Car lighter socket

[andygill]

Hi

Can I fit any lighter socket to my traveller ?

There are two on ebay one at 99p and the other £3.98 is there any difference between the two (apart from price !!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-lighter-socke ... 20ad7711b1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Classic-Car-C ... 414a34c20f

Also can anyone recommend the best way of attaching it to the dash (without cutting a hole).

Thanks
Andy

[LouiseM]

This thread might be helpful: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... te+lighter

[Sidney'61]

They are very easy to fit providing the car is negative earth already. For mine I bought a standard socket multiplier like this

then just chopped the end connecter off and joined the wires to the wiring loom and earthered to the dash. That way i have 3 sockets fitted for the same price and ease of fitting one.

Mine is just attached under the dash with sticky fixers.

[katy]

How many cigarettes are you lighting at once?

[RobMoore]

Both the sockets you mention are different
the 1st one is just an empty socket that you can plug anything into
the 2nd one is a socket and lighter made using heatproof ceramic and having the lighter part auto pop once hot hence the difference in price.
the decision therefore will be what you intend to use the socket for

[MarkyB]

Try and find one like Sidneys.
It saves drilling a hole or having to find a large enough bracket.
Mine is similar but with only 2 sockets and no USB it even has places to attach it with screws.
I sent the first one back as it wasn't the one the seller had pictured, he said people preferred the type with no fixings!

[mike.perry]

My Traveller has a double socket under the glove box held on with sticky pads and my MM has a socket hidden out of sight in the panel under the instruments behind the steering column.

[andygill]

Got the exact same one as Sidneys.

Now to fit it !!!!

[M25VAN]

There is also the 'Hella type' DIN sockets. The plugs click into the socket for a more seucre connection. I always seem to manage to pull out the cigarette type by mistake.

[andygill]

They are very easy to fit providing the car is negative earth already. For mine I bought a standard socket multiplier like this

then just chopped the end connecter off and joined the wires to the wiring loom and earthered to the dash. That way i have 3 sockets fitted for the same price and ease of fitting one.

Mine is just attached under the dash with sticky fixers.

I've bought the exact same. How do you know which wire is with ?

Cheers
Andy

[PSL184]

Depends if your car is neg or pos earth, however, I assume neg earth or else you will blow anything up you connect to the socket.... So, the wire that goes to the centre tip (plunger bit) is the positive and the wire that goes to the outer clip is the negative.

[andygill]

Car is negative earth but when I have done that it has shorted everything else, ie the wipers, indicator, petrol gague don't work.

[PSL184]

You must have a direct contact between the pos supply and earth. Check your connections carefully and use a continuity checker if unsure. Electrics can be dangerous, if you are not sure what you are doing get a professional to fit it.....

[rob.hardy1]

I too was very much against putting holes in the dashboard but found the the area on the underneath of the dash at the very end on the rhs is just big enough for a cigarette lighter, it faces downward and is out of sight.

[polo2k]

I too was very much against putting holes in the dashboard but found the the area on the underneath of the dash at the very end on the rhs is just big enough for a cigarette lighter, it faces downward and is out of sight.

Exactly the same here.
Drivers side under the dash pointing downwards.
I also have a hidden switch for the electric washers under there.

The only thing to consider with mounting the lighter like this is: if you have an exergetic lighter (i.e. highly sprung) then when it pops out it can fire its self at the floor. Cant it Rob ;)

[andygill]

You must have a direct contact between the pos supply and earth. Check your connections carefully and use a continuity checker if unsure. Electrics can be dangerous, if you are not sure what you are doing get a professional to fit it.....

Any idea where I can get a continuity checker from ? Most places i've searched don't seem to have them.

Thanks

[andygill]

You must have a direct contact between the pos supply and earth. Check your connections carefully and use a continuity checker if unsure. Electrics can be dangerous, if you are not sure what you are doing get a professional to fit it.....

Any idea where I can get a continuity checker from ? Most places i've searched don't seem to have them.

Thanks

Is one of these what I need ?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=7030
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/31906/Han ... d-3-x-70mm

or this which is a bit more expensive http://www.wickes.co.uk/Electrical-Safe ... nvt/204914

[PSL184]

Most multimeters have a setting for continuity. You can even rig up a small 12volt bulb with 2 wires on if you get stuck. Earth the side of the bulb and connect to the tip of the bulb to probe around for any "live" circuits....

EDIT: Yes - that is a posh version of my bulb idea above

[andygill]

Is a mains tester the same thing as a continuity tester ?

Tesco have mains tester pens for £2.99

[alex_holden]

Is a mains tester the same thing as a continuity tester ?

No, mains testers test for the presence of mains voltage. I recommend getting a proper digital multimeter, ideally one with a buzzer on the continuity setting. I was amazed recently to find very basic digital multimeters for sale in a local pound shop (I bought one and it seems to work OK).