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Have you tried Digi-Key, Mouser, Newark, etc.?
Have you tried looking for an internet Truckstop? Surely someone, somewhere has such a beast? Finally, it never hurts to _call_ these places. Some will just brush you off, but some may be willing to tell you about what they have, and keep you from crawling all over the US interstate system looking for the right part. Let us know what you find -- I'd like to know where to get these things, too. ---------------------------------- Tim Wescott, KG7LI "Brian Kelly" wrote in message m... Keith Hosman wrote in message . .. On 10 Jan 2004 15:48:18 -0800, (Brian Kelly) wrote: I have a borrowed example of a plug . . . (A) Does anyone out there know where one can buy these? (B) Or have a source for a similar alternative plug? (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette lighter receptacles supply before they become toast? What are the standards/limits? Versus having to punch #8 wire thru the firewall and do it right? TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV Try a I know it will sound strange, but try a truckstop. Semi's have all sorts of accessories that plug into cig lighter or accy. plugs, so truckstops usually carry a good adapter and other items along that line. Not strange at all Keith. I borrowed the nice plug I described above from an over-the-road trucker & ham buddy who picked it up at some truck stop mobile electronics boutique. These guys really put their lighter receptacles to work and they can't afford to mess around with junk. But he drives 4,000 miles/week and at this point he has no idea where he got it so I'm sort of stuck unless I go Interstate crawling. Back to Google . . they gotta be out there. Heh. 73 de Keith Brian w3rv |
Bob Miller wrote in message . ..
On 10 Jan 2004 15:48:18 -0800, (Brian Kelly) wrote: (A) Does anyone out there know where one can buy these? (B) Or have a source for a similar alternative plug? (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette lighter receptacles supply before they become toast? What are the standards/limits? Versus having to punch #8 wire thru the firewall and do it right? TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV There's no single standard for all vehicles. Your vehicle owner's manual should tell you how many amps your particular cigarette lighter circuit will safely provide, and an extra robust plug may exceed the capapabilities of that circuit, or exceed the specs on the fuses for that circuit. The fuse specs should be in the owner's manual, too, or you should be able to track the fuses down yourself. Most firewalls have one or more unused holes -- it's just a matter of finding the grommit, and pulling it out. I checked my own car last week and the circuit is fused for 15 amps. I was just wondering if 15 amps is some sort of "standard". I've done #8 zip cord thru firewalls installations but that's not a consideration in this instance. I want to be able to occasionally move my equipment from vehicle to vehicle without having to run a power cable all the way to the battery. It's apparently done all the time with a ten amp plug. Back to square one . . Bob k5qwg Brian w3rv |
Steve Nosko wrote:
: "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA |
Steve Nosko wrote:
: "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA |
"Richard G Amirault" wrote in message
... Steve Nosko wrote: : "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA I can't see why it should (the spring pass all the current), but even if it does, can you not insulate either or both end of the spring so that it won't conduct? Ken |
"Richard G Amirault" wrote in message
... Steve Nosko wrote: : "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA I can't see why it should (the spring pass all the current), but even if it does, can you not insulate either or both end of the spring so that it won't conduct? Ken |
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:23:33 +1300, "Ken Taylor"
wrote: "Richard G Amirault" wrote in message ... Steve Nosko wrote: : "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA I can't see why it should (the spring pass all the current), but even if it does, can you not insulate either or both end of the spring so that it won't conduct? The spring is part of a serial path -- tip spring fuse wire. ----| ////// [[[[[[[[ ----------------- Insulating the spring would leave you with an open path, just like cutting the wire. Frankly I doubt the spring-weakening idea. Some lighter adapters are just poorly made. I've had some fail to make decent contact when brand new. I've often had to twist the adapter around until it made good contact. I also bought a 110V to 12V (lighter scket) adapter and had the same problem as in the car. I originally got it to avoid battery failure problems while uploading firmware to my GPS unit. It still required a little twisting to make good contact. Same when I later used it in my office to charge a cellphone. I have no idea what exactly makes this kind of connector unreliable, but I've never yet found one that didn't cut out intermittently. |
On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 14:23:33 +1300, "Ken Taylor"
wrote: "Richard G Amirault" wrote in message ... Steve Nosko wrote: : "Brian Kelly" wrote in message : om... : Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust) : general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? [..snip..] : : (c) Ignoring the fuse ratings how many amps can auotomotive cigarette : TNX a bunch, Brian W3RV : Brian, : Did you see the one at Radio Shack which looks very much like the one you : describe? The binding posts are not full size, but the construction is : above average. (snip) I have one of the Radio Shack binding post plugs as well. It's in one of my 'go kits' for emergency use. Frankly, I think you'll also have to worry about the quality of the cigarette lighter *plug* as well as the output capacity of the jack. As you mentioned, the tip of these things is spring loaded. When you run a LOT of amps thru it (the spring) it eventually looses its 'spring' and the plug becomes unworkable. Remember all the current passes thru the spring (almost like a fuse) no matter how heavy the actual connecting wire is. Richard in Boston, MA, USA I can't see why it should (the spring pass all the current), but even if it does, can you not insulate either or both end of the spring so that it won't conduct? The spring is part of a serial path -- tip spring fuse wire. ----| ////// [[[[[[[[ ----------------- Insulating the spring would leave you with an open path, just like cutting the wire. Frankly I doubt the spring-weakening idea. Some lighter adapters are just poorly made. I've had some fail to make decent contact when brand new. I've often had to twist the adapter around until it made good contact. I also bought a 110V to 12V (lighter scket) adapter and had the same problem as in the car. I originally got it to avoid battery failure problems while uploading firmware to my GPS unit. It still required a little twisting to make good contact. Same when I later used it in my office to charge a cellphone. I have no idea what exactly makes this kind of connector unreliable, but I've never yet found one that didn't cut out intermittently. |
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