12 V 20 A / 24 V 10 A |
| USB ports | 1 × USB-C 18 W1 × USB-A QC 3.0 18 W |
| Voltmeter | LED2.5 to 29.9 V |
| Input | Quick connect (Anderson-style) plug |
Plug and play: no wiring neededPlug and play
This is the main reason to buy it. The box is plug and play, with no wiring needed. Everything inside is already connected: the sockets, the USB ports, the voltmeter and the circuit breaker.
All you have to buy is an Anderson cable. One end plugs into the grey plug on the end of the panel. In our case the other end goes to our Kings BatBlock, which powers the whole box. Flick the red rocker switch next to the plug and the panel is live.
That also makes it easy to move. Unplug the one cable and the box comes out, to use somewhere else or to keep out of sight.
Sockets and USB ports
On the front there are two 12V cigarette sockets, for things like a fridge, a compressor or a 12V light. Next to them sit a USB-C port and a USB-A QC 3.0 port, both rated at 18 W, which charge a phone or a tablet quickly. Each outlet has a rubber cap to keep dust out when it isn’t in use.
There are three limits to know about. The panel is rated to 20 A in total, so it can’t run several heavy-draw appliances at the same time. There are no switches for the individual sockets: the rocker switch turns the whole box on or off. And the Anderson plug is an inlet only, so you can’t pass power on to another Anderson connection from here.
The layout is fixed, too. If you later want a different mix of ports, you can’t swap them on this faceplate.
Voltmeter and circuit breakerVoltmeter & breaker
The red LED voltmeter shows the voltage of the battery that feeds the panel, so you can see at a glance how your battery is doing. On ours it has read between 13.5 and 13.9 V in the photos.
A circuit breaker is built in, with its reset button at the far end of the front. It cuts the power if you draw too much, which protects the panel and whatever is plugged into it.
Mounting and build
The box is metal and measures 210 × 70 × 70 mm. It weighed 584 g on our scale, against the 600 g on the box.
It comes with two small brackets and four screws. One bracket attaches to each end of the box, and with those on you can mount it to almost anything: on a panel, for example, or under a rear roof shelf. It also works fine just sitting loose on the drawers.
Conclusion: XTM 12V/24V Distribution PanelConclusion
The XTM 12V/24V Distribution Panel is a plug-and-play way to get power into the back of the car. One Anderson cable feeds two 12V sockets, a USB-C port, a USB-A port and a voltmeter, with a circuit breaker for protection and no wiring to do. It’s limited to 20 A in total, the sockets can’t be switched one by one, and you have to buy the Anderson cable separately. I paid $75 for it at the BCF club price. For anyone who wants 12V and USB outlets without picking up a crimping tool, it’s a very good buy.
A pre-wired power box with two 12V sockets, USB-C, USB-A and a voltmeter, fed by one Anderson cable with no wiring to do.
It’s limited to 20 A in total and has no switches for the individual sockets.
- 4WD tourers
- Car campers
- Van-lifers
Yes, at the club price. We paid $75 by logging in as a BCF club member; the full price is about $100. For that you skip the wiring completely. You do need to buy the Anderson cable separately.
