If it is indeed an accesory port as opposed to the actual dash cigarette
lighter socket, possibly checking the actual wiring to the socket might give
an idea as to the capabilities. Also, contacting the manufacturer of said
vehicle could also help.

In general, the concept of the cigarette lighter plug is not a bad idea,
PROVIDED that the wiring from the device requiring power and the wiring to
the socket itself is more than adequate. For 12v related applications, it
is too bad that this is not utlized more. Again, for those who want to
read differently into this, I am saying the concept is a good idea, but
current manufacture of such sockets are less than to be desired.

My next truck, I am going to wire quite a few of them in there, with
adequate wiring, at least for the stuff requiring 15amps or less, with the
source for those sockets coming from the battery direct.



--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...
"VHFRadioBuff" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the replies. I'm really trying avoid hooking the radio up to
the
battery. I've got it hooked up to the battery in my other car right now,
but
will be switching over to the Sable soon. I'll have to check the owner's
manual
to see if it says what the amp rating is for the Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Why not wire in a bank of PowerPoles instead. Much neater and smaller
installation. I use PowerPoles on everything now.

Dick - W6CCD

On Wed, 1 Oct 2003 00:09:36 -0400, "Ryan, KC8PMX"
wrote:


My next truck, I am going to wire quite a few of them in there, with
adequate wiring, at least for the stuff requiring 15amps or less, with the
source for those sockets coming from the battery direct.

Why not wire in a bank of PowerPoles instead. Much neater and smaller
installation. I use PowerPoles on everything now.

Dick - W6CCD

Because my car has an accessory port and I am not about to go "hamifying" my
car, short of a dualband antenna and a radio with a remote mount head.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Why not wire in a bank of PowerPoles instead. Much neater and smaller
installation. I use PowerPoles on everything now.

Dick - W6CCD

Because my car has an accessory port and I am not about to go "hamifying" my
car, short of a dualband antenna and a radio with a remote mount head.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Why not wire in a bank of PowerPoles instead. Much neater and smaller
installation. I use PowerPoles on everything now.

Dick - W6CCD

On Wed, 1 Oct 2003 00:09:36 -0400, "Ryan, KC8PMX"
wrote:


My next truck, I am going to wire quite a few of them in there, with
adequate wiring, at least for the stuff requiring 15amps or less, with the
source for those sockets coming from the battery direct.

In general, the concept of the cigarette lighter plug is not a bad idea,
PROVIDED that the wiring from the device requiring power and the wiring to
the socket itself is more than adequate. For 12v related applications, it
is too bad that this is not utlized more. Again, for those who want to
read differently into this, I am saying the concept is a good idea, but
current manufacture of such sockets are less than to be desired.

Ryan-

I agree and disagree. I think it IS a bad idea. As you say, current
manufacture of such sockets is such that it makes a poor connector for the
currents involved.

While you may install sockets to meet your specifications, those installed by
auto manufacturers often are limited by a ten ampere fuse, which means they
were designed for a five ampere load. 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!

I agree with the suggestion of Dick - W6CCD. I don't know if the Andersen
Power Pole connectors are a perfect solution, but they are the best, most
readily available mobile power connector I've come across. To test them out, I
recently switched over to West Mountain Radio's smaller "Rig Runner" outlet box
for mobile operation. They certainly are capable of greater current than a
common lighter plug and socket combination. Of course you can bypass the Rig
Runner if you only have one radio to connect. The genderless feature is one of
the things I like about the Power Poles.

After using the Power Poles for a few months, the only drawbacks I've found are
a difficulty in crimping ten guage wire, and the "roll pins" that some
recommend to keep the connector pair from sliding apart, keep falling out. Per
West Mountain's suggestion, I'm now using Super Glue to keep them from sliding
apart, but I'm still looking for a good hand-operated open-terminal crimp tool
for the ten guage connectors.

73, Fred, K4DII

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

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

"Fred McKenzie" wrote in message
...
In general, the concept of the cigarette lighter plug is not a bad
idea,
PROVIDED that the wiring from the device requiring power and the wiring to
the socket itself is more than adequate. For 12v related applications, it
is too bad that this is not utlized more. Again, for those who want to
read differently into this, I am saying the concept is a good idea, but
current manufacture of such sockets are less than to be desired.

Ryan-

I agree and disagree. I think it IS a bad idea. As you say, current
manufacture of such sockets is such that it makes a poor connector for the
currents involved.


And read the last line of the quote of me..... The CONCEPT is good, but
current manufacturing of them is less that to be desired. Looking a select
design faults of such sockets, wiring etc, and "vamping up" those would
create a nice way to get power.


While you may install sockets to meet your specifications, those installed
by
auto manufacturers often are limited by a ten ampere fuse, which means
they
were designed for a five ampere load. 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!

And thats why I wouldn't run more that it is rated for, for the factory
ones. Running low current draw devices is not a problem with those factory
designed ones, unless they are specifically designed to run a higher draw.


I agree with the suggestion of Dick - W6CCD. I don't know if the Andersen
Power Pole connectors are a perfect solution, but they are the best, most
readily available mobile power connector I've come across. To test them
out, I
recently switched over to West Mountain Radio's smaller "Rig Runner"
outlet box
for mobile operation. They certainly are capable of greater current than
a
common lighter plug and socket combination. Of course you can bypass the
Rig
Runner if you only have one radio to connect. The genderless feature is
one of
the things I like about the Power Poles.


I haven't seen those but will search later on and see. I have seeen some
type of connector device, but it looked like one of those strips used in
larger phone network interfaces, or at least something like it. If this
powerpole thingy is anything close to that.... I do not want it.



--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...



After using the Power Poles for a few months, the only drawbacks I've
found are
a difficulty in crimping ten guage wire, and the "roll pins" that some
recommend to keep the connector pair from sliding apart, keep falling out.
Per
West Mountain's suggestion, I'm now using Super Glue to keep them from
sliding
apart, but I'm still looking for a good hand-operated open-terminal crimp
tool
for the ten guage connectors.

73, Fred, K4DII

"Fred McKenzie" wrote in message
...
In general, the concept of the cigarette lighter plug is not a bad
idea,
PROVIDED that the wiring from the device requiring power and the wiring to
the socket itself is more than adequate. For 12v related applications, it
is too bad that this is not utlized more. Again, for those who want to
read differently into this, I am saying the concept is a good idea, but
current manufacture of such sockets are less than to be desired.

Ryan-

I agree and disagree. I think it IS a bad idea. As you say, current
manufacture of such sockets is such that it makes a poor connector for the
currents involved.


And read the last line of the quote of me..... The CONCEPT is good, but
current manufacturing of them is less that to be desired. Looking a select
design faults of such sockets, wiring etc, and "vamping up" those would
create a nice way to get power.


While you may install sockets to meet your specifications, those installed
by
auto manufacturers often are limited by a ten ampere fuse, which means
they
were designed for a five ampere load. 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!

And thats why I wouldn't run more that it is rated for, for the factory
ones. Running low current draw devices is not a problem with those factory
designed ones, unless they are specifically designed to run a higher draw.


I agree with the suggestion of Dick - W6CCD. I don't know if the Andersen
Power Pole connectors are a perfect solution, but they are the best, most
readily available mobile power connector I've come across. To test them
out, I
recently switched over to West Mountain Radio's smaller "Rig Runner"
outlet box
for mobile operation. They certainly are capable of greater current than
a
common lighter plug and socket combination. Of course you can bypass the
Rig
Runner if you only have one radio to connect. The genderless feature is
one of
the things I like about the Power Poles.


I haven't seen those but will search later on and see. I have seeen some
type of connector device, but it looked like one of those strips used in
larger phone network interfaces, or at least something like it. If this
powerpole thingy is anything close to that.... I do not want it.



--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...



After using the Power Poles for a few months, the only drawbacks I've
found are
a difficulty in crimping ten guage wire, and the "roll pins" that some
recommend to keep the connector pair from sliding apart, keep falling out.
Per
West Mountain's suggestion, I'm now using Super Glue to keep them from
sliding
apart, but I'm still looking for a good hand-operated open-terminal crimp
tool
for the ten guage connectors.

73, Fred, K4DII