Any easy way to make cigarette lighter always on?
06-20-08, 06:13 PM
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Any easy way to make cigarette lighter always on?
As the subject line says, I wondering if there is any easy way to make the cigarette lighter be always on, rather than tied to the ignition as it is now. Did a search, but didn't find much.
06-20-08, 08:24 PM
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Every other car I have ever had has had power at the cigarette lighter after the ignition is off. Maybe this is a Toyota thing -- my mom's Camry is the same way (and equally inconvenient when you are in the road with a dead cellphone).
Continuity to battery through the lighter socket is especially handy for using the chargers or boosters (like my CTEK charger) through the lighter rather than opening the hood.
Continuity to battery through the lighter socket is especially handy for using the chargers or boosters (like my CTEK charger) through the lighter rather than opening the hood.
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06-20-08, 10:22 PM
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it's actually pretty easy, but it IS a big drain on the battery..
You need to find a 12V constant (ie: stereo) and tap it into that. I'd increase the fuse size for whatever system you plug into. The cigarette lighter is a pretty high draw circuit, so you may want to consider running it directly to the battery. If you do decide to go this route, DEFINITELY put an in-line fuse on the line. Also, you may want to consider wiring it to a toggle switch, so you have the option of turning it off.
F.Y.I: your charger draws power even if the device is not attached to it, so don't plug it in unless you're using it. (couldn't figure out why my electric bill was so high.. a laptop, ipod charger and a cell charger were the culprits)
Personally, i'd invest in a better battery (optima?).. as the increased drain and charge cycles could shorten it's lifespan.
I'd do the install much the same as an amplifier hookup.
As always, make sure you know what you're doing BEFORE you start. Proper tools, safety equipment, yadda, yadda, yadda...
Alternately you could go all out and install a power inverter instead. Mount it in the glovebox, or maybe integrate it into the center console... nothing beats a 120v hookup in the car..
(and you're only an in-dash away from a videogame system!
)
You need to find a 12V constant (ie: stereo) and tap it into that. I'd increase the fuse size for whatever system you plug into. The cigarette lighter is a pretty high draw circuit, so you may want to consider running it directly to the battery. If you do decide to go this route, DEFINITELY put an in-line fuse on the line. Also, you may want to consider wiring it to a toggle switch, so you have the option of turning it off.
F.Y.I: your charger draws power even if the device is not attached to it, so don't plug it in unless you're using it. (couldn't figure out why my electric bill was so high.. a laptop, ipod charger and a cell charger were the culprits)
Personally, i'd invest in a better battery (optima?).. as the increased drain and charge cycles could shorten it's lifespan.
I'd do the install much the same as an amplifier hookup.
As always, make sure you know what you're doing BEFORE you start. Proper tools, safety equipment, yadda, yadda, yadda...
Alternately you could go all out and install a power inverter instead. Mount it in the glovebox, or maybe integrate it into the center console... nothing beats a 120v hookup in the car..
(and you're only an in-dash away from a videogame system!)
06-20-08, 11:48 PM
#10
Just wire the positive terminal straight to the battery.
And no it's not going to be a big drain unless you're charging something huge. If it's just a cell phone then its no problem. The car's battery has a MUCH larger capacity than the cell phone's battery. Left unplug, you will not be draining anything. Just dont leave the charger in while the phone is on.
And no it's not going to be a big drain unless you're charging something huge. If it's just a cell phone then its no problem. The car's battery has a MUCH larger capacity than the cell phone's battery. Left unplug, you will not be draining anything. Just dont leave the charger in while the phone is on.
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BPlove (01-11-20)
06-21-08, 12:53 AM
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Just wire the positive terminal straight to the battery.
And no it's not going to be a big drain unless you're charging something huge. If it's just a cell phone then its no problem. The car's battery has a MUCH larger capacity than the cell phone's battery. Left unplug, you will not be draining anything. Just dont leave the charger in while the phone is on.
And no it's not going to be a big drain unless you're charging something huge. If it's just a cell phone then its no problem. The car's battery has a MUCH larger capacity than the cell phone's battery. Left unplug, you will not be draining anything. Just dont leave the charger in while the phone is on.
06-21-08, 08:20 AM
#13
a lot of american cars have constant lighter sockets. i personally dont like it. what you can do is go to the ignition harness in the car and find the constant wire and tap into that. the wires in there are about 10 gauge so the cell phone will not place any strain on it at all. tapping in the radio power is easy but the radio already draws 10 amps and the charger probably 1 or 2 amps. too much extra load for such a small wire. i have done it before and it wont damage anything but its just not the "proper" way to do it.
btw trackball
all that stuff they sell for boosting or charging the battery through the cigarette lighter is BS. when you jump a car or even charge the battery you have some serious size wires. at least 10 gauge. when you use the booster you are trying to run all that current through a 18/20 gauge wire. for current, like water flow, the bigger the pipe/wire the more it will flow through it.
btw trackball
all that stuff they sell for boosting or charging the battery through the cigarette lighter is BS. when you jump a car or even charge the battery you have some serious size wires. at least 10 gauge. when you use the booster you are trying to run all that current through a 18/20 gauge wire. for current, like water flow, the bigger the pipe/wire the more it will flow through it.
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BPlove (01-11-20)
06-21-08, 01:40 PM
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all that stuff they sell for boosting or charging the battery through the cigarette lighter is BS. when you jump a car or even charge the battery you have some serious size wires. at least 10 gauge. when you use the booster you are trying to run all that current through a 18/20 gauge wire. for current, like water flow, the bigger the pipe/wire the more it will flow through it.