Topic: Auxiliary power socket (cig lighter) (Read 4590 times)

jonny2112 · « **on:** 28 November 2006, 19:21:54 »

Anyone fitted any extra sockets to their motor? I have no smokers in the family/car but the lighter sockets are used to power DVD players, gameboys and a coolbox when on holidays or trips. I thought extra sockets, rather than splitters, would be helpful. Do you think it is possible to fit them??

tunnie · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 November 2006, 23:08:50 »

you can get those things that plug in and become 3 ciggys, bit like normal plug 4way type things.

You could also try an intertor, which you connect to the car battery, this convert the 12v car battery into 240v so you can plug in normal 3 pin plug stuff in your car.

I plan to install one of the above for my Euro road trip next summer to power a laptop.

VXL V6 · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 November 2006, 09:16:39 »

Rather than an invertor to run the power supply for the laptop, I use a replacement power supply from Maplin that converts the 12V to whatever your laptop requires, it came with loads of different connectors for different laptops and newer connectors are available, it cost about £15.

HTH

tunnie · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 November 2006, 09:52:25 »

Quote

Rather than an invertor to run the power supply for the laptop, I use a replacement power supply from Maplin that converts the 12V to whatever your laptop requires, it came with loads of different connectors for different laptops and newer connectors are available, it cost about £15.

HTH

Sounds interesting, got a link for that? - Does it have technical name or is it just called a "replacement power supply" ?

Thanks

VXL V6 · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 November 2006, 13:57:58 »

Hi

I can't find the actual one that I bought but try this link for similar items (Item 4 -6)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=56752&MenuName=Laptop+Power+Supplies&worldid=4&FromMenu=y&doy=29m11

tunnie · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 November 2006, 09:26:52 »

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Hi

I can't find the actual one that I bought but try this link for similar items (Item 4 -6)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=56752&MenuName=Laptop+Power+Supplies&worldid=4&FromMenu=y&doy=29m11

Cheers for that, £20 aint bad... although i want to run other devices like a Toaster as well. (going camping) and also going to charge mobiles and bluetooth GPS devices on the road too so think i'll have to stick with an invertor, but thanks for that link, usefull to know

theolodian · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 November 2006, 10:27:55 »

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Quote
Hi

I can't find the actual one that I bought but try this link for similar items (Item 4 -6)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=56752&MenuName=Laptop+Power+Supplies&worldid=4&FromMenu=y&doy=29m11

Cheers for that, £20 aint bad... although i want to run other devices like a Toaster as well. (going camping) and also going to charge mobiles and bluetooth GPS devices on the road too so think i'll have to stick with an invertor, but thanks for that link, usefull to know

If you're talking about a bread toaster, that'll take a heckuva inverter. Inverters do charge mobiles much better than ciggie sockets though.

tunnie · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 November 2006, 10:54:45 »

what i know about electricy and current you could fit on a first class stamp....

No toaster then? bugger!

Taking the regular camping stuff, my m8s dad has loads we can borrow including an 8 person tent!

I was just hoping the toaster might work, for beans on toast for meals and stuff.

Could you run a phone and a laptop though an inventor?

theolodian · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 November 2006, 11:00:43 »

You can get inverters in any size if you look, but the ones about the size of 2 VHS tapes that are very common will easily power laptops and mobile chargers.

tunnie · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 November 2006, 11:09:56 »

sounds like what i need, its smallish devices like that i need to keep charged.

I hopefully going to borrow my dads "Jobo" which is basically an 20Gb external hard disk with millions of card readers built in, and runs of batteries. You can put any card in and it creates a new folder with the date and downloads all the pictures off it.

Wondering if the battery could take it? Off the car batter they will be:

Phone Charging
Bluetooth GPS
PDA
And not always but a laptop as well and a second Bluetooth GPS.

Driving along normally a decent battery should be able to handle that i hope? - As well as the climate being on, cruise and prob doing around 80!

theolodian · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 November 2006, 11:46:25 »

It's really the alternator that needs to power that stuff. On the motorway you will be fine, but I wouldn't idle it for long periods with a lot of power users on. However, even the laptop doesn't pull that much unless charging a low battery. Main users are headlights, defogger, heated seats, etc.

nixoro · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 November 2006, 12:01:55 »

Wouldn't a second battery in the boot be easier to use for powering extra's like laptops, seen this done before maybe worth a look atleast then the drain wouldnt be from the engine battery but the one in the boot.

You hear of audio equipment connected, why not power points for 3pin plug or ciggy lighter connectors

Just my tuppence worth

theolodian · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 November 2006, 12:13:55 »

Quote

Wouldn't a second battery in the boot be easier to use for powering extra's like laptops, seen this done before maybe worth a look atleast then the drain wouldnt be from the engine battery but the one in the boot.

You hear of audio equipment connected, why not power points for 3pin plug or ciggy lighter connectors

Just my tuppence worth

That works well when you want to power things when the car is off. Unless you are going to charge that battery every night from mains, then ultimately the power comes from the alternator. Nothing tunnie is talking about is that much of a drain.

However, you have reminded me of one thing that can be extremely useful; a boost pack for jump starting. It is a battery in a plastic case with jump leads. Many of them also have a lighter socket. These can be very useful on long trips as a safety measure. They also have their own mains charger.

nixoro · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 November 2006, 12:56:43 »

Quote

Quote
Wouldn't a second battery in the boot be easier to use for powering extra's like laptops, seen this done before maybe worth a look atleast then the drain wouldnt be from the engine battery but the one in the boot.

You hear of audio equipment connected, why not power points for 3pin plug or ciggy lighter connectors

Just my tuppence worth
That works well when you want to power things when the car is off. Unless you are going to charge that battery every night from mains, then ultimately the power comes from the alternator. Nothing tunnie is talking about is that much of a drain.

However, you have reminded me of one thing that can be extremely useful; a boost pack for jump starting. It is a battery in a plastic case with jump leads. Many of them also have a lighter socket. These can be very useful on long trips as a safety measure. They also have their own mains charger.

Ahhh gotcha was just an Idea

theolodian · « **Reply #14 on:** 30 November 2006, 15:02:58 »

It was a good idea! A booster pack does what you are talking about without requiring any installation, and is a good thing to have anyway.

tunnie · « **Reply #15 on:** 01 December 2006, 08:46:34 »

Quote

Quote
Wouldn't a second battery in the boot be easier to use for powering extra's like laptops, seen this done before maybe worth a look atleast then the drain wouldnt be from the engine battery but the one in the boot.

You hear of audio equipment connected, why not power points for 3pin plug or ciggy lighter connectors

Just my tuppence worth
That works well when you want to power things when the car is off. Unless you are going to charge that battery every night from mains, then ultimately the power comes from the alternator. Nothing tunnie is talking about is that much of a drain.

However, you have reminded me of one thing that can be extremely useful; a boost pack for jump starting. It is a battery in a plastic case with jump leads. Many of them also have a lighter socket. These can be very useful on long trips as a safety measure. They also have their own mains charger.

Yep, got me one of those. VERY handy, used it a lot with my first project car when i had a dead battery i took it everyware and jumped it a lot without loosing charge. I defo will be taking one of them with me.

x25xe · « **Reply #16 on:** 01 December 2006, 10:43:41 »

Tunnie,

Hope you are keeping OK and life at uni is not too bad. For your toatser, if you are going camping, why not use a stove with a grill? If you don't have one, I would be happy to loan you one, complete with gas bottle, regulator and hose.

TheBoy · « **Reply #17 on:** 01 December 2006, 13:46:20 »

Assuming 100% efficiency (if only

) - 1 1.8kw toaster would pull 150A from your battery. I would imagine that your toast wouldn't be cooked before the battery was flat.

Laptops - most PSUs are around 90 - 100W (so around 10A drain from battery). So you will quickly flattern battery with that. Also, as they are all SMPS, you will need probably around a 400W inverter.

For phones etc, I would use std ciggy lighter stuff, laptop - why on earth do you want a laptop? European countries tend to secure down their wirless networks more than here, so use internet cafe instead. Worth having cheap inverter to charge camera batts etc though - I always carry one...

tunnie · « **Reply #18 on:** 01 December 2006, 13:59:27 »

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Tunnie,

Hope you are keeping OK and life at uni is not too bad. For your toatser, if you are going camping, why not use a stove with a grill? If you don't have one, I would be happy to loan you one, complete with gas bottle, regulator and hose.

Good thanks mate, getting stuck down into uni project now, no lectures until 8th Jan now! YAY! - But got a presentation to give on my project in a few weeks. Thanks very much for the offer on the camping stove, i might take you up on that. My m8's dad is big into camping and hopefully can borrow a massive 8 person tent.. and other bits. Not sure if he a stove so have to check... but very kind offer thanks!

No laptop, bah can't live without my laptop!

- I installed Microsoft Autoroute on it and got more campsites on their, it also seams to go into higher detailed maps than tomtom europe... so would use it for that also planning journeys.

Got my N80 and m8 has a WiFi phone so most places we walk around we will scan for networks and try and skype home!

AndersH · « **Reply #19 on:** 01 December 2006, 17:43:27 »

Can you get Skype software for the N80 then?

wouldn't mind that myself

tunnie · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 December 2006, 19:30:53 »

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Can you get Skype software for the N80 then? wouldn't mind that myself

Its still in the pipe line, they are having more problems than expected making it work for Symbian, but it should be available soon

JohnM · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 December 2006, 17:20:24 »

Anyone know an EASY way to get the ciggy sockets, or at least the rear one, to be permanently on. Or is there another 12v feed free and kicking about I could steal. No great current demand, no flat battery concerns (yet!).

Salty · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 December 2006, 17:22:45 »

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Anyone know an EASY way to get the ciggy sockets, or at least the rear one, to be permanently on. Or is there another 12v feed free and kicking about I could steal. No great current demand, no flat battery concerns (yet!).

I find that annoying as well, they could at least power up with the key in the position before the ignition is fully on. Same with the radio

Andy B · « **Reply #23 on:** 03 December 2006, 19:30:05 »

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........ Same with the radio

The radio does. Just press the power button and it'll stay on for an hour.

Salty · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 December 2006, 20:07:42 »

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Quote
........ Same with the radio
The radio does. Just press the power button and it'll stay on for an hour.

Not with an aftermarket stereo

CaptainZok · « **Reply #25 on:** 03 December 2006, 20:10:27 »

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Quote
Quote
........ Same with the radio
The radio does. Just press the power button and it'll stay on for an hour.

Not with an aftermarket stereo

Just what I was thinking.

Salty · « **Reply #26 on:** 03 December 2006, 20:16:27 »

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Quote
Quote
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........ Same with the radio
The radio does. Just press the power button and it'll stay on for an hour.

Not with an aftermarket stereo
Just what I was thinking.

I modified the power feed to the radio in my senny with a pushbutton to supply power from the always on battery feed to the switched power feed so I could use the radio when parked. Had to fit a double pole switch to break the switched feed, if you didn't do this the battery feed back fed power and the dash lights came on

CaptainZok · « **Reply #27 on:** 03 December 2006, 20:21:57 »

I remember doing similar with the radio and cb on an old Scania 82 I used to drive. Could switch live feed on and off at will to act as a muting switch when the phone rang.

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Author Topic: Auxiliary power socket (cig lighter) (Read 4590 times)