Cigarette Lighter Socket Ideas?

[HotFourOk]

hey guys,

I want to put a cigarette lighter socket in the rear of my Daihatsu Rocky. I am going to run it from the battery so I can have power even when accessories isnt on.

What is the best thing to buy for this?? I have seen the replacement sockets.. but mounting it wouldn't be all the best coz there is no surround.. only the bare socket.

What have you guys done for this? Can you buy a socket with a surround so it's tidy and easy to install? From another car maybe?

Thanks, Nick

[jessie928]

you need a surface mount socket, you get them at repco or autobahn, maybe auto elecs have them aswell

Jes

[phippsy]

I put one in the back of the hilux for a fridge, but I got one that was just a male to female socket, cut off the male end and wired it to the battery with a fuse and a seperate switch. It's not mounted to anything, just limited by the length of wire.

[plowy]

there is a marine plug that screw's the plug connectors together ,it saves the cigerate plug vibrating/shaken loose

[HotFourOk]

you need a surface mount socket, you get them at repco or autobahn, maybe auto elecs have them aswell

Jes

That sounds exactly like what I'm after.. mite go for a look cheers

I also thought of that phippsy... just use one of the extension plugs and cut one end off... could be the way to go if i cant get what i'm after.

The car has already got some kind of plug in the back.. i dunno what kind.. might go have a look and find out.

[plowy]

make sure u fit a fuse to this set up too best fitted close to the battery as well

[Mud_5lut]

i have seen in super sheap,autobarm ect, you can buy the 3 way sockets. they are all enclosed in a plastic box which is roughly like 25x25mm rhs steel but with 3xcigarette plugs in them. i am mounting them just behind the cab for when out spotlighting and shooting you can run more hand held spotlights, definately run a fuse though good luck.

[HotFourOk]

Yeah i got a fuse block in the engine bay that all my accessories run through...

Even the 3 way ones you said might be the go Mud_5lut.. in case i need more down the track

[Slayer]

i have seen in super sheap,autobarm ect, you can buy the 3 way sockets. they are all enclosed in a plastic box which is roughly like 25x25mm rhs steel but with 3xcigarette plugs in them. i am mounting them just behind the cab for when out spotlighting and shooting you can run more hand held spotlights, definately run a fuse though good luck.

gee that sounds like bad news... cig lighters and shooting spotlights just dont mix... most of the cheap sockets have a 4 or 5 amp max rating... they get very hot a melt the arse outa the plugs, spotlights are best kept to clamps straight onto the battery, u will also get a much brighter light this way....

best plug i have found is the hella style one.. pay a little more for them, but for high current accesories they are odds on... u can get them at supercheap under the lumen?? and also the nightvision brand.. avalible in male and female versions...
i also chose one of these cause the waeco fridge plug is designed for one...

[Patroler]

another good plug for high current is the 'anderson' plug they are grey and come in a variety of sizes right upto huge ones for forklifts, wouldn't be suprised if they come on some fridges, mate has one for plugging his van into his fourby for power.

[BundyRumandCoke]

HotFour, the plug in the back of yours already, is it like a normal bare socket, but with only 2 pins, one horizontal, and one vertical below it? This is a 2 pin polarised plug. Good for 15 amps. Excellent for 12 V applications. I use them for almost everything, and have an adaptor made up for any ciggy plug things I have, like chargers, ect.
I have also used the small Anderson Plugs for power to a camper. They are good as well, except the + terminal can grow a bit of corrosion if not looked after.
Both these plugs should be available at a good electrical suppliers place like Auslec, or Ideal Electrical.

[grazza]

I just rigged up more power for the back of mine, inlcuded the standard cigarette socket, the mini-ciggy socket and a secure one for the fridge.

I just bought a Waeco 40AC and it comes with a ciggy plug which may fall out on rough and corrugated tracks, no fun having all your food defrosting and beers warming up.

I chopped it off and looked for a replacement. The Engels have an "ASPAN" connector which is very good and very expensive ($45 from ARB) I looked at the marine plug/sockets and found that the socket is not flush.

Found a great alternative, a Dick Smith Microphone plug and socket, which are keyed, $2.45 ea

[Charlie]

another good plug for high current is the 'anderson' plug they are grey and come in a variety of sizes right upto huge ones for forklifts, wouldn't be suprised if they come on some fridges, mate has one for plugging his van into his fourby for power.

50 amps are $50 with plaster cover for when not on use,you should get the same on Ebay for less than $20.Well worth the money.
Charlie

[V8 Middy]

Is there some sort of stardard that accessories from 4wd shops use? The "T" plugs look good but can you still buy them?

I'm about to do the same in my truck and figured it would be good to put 1 ciggie lighter socket cos so many things use them, then put a second socket capable of higher current. There is still the dilemma f which one to use.

Also, I'd reccommend using a very high amp (eg 50A) fuse as close to the battery as possible (in case of short circuit) Then run 8ga cable to the back of the vehicle. Then use smaller (say 10 - 15A) fuses for each plug. That way you could run a fridge and a spotlight and maybe something else safely without any voltage drop.

[BeZeRK]

i dont know the name of it but there is a beter plug to use that we used to install in the 4x4 workshop i worked at.

the male and female end get replaced and its a slightly smaller plug..

it is also used on the waeco batteries next to the normal cig plug..

these can handle more amps.

Use 6mm wire and a 25a circuit breaker. near the battery

[shorty_f0rty]

ive got a waeco cigie lighter extender thingo and just used a rubber doorstop to enclose the ciggy lighter.

to mount it i got an angle bracket and some hose clamps and attached it to the roll bar down near the seatbelt winder.

its good cos you can cap it when not in use.

[Goatse.AJ]

Go to an electrical wholesaler and get some ELV or "T" plugs. Similar to a 240 plug but only 2 pins in a T config. Easy to remember polarity, top of the T is negative, vertical is positive. I've used them for years for my comms gear, fridge, lighting, etc.

They're cheap and easy to connect and mount. I have run more then 20amps through them for extended periods and they NEVER even got warm. I've made up a "powerboard" with a zippy box from tricky dicky with 3 plugs on it so I can run multiple pieces of equipment and if you want, you can even wire up an ammeter....works fantastic. YOU CAN ALSO RUN MUCH LARGER DIAMETER WIRING TO MINIMISE VOLTAGE DROP.

Don't even THINK about ciggie lighter sockets, they just don't handle enough current. 5 amps for an extended time will melt 'em....= fire hazard, particularly in the rear where you can't see it, AND it won't blow your fuses.

[Slayer]

I just rigged up more power for the back of mine, inlcuded the standard cigarette socket, the mini-ciggy socket and a secure one for the fridge.

I just bought a Waeco 40AC and it comes with a ciggy plug which may fall out on rough and corrugated tracks, no fun having all your food defrosting and beers warming up.

I chopped it off and looked for a replacement. The Engels have an "ASPAN" connector which is very good and very expensive ($45 from ARB) I looked at the marine plug/sockets and found that the socket is not flush.

Found a great alternative, a Dick Smith Microphone plug and socket, which are keyed, $2.45 ea

if u take the red bit off a waeco plug it is designed to fit into the hella style socket.. much more secure...

[HotFourOk]

I'm pretty sure the socket I have is the 2nd one in on this pic.. the Hella type socket.
What plugs fit into this.. Eg Waeco etc... and where do I go about getting some male ones to fit in it??

[grazza]

Supercheap, autobarn, repco, etc, have the hella plugs.
I still reckon they will fall out. Just put the plug in the socket and see what I mean. I would not recommend my Dick Smith solution for spotties, but fridges would be fine. Rated to 50amps.

If you are going to the effort then run the biggest cable you can to the battery then run multiple types of sockets in the back.

[viperguy]

i use the hella type plug to connect my 12inch powabeam handheld spotlight i use for hunting. have so for about 10 yrs, and my dad has in his patrol for about 15. never ever had a problem. 6mm wire straight to battery with a fuse. i even upgraded my globe to 150 watts from the standard 100. the hella plugs work perfect. never fall out, never get hot, wiring dont melt etc etc...

[blkmav]

This is what I have, separate wires from the battery to each socket and 30 amp fuses

[HotFourOk]

Thanks for all the input guys.. didnt think I'd get this many replies

Since I dont have a big waeco or anything.. I'm gonna keep the Hella plug and also add a normal cigarette lighter socket also. I will run two 6mm wires from the battery through a fuse block then to the sockets and she'll be apples

Cheers