cigarette lighter attachment

frangipani · Guru

cigarette lighter attachment

PeterD · Guru

There are a couple of similar plug systems. Just click on the links to see examples. Cigarette lighter plug. The picture shows bot the plug and the cord socket. Merit plug. then you can get a convertible Merit/cigarette unit. You just remove the red sleeve and the cigarette lighter plug will fit a Merit socket. Here is a unit with both Merit and cigarette lighter sockets in it to show the comparison in size. Do these cover the plugs and sockets you have?

If you are deciding which units to use then consider going the Merit system. The cigarette lighter sockets were designed to accommodate a heating element which butted up to its contact. Part of the design was for it to produce some loss and thus contribute to the heat generated. For reliability you should limit the use of these for currents of 1 or 2 A. On the other hand the Merit plug has a centre contact that pushes into its contacts. Each time you insert it there is a wiping action which tends to clean the contact. Also when the contacts slide into one another they have more surface contact and are thus more reliable when used at currents of up to 10 A.

As you can see I am not a great lover of using inverters on cigarette lighter connectors. An inverter that only draws 2 A is not capable of supplying much more than 20 W of AC power. A 10 A circuit will supply 100 W of power reliably. You can also get 15 A merit connectors. Another problem with running inverters off 12 V points is that inevitably the wiring is not heavy enough to carry the current that an inverter needs with sufficiently small voltage drop. I found that the TV sockets would not supply sufficient current to run a 120 W inverter to supply my laptop and internet modem.

If you wish to run an inverter off yourf battery I would suggest a new circuit with the socket not far from the battery and very heavy wire and connectors. Don't use Merit connectors for inverters over 150 A, the operation will not be reliable over a long period of time.

-- Edited by PeterD on Saturday 25th of October 2014 04:15:01 PM

frangipani · Guru

Thanks PeterD, my inverter is 150w, it charges my tablet from the car cigarette lighter. I just wanted to know if I can get a connection to fit my inverter to the tv connection, the inverter doesn't fit, hope i make sense?

frangipani · Guru

Yep i see, Peter D, there's a surface mount connection, sorry i'm illiterate when it comes to this stuff, please bear with me, can i attach this or do i have to get an electrician? -Fran

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Have you tried putting a double adaptor in the existing one for the tv Fran?

frangipani · Guru

confuse Can u get a double adaptor that looks like a cig lighter?

aussie_paul · Guru

Frangipani wrote:
Can u get a double adaptor that looks like a cig lighter?

Here we go Fran.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12volt-Cig-Socket-double-adapter-Camper-Caravan-Motorhome-Car-4x4-/371172586256?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item566b9c3310

Aussie Paul. smile

frangipani · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Frangipani wrote:
Can u get a double adaptor that looks like a cig lighter?
Here we go Fran.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12volt-Cig-Socket-double-adapter-Camper-Caravan-Motorhome-Car-4x4-/371172586256?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item566b9c3310
Aussie Paul.

thankyou Paul, can you believe my husband had one of these in his FWD, and i threw the b)(@#$y thing out, didn't understand wat it was

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Yes Fran. Just pop into Jaycar ir any car accessary place, they have heaps. One end has the male end to go into the original sig socket and the other end has two female sockets. You can even get ones with 4 female ends.

Just make sure as with 240v power boards you don't over load.

Gee, hope that doesn't all sound sexist biggrin

frangipani · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Yes Fran. Just pop into Jaycar ir any car accessary place, they have heaps. One end has the male end to go into the original sig socket and the other end has two female sockets. You can even get ones with 4 female ends.

Just make sure as with 240v power boards you don't over load.

Gee, hope that doesn't all sound sexist

thanks Dougwe, my Sam told me all about the female and male parts ooops of tools n things i mean LOL

Allany · Veteran Member

Fran
If your tablet has a charging lead with a USB end on it then you won't need an inverter to charge it
You can get a usb adaptor to fit into a lighter socket
You will still need an extra socket but it then opens up more options which will draw less than running an inverter

Allan

frangipani · Guru

Allany wrote:
Fran
If your tablet has a charging lead with a USB end on it then you won't need an inverter to charge it
You can get a usb adaptor to fit into a lighter socket
You will still need an extra socket but it then opens up more options which will draw less than running an inverter

Allan

Thanx Allen, its a Microsoft Surface, it doesn't have a USB end or a cig. Connection., Thats Microsoft for you.,

03_troopy · Guru

Why not just get one of these then, heaps of them listed on Ebay and possibly available from other sources. But you still need a 12V ciggy socket to use though. I just saw the feedback score on the one i listed, you might want to use one with a higher positive feedback maybe.

12V car charger for microsoft surface.

frangipani · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
Why not just get one of these then, heaps of them listed on Ebay and possibly available from other sources. But you still need a 12V ciggy socket to use though. I just saw the feedback score on the one i listed, you might want to use one with a higher positive feedback maybe.

12V car charger for microsoft surface.

thanx 03_troopy, i've been told that the ones from China could do damage to my tablet? Is that a lot of hogwash? Everything these days is made in China. I'm so confused

03_troopy · Guru

Well I can understand your concern, but as you say they are all made in China or similar places these days, so that leaves a bit of a dilemma. Maybe google for some dedicated forums on your tablet and seek clarification there. Incidentally, I have bought a non OEM car charger for my Asus Android tablet and have no issues with it. But that's just one case in umteen thousand so who knows?

Wedge · Newbie

Just to muddy the water. Aldi have a cigarette lighter extension plug that has 3 extra plug holes and 2 USB connections for about $5.00. They come and go, so you just have to keeping popping into Aldi to see if there are any prsent or ask one of the sales staff. Try not to over load the extension plug.

frangipani · Guru

Wedge wrote:
Just to muddy the water. Aldi have a cigarette lighter extension plug that has 3 extra plug holes and 2 USB connections for about $5.00. They come and go, so you just have to keeping popping into Aldi to see if there are any prsent or ask one of the sales staff. Try not to over load the extension plug.

thanx Wedge, and here I was confused already LOL,

frangipani · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
Well I can understand your concern, but as you say they are all made in China or similar places these days, so that leaves a bit of a dilemma. Maybe google for some dedicated forums on your tablet and seek clarification there. Incidentally, I have bought a non OEM car charger for my Asus Android tablet and have no issues with it. But that's just one case in umteen thousand so who knows?

thanx troopy, i'll do a bit more research. I am overwhelmed with all the great advice thankyou all it is a comfort for me., this is a great forum.

PeterD · Guru

Frangipani wrote:
Thanks PeterD, my inverter is 150w, it charges my tablet from the car cigarette lighter. I just wanted to know if I can get a connection to fit my inverter to the tv connection, the inverter doesn't fit, hope i make sense?

The way I read things is that the inverter does not fit the cigarette lighter socket with or without the TV there. What is the actual plug on the inverter? Is it actually a cigarette lighter plug or is it like the Merit plug or even something else?

frangipani · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Frangipani wrote:
Thanks PeterD, my inverter is 150w, it charges my tablet from the car cigarette lighter. I just wanted to know if I can get a connection to fit my inverter to the tv connection, the inverter doesn't fit, hope i make sense?
The way I read things is that the inverter does not fit the cigarette lighter socket with or without the TV there. What is the actual plug on the inverter? Is it actually a cigarette lighter plug or is it like the Merit plug or even something else?

The inverter has a cigarette lighter plug, and the TV socket one looks like a merit

aussie_paul · Guru

Frangipani wrote:
The inverter has a cigarette lighter plug, and the TV socket one looks like a merit

You are getting there Fran, well done. biggrin

Aussie Paul. smile

frangipani · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Frangipani wrote:
The inverter has a cigarette lighter plug, and the TV socket one looks like a merit
You are getting there Fran, well done.
Aussie Paul.

thanx :)

Reed · Senior Member

We have six of these in the main cabin of our fifth wheel and two in the boot/basement. We just wired them into the 12 V lights (which have 10 amp fuses in line). They work great for charging batteries of cameras and I-phones. They are also excellent for running cheap and efficient 12 V fans (0.2 amps)
Reed and Elaine

frangipani · Guru

Wedge wrote:
Just to muddy the water. Aldi have a cigarette lighter extension plug that has 3 extra plug holes and 2 USB connections for about $5.00. They come and go, so you just have to keeping popping into Aldi to see if there are any prsent or ask one of the sales staff. Try not to over load the extension plug.

thanx for more confusion Wedge, love your avatar, is that your dog?

frangipani · Guru

Reed wrote:
We have six of these in the main cabin of our fifth wheel and two in the boot/basement. We just wired them into the 12 V lights (which have 10 amp fuses in line). They work great for charging batteries of cameras and I-phones. They are also excellent for running cheap and efficient 12 V fans (0.2 amps)
Reed and Elaine

ok Reed six of what????, i'm really getting confused here LOL.,

aussie_paul · Guru

Fran, I bought a couple of these to fit. One for ceiling fan over the bed, and a spare when I work out the right place for it.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360802038055?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Aussie Paul. smile

frangipani · Guru

aussie_paul wrote:
Fran, I bought a couple of these to fit. One for ceiling fan over the bed, and a spare when I work out the right place for it.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360802038055?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Aussie Paul.

Thanx Aussie Paul, that looks like it might have to be attached to something?

aussie_paul · Guru

Yes they do Fran. This is the double adapter one.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12volt-Cig-Socket-double-adapter-Camper-Caravan-Motorhome-Car-4x4-/371172586256?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item566b9c3310

Aussie Paul. smile

PeterD · Guru

Frangipani wrote:
The inverter has a cigarette lighter plug, and the TV socket one looks like a merit

Let's forget all this talk of cigarette lighter double adaptors. They are absolutely of no use to the OP. They will not fit into the power socket.

Fran, the first thing to do is to positively confirm the identity of your TV outlet. You say it "looks like" a Merit connector. You can purchase a Merit plug from Jaycar or an auto accessory store. If it has a good fit in the socket you have two choices. My non preferred one is to use that plug to make up an adaptor with a cigarette lighter socket on the other end. My preferred option is to get someone to replace the plug on your inverter with the one you have recently purchased for the check. The second option will give you a far more reliable operation of your inverter. (That assumes your van wiring is heavy enough. I have had to install a new outlet closer to my battery with heavy cable to power my 90 W charger.)

Reed · Senior Member

The politically correct terms for "cigarette lighters" are 12 V power recepticles and 12 V outlets. They are sold at all RV and auto supply stores in the US. They can be purchased with 1, 2, and 3 outlets We have six of the single outlets in main cabin and two double outlets in the basement/boot. All we did (our grandson electrician) was to tie them in parallel to the 12 V lights which have 10 amp fusing (changed to LEDs and now 0.1 amps). Attached is photo of one such recepticle found on-line. All of the 12 V power recepticles for RV use have a fold down cap so that they don't fill with dirt, attract mud daubers (wasps that build mud nests) etc. The ones we have installed come with 4 screw holes.

We are currently charging two I-phones and two camera batteries. Will attach photo of our set up later.