Permanent Power to Cigarette Lighter

[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

I have done some searching around and it seems this can be done but can't find a good, quick answer.

I have a need to have the cigarette lighter so that it is always receiving and supplying power including when the key is out and ignition is off.

Is there an easy way to provide a constant feed to it - nearby wire to link in to etc?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

TMW

[madbasshunter]

Go from the permanent live to the stereo maybe as it is next to it
I have put one in the passenger footwell direct to the battery for the solar charger and also have a charger plug there for the battery charger.

[tmwsccsh]

Perfect - I was hoping something like that would be the answer.

Interesting you mention the Solar Charger - that's exactly what I want it for.

Thanks for the response.

TMW

[tmwsccsh]

Hi,

Sorry, forgot to ask, what solar charger are you using?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Tim Watts

[madbasshunter]

I used to use the £20 maplins charger but recently changed to this sort
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-4-5W-Sola ... SwZVlXvsWk

Which instead of lying on the dash fits on the sun visor

https://www.dropbox.com/s/llotquclajmb8 ... 4.jpg?dl=0

Even with a top tint (genuine screen with aerials) it still charges well, 3 times the power of the maplin one

I went directly to the battery well via a fuse (as I added a little fusebox in footwell) because the stock loom saps a bit of power with its cable size, splices and routing. For example with the engine running if I take a voltage reading at the car cigarette lighter its 14.3v but at my added lighter its 14.9v (can see 15.3v) and its also 14.9v at my amplifiers in the boot.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aadl2b4wl9n3v ... 8.jpg?dl=0

I have the larger alternator fitted and upgraded cabling so my charging is slightly higher than you will expect

[tmwsccsh]

Thanks for responding.

Interestingly, I looked at the Maplin one first then saw the very one you have chosen there on eBay and thought that was a better option.

But job one, cut the green wire and connect to the Orange on the cigarette lighter...

TMW

[tmwsccsh]

Hi all,

So as is usually the case with anything I do, it's never as simple as hoped...

First off, see below for the Cigarette Lighter connector - Grey and White cables, not Red and Black as I was hoping for...

Cigarette Lighter Connector

So question one, which one is the "live" on this so I can cut it to re-route to the stereo? My guess is the Grey one but don't want to commit to that!

Question two - which of the stereo wires is the "Permanent Live" that I need to link into to connect to the Cigarette Lighter? I have seen conflicting information on this - some say the Yellow (which I don't have but there is a Yellow with small Grey lines) and others say the Blue and Yellow - images below that hopefully show what I have...

Radio Connector Top Row

Radio Connector Bottom Row

The Yellow with small Grey lines is hopefully visible on the "Top" row and the Blue with Yellow I think is also there in the top-right.

Off to Halfords now to get a bit of Wire and a connector (got a joiner already - was hoping to just cut the cigarette lighter wire and pull it through but there's not much on it so I will need to cut and connect alas...).

Thanks in advance all.

Regards

TMW

[tmwsccsh]

Hi again,

Side note - just found this...

Wiring Diagram found on Net

That suggests that it should be the wire on Pin 3 I think which, as now suggests, is blue / orange. Although mine looks more black / grey???

TMW

PS Yes, that is Windows XP you can see in the shot - absolutely flies on modern laptops

[notroubleclubber]

NEVER DO ANY ELECTRICAL WORK WITHOUT A MULTIMETER!!!!

For the sake of a few quid it could mean the difference between your car going up in smoke or fuses blowing.

[tmwsccsh]

Hi,

Don't worry I have one.

Concern I have is I seem to be finding contradictory information so am looking for someone with experience of doing similar to confirm / deny what I am finding and seeing.

Regards

TMW

[qwakers]

set it to volts earth the negative probe (door latch post is a good place) and poke at pins til you get 12v. you'll need the ignition on to find the one on the cig lighter plug.

[madbasshunter]

White and black is the earth wire, now I would forget using the stereo wiring as it uses such a long torturous route through the amplifiers etc.
If you look in the passenger footwell under the carpet there is a small black box with white wires going into and out of it, if you open it you will see its two sets of wires bolted together. This is the loom from back of car and alternator joining the battery wires. So I would run a wire from this using a 6mm round terminal on one of the bolts and run the other end to a lucar connector to go on the cigarette lighter socket (with a fuse in line easy way is two lucar connectors with a blade fuse plugged into each) sorry I can't put pictures up from my phone to give more help.

[dawesy]

Grey wire on the radio is on the same circuit as the cigarette lighter (spliced into it downstream to be fair)
If modding to be live all the time I'd fit a diode so the current can only go to the battery and not from it. That will prevent the battery discharging if a load is accidentally left in.


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[StoneyMR2]

A bit late to this party but but can you confirm that the grey wire is the positive (+)?!?!