I have a 2002 Taurus, and there is a popout cover on the accessory jack
that says "12V 10AMP." I couldn't find an exact reference to the amperage
of the fuse for this circuit, though there was a 40 amp fuse protecting the
power seat, adjustable pedals and "accessory". The lighter fuse is 20
amps.

I notice that on a lot of power supplies that have a lighter jack, the jack
is only rated for 10 amps and the manuals say that they should be used for
"accessories." The manufacturers recommend using the binding posts for
transceivers.

If you do try this, let us know how it works out since this was my plan as
well. The Yaesu FT-1500M allegedly draws 8 amps at 50 watt output.


pamme (VHFRadioBuff) wrote in
:

Hello all. My car has a seperate "accessory" port from the standard
cigarette lighter. My understanding is that this port is actually rated
for more amps than the cigarette lighter and might actually be ok to
power my 50 watt 2m mobile if I were to add a cigarette lighter plug to
the end of it.

Can anyone comment on this? Any experience using these accessory ports
to power 50 watt radios? The car in question is a 2000 Mercury Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

On 30 Sep 2003 13:15:38 GMT, pamme (VHFRadioBuff)
wrote:

Hello all. My car has a seperate "accessory" port from the standard cigarette
lighter. My understanding is that this port is actually rated for more amps
than the cigarette lighter and might actually be ok to power my 50 watt 2m
mobile if I were to add a cigarette lighter plug to the end of it.

Can anyone comment on this? Any experience using these accessory ports to power
50 watt radios? The car in question is a 2000 Mercury Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

Thanks for the reply! Finally one with information instead of speculation!

I'll consider what you've told me, although I am now thinking I might just go
ahead and wire it directly to the battery, like I have it in my other car right
now.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

Thanks for the reply! Finally one with information instead of speculation!

I'll consider what you've told me, although I am now thinking I might just go
ahead and wire it directly to the battery, like I have it in my other car right
now.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

On 30 Sep 2003 13:15:38 GMT, pamme (VHFRadioBuff)
wrote:

Hello all. My car has a seperate "accessory" port from the standard cigarette
lighter. My understanding is that this port is actually rated for more amps
than the cigarette lighter and might actually be ok to power my 50 watt 2m
mobile if I were to add a cigarette lighter plug to the end of it.

Can anyone comment on this? Any experience using these accessory ports to power
50 watt radios? The car in question is a 2000 Mercury Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Like I had said in an earlier post Andy, there are usually rubber grommets
on the firewall of most cars and trucks that yo could feed the wiring
through, which removes the need for drilling. Good luck

No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that, which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that,
which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Typical Andy, know nothing, and doesnt want to learn.
Got a question, you have your Ham Call, your GMS Call, but I dont see your CB
Call or HANDLE listed, whats the problem Andy?

No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that,
which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Typical Andy, know nothing, and doesnt want to learn.
Got a question, you have your Ham Call, your GMS Call, but I dont see your CB
Call or HANDLE listed, whats the problem Andy?

It's not a big deal to run wiring through the firewall like that, and when
you sell, lease-return or whatever, it's a simple matter of either pulling
the wiring out, or just merely clipping the wire on both sides of the
firewall. Chances are the next person wouldn't even have a clue that ya did
that.

As far as the accessory port, why not just call the damned dealership to
find out what the rating is if it is not listed in the owners manual or
other places. It's not that hard to do that, nor is it hard to look up the
current draw rating for whatever rig you are using and compare those two
numbers.


--
Ryan, KC8PMX
"Symbolism is for the simple minded....."


"VHFRadioBuff" wrote in message
...
Like I had said in an earlier post Andy, there are usually rubber
grommets
on the firewall of most cars and trucks that yo could feed the wiring
through, which removes the need for drilling. Good luck

No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my
radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that,
which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not
if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input
though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 00:46:56 -0400, "Ryan, KC8PMX"
wrote:

It's not a big deal to run wiring through the firewall like that, and when
you sell, lease-return or whatever, it's a simple matter of either pulling
the wiring out, or just merely clipping the wire on both sides of the
firewall. Chances are the next person wouldn't even have a clue that ya did
that.

As far as the accessory port, why not just call the damned dealership to
find out what the rating is if it is not listed in the owners manual or
other places. It's not that hard to do that, nor is it hard to look up the
current draw rating for whatever rig you are using and compare those two
numbers.

The best source for those ratings would be the manufacturer, via the
dealer or the owner's manual. I am certain that there is a wide range
from one manufacturer to another.

As said, a "temporary" wiring job might be simplest.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom