RadioBanter - View Single Post - Using car accessory ports to power radios?

October 2nd 03, 04:55 PM

On 02 Oct 2003 12:43:01 GMT, pamme (VHFRadioBuff)
wrote:

Many lighter plugs available on the
market, may be adequate for five amperes, but not much more. I recall
melting
insulation on the wire to a lighter plug on a car I used to have, and the
fuse
never blew. The rig I was using only ran 25 watts output, but it had a
problem!

But again, I am not asking about the CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG. I am asking about
the ACCESSORY port in the car, which is supposed to be used to power
"accessories", like inverters, computers, etc. I originally asked for anyone
with actual experience with using 50w FM radios and the accessory port, but I
guess I am the only ham in the world that reads this newsgroup that has wanted
to try this.

If anyone has any factual information for me, preferably actual experience,
please let me know!

The 2000 MY Saab 9.5 that I drive has a cigarette lighter and a rear
seat cigarette lighter. Since mine did not have the optional ashtrays
in it (interesting concept), it came with dummy plugs in place of the
lighter.

Total drain is limited to 240 watts for both plugs per the manual.

Your owners manual ought to tell you the limits for your car, if not,
then a good dealer should be able to. Worst case is prospecting the
fuse box to see what the fuses are. Most likely, it's paralleled with
the cigarette lighter socket.

I will have the HT powered and bypassing the cigarette lighter, but
the rear one will be running a little portable peltier junction
fridge, which takes a few amps.

Your only problem with the cigarette lighter may be that you pick up
more alternator whine than you'd like. That is one reason why people
suggest wiring directly across the battery, it serves as a big
capacitor.

Harvey

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com