The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Wiring a lighter

I purchased one of these repo lighters
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I will only be using it to charge the phone.

Should I fuse protect the hot side?
Plan to grab power off the ignition terminal that's always hot

If a fuse is recommended, what size?

Thanks

Oh. Non smoker so I don't think I would ever charge the element

fuse it for the rating on your fone charger, chop off the element so the handle is just a plug for the hole, no smoking allowed

Bill

Thanks

Is there a special terminal for the back of the lighter?

The terminals I have on hand have to be bent back because of the deep well as you can see in the pic,

then I can't get my socket in to tightened..

I know this must be easy, Must be obvious I'm just not seeing it.

Thanks

yeah, poor design, can't think of any terminal that would work there - you could wind a couple turns on the end of the wire [bare], solder that well to make a fat loop and use a brass washer between that and the nut .... but I think I'd cut a piece of copper tube that fit snug on the post and nut it on so there's just enough thread left for a crimp terminal, star washer and another nut [all brass hardware] .... I'm from the creative school of electricians

Bill

Thanks for the ideas

I have some brass nuts in the garage, I used your suggestion and moved the mounting pont out
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...pic...

Nothing is ever just easy....is it



Thanks

Gus -

I used a standard insulated terminal and bent it as you describe. I always solder terminals. I don't remember how I tightened the hex nut to hold it in place. Probably with some needle nose pliers. I used an in-line fuse, so I could tighten the nut before I installed the lighter socket into the dash. Then connect the two parts of the inline fuse after the ligher is mounted. The in-line fuse protects the lighter and the heater fan. Power comes from the switched side of the ign switch.

> Lighter terminal

- Lonnie

Thanks

Looks like you have a little more room in your housing than this counterparts thing I bought. I tried that terminal first. It just was not going to happen.

Did you not have to hook up the ground lug?

I am thinking of using a fuse box/block from a 53 3100. It has two fuses. One for the directional signals and the other for the cigarette lighter.

I want the lighter electrical portal for either my cell phone or a gps unit (garman).

Gus -

The lighter was in the truck when I bought it 13 years ago. Don't know what kind. It's not original because there is no light bracket. Also, I believe that 6v lighters were a little larger diam than 12v. My truck has been converted to 12v. I just use it for my phone.

It does have the correct knob according to Jim Carter.
> Cigarette lighter knob

Don't know why I didn't hook up the ground lug while I was rewiring it. Works fine without it. Must be some bare spots on the dash where it attaches.

- Lonnie

Same here

Just want to charge the phone

Got it installed and tested. No such thing as a 10 minute job on these trucks.
Thanks all for the help.

My truck did have a lighter at one time. I remember it as a kid riding with my Dad.

He smoked and crushed a few cans. It was the early 70's ....fond memories

DAD550

The lighter base you have is a standard replacement for any car/truck.
You need the following connector which was made for this type hook up (threaded screw). It just pushes on and will not fall off. It is insulated and is the eaisest connector I have ever used.
It is AIRTEX Part # 1P1063
You can get it from O'Reilly Auto Parts
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search.oap?keyword=1p1063+[/color]
Rock auto parts also has it.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raf...partnum=1P1063&a=FR903-1P1063-856074
Check Ebay or just Google Airtex 1P1063

Harold

Thanks. That is good info.
That terminal on the back is a pain. They should sell the boot with it.

DAD550,
I forgot to mention in my previous post, I get most of my connectors from cars in the junk yard. Just be sure to cut the wire long enough to splice if you have too.
Harold

Dad;

You must not have read my post about my first electrical fire.

Absolutely use a fuse!! My cheap aftermarket lighter/power plug shorted out and smoked the power wire. I'll be installing a battery quick connect switch and fuse when I put another one in. I had to jump out and disconnect the battery when it went up in smoke.

I think the original lighter used a 20 amp fuse. For just a GPS and or phone a 5-7 amp should be good.

Thanks

Yes I did install it with a in line fuse. 10a
I also picked p a booted connector for the lighter, It was suggested above.

The charger worked well on my recent trip, charged the phone for an hour at a time. I did notice the charger was a slightly warm to the touch a the lighter.

I think it was a litte heat getting past the ceramic base.

I might look into a better quality lighter If there is one out there. Maybe an old original.

...pic...


Thanks