Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Decent Cigarette Lighter Plugs? WHERE??
Backgrounder: Where can one get a decent (i.e., robust)
general-purpose automotive cigarette lighter plug/tap? I have some equipment which draws some amps at 12VDC. I'd like to install them in my car on a temporary basis from time to time and use the cigarette lighter receptacle as the power source. 2M mobile xcvrs being typical, 10 amps for a 50 watter, etc. One has a radio or whatever and one has the specific power cable for the whatever. The problem (MY problem at least) comes at the far end of the power cable, the widget, the plug which connects the input end of the power cable to the volts and amps inside the cigarette lighter receptacle. I've been to Radio Slack, I've been to Pep Boys and I've been to HRO. The *CRAP* plugs RS and Pep sell for this purpose are giggle-level JUNK. No surprise there of course. As if I'll be able pull 10 amps thru the #26 wire they supply with their plugs . . the HRO guy told me to try a hamfest. "Thanks Bob but it's eight degrees F here, maybe I can find a warmer hamfest tomorrow". I have a borrowed example of a plug which should do the job in front of me right now. The front end is typical, a spring-loaded centered plunger for the plus side contact and two opposing leaf springs for the ground side contacts, internal AGC fuse. At the aft end there two nice big red/black screw-down terminal posts of the usual design which can accomodate up to #10 wire, maybe even #8. Nicely finished, quality piece. The only markings on it are a 5.9+mm patent number which has been dinged and can't be read. (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 |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
"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. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"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. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Using car accessory ports to power radios? | Equipment |