The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Cigarette lighter blowing fuse

I just installed a cigarette lighter & it's shorting out & blowing the 20 amp fuse. I hook power to the center post & attach ground to the stud on the outer case.It looks so simple.... What am I doing wrong?

I figured it out. The lighter was grounding out internally. Took it apart & reassembled & it works fine.

On a related issue, though, I don't plan to use the lighter but will hook up a GPS or charge my phone. 20 amps seems high for those purposes. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

I have mine fused at 10 amps and it works fine for the electronic stuff (we don't smoke so we don't need to use the lighter). The fuse is there to protect the wiring only, not the devices...

Mike B

Cigg lighters in modern cars use 30 Amps, although 10/15 should be enough for most things if you won't use a lighter.

All devices working with a cigaret lighter socket have a small tube fuse directly connected to the spring loaded pin that makes contact with the positive side of the cigarette lighter.

Might be good to know in case one of your devices stop working but the fuse in your truck/car is intact!

Check out an owners manual from a modern vehicle with a power point and see what size the fuse is.
If I were you I would make sure the "lighter" I used was just a false front for looks..... and disarm it so it could not possibly fire up.

Your fuse is there to protect the truck wiring...what size wire did you run to the lighter?

Mike B

Thanks for the comments. I'm using 14 gauge wire to the lighter. Good idea to "disarm" the lighter as I don't plan to use it. I'm not quite sure how to do that but I'll check it out.

a booted connector at the lighter with help prevent direct short.

...example...

My lighter stopped working today, I don't know why. There is power so i can charge my phone and use other devices, but the lighter won't work. Its just an ordinary aftermarket "hotrod style" lighter. But it doesn't get warm at all. Any tips of how to fix them?

Look at the element. That coil at the working end of the lighter. Is it broken? Is the center still sticking out? The most common reason for the lighter to quit is it is open. The element can be replaced. It will unscrew from the knob. new ones are easy to get from FLAPS and vendors. Crud at the bottom of the socket can also keep it from getting a good connection. Real simple thing and not too hard to work on. If the coil is broken it will have to be replaced.

Thanks Steve, will take a look today!