"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. I bought one and think it is...well I'll say ok. It says 10
amps if I recall & If you believe it. It looked better than anything else I
saw and I thought would be ok for moderate loads up to, oh, I don't know 6-8
amps is my guess.

Also note that the newest "power connectors" that look like cig-lighter
recepticles have a rating posted right there. I don't remember what my van
says. I think (but don't hold me to it) mine says 180 watts total for both
of them (One in rear too) -- about 12 amps.

The real cig lighter can't supply much and I have had one go south with a 25
W mobile. It was dropping quite a bit of voltage causing a low rumble on
the FM TX so that it confused the repeater CTSS decoder. Took a while to
figure out--it "reparied" itself interestingly enough with no intervention
from me. I since went to the battery and more powerful rig.

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

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

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.

"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

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