Hi,
today we bought a cigarette lighter for $7... it is supposed to be for 6-12V cars. I want to install it in my 74 L Bug so I have a way of plugging things in.
Is there anything I should be wary of that could bugger up the electrics and cause fires etc?
bajachris88 ·
bugluv wrote:Is there anything I should be wary of that could bugger up the electrics and cause fires etc?
Yes
mackaymanx ·
Make sure you run it through a fuse.
68AutoBug ·
Yes, just run it thru a fuse...
if You use the ignition ON fuse it will only work with the ignition ON...
Depends on what You want to use on it...
the cigarette lighter itself does use some power
not sure how much though.. never measured one...
they used to come with a nice heavy wire/lead
but these days, most have a very small wire or lead..
or maybe no wire at all....
I have been meaning to fit one to My car too...
They Come in handy for charging the phone...
Lee
bajachris88 ·
Tandy and dick smith sell these little pod things, that are like inline fuses, with a twist-and-lock case... just slip them in the circuit if u wanted to. Kinda like the radio
bugluv ·
Thanks guys... I mainly want it for phone charging... although possibly one of those 12v plug in heaters - though dont know if they are any good.
sinecure ·
Consider the power draw before choosing the socket. Caravan/4WD accessory stores carry "heavy duty" sockets, good for lots of amps.
76camper ·
make sure you run the right gauge wiring. As sinecure said, consider its uses. If your going to run a heater your going to need some pretty decent wire. It might be worth running a new 12v lead from the battery, so you dont overload a pre-existing wire. This is where alot of electrical fires start, wrong selection of wire gauge....
ctefeh ·
Bugluv,
On my Super, the cigarette lighter is fed by heavy guage wire from a pole on the opposite side of where the large power feed wire (from the battery) hooks up to in the fuse box. It is essentially fused from the 16(?) Amp fuse in there. My ciggy lighter is factory fitted.
Use caution! The standard VW lighter wire in mine is always "hot", ie power all the time. I would connect the wire to your ciggy lighter first, and then select the appropriate place to hook the other end up to, preferably only hot when your ignition switch is on.
I discovered all this while untangling the PO's stereo (almost an 8 track!) and guage set up wiring on the weekend.