Club 80-90 Forums

is there a way of converting a cable that has a fag lighter fitting into something smaller e.g.USB,I do not like these things hanging out of the power outlet,they look big and messy to me,any ideas?

Just replace with something like this http://campervanculture.com/shop/blue-s ... er-socket/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you are talking about converting to smaller 12v plugs, you could use DIN fittings.

http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/plu ... ets-auto-/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

scottbott wrote:is there a way of converting a cable that has a fag lighter fitting into something smaller e.g.USB,I do not like these things hanging out of the power outlet,they look big and messy to me,any ideas?

That's going to depend on the particular device. The cigarette lighter provides battery voltage (12-14.5VDC), whereas USB uses 5VDC, so if you have a device that uses 12VDC you can't simply replace the cigarette plug with a USB plug, as the USB voltage won't be enough to power it. However, many devices that use the lighter socket have a little voltage converter built into the plug, so that what comes out of the back of the plug is often not 12VDC, and may even be 5VDC. In that case you would be able to put a USB plug on instead. But you need to check what's printed on the plug to find out if it's just passing 12VDC through or doing an internal conversion.

I'm with you on this though - the lighter socket is sometimes a bit flakey, as well as being bulky. So I've adopted my own unilateral standard - I have various cables wired in providing battery voltage (via suitable fuses) using the Tamiya/Kyosho connectors: Kyosho (male) for the power source, Tamiya (female) for the device being powered. Whenever I get a new device that has a 'straight through' lighter plug I cut the cable and insert a Tamiya/Kyosho plug and socket, so that if I want to I can remove the lighter plug and connect up to one of my live Kyosho plugs.

I'm wondering if 1/4" mono plugs and sockets would work. Easy enough to fit and only a small hole needed. Should be ok for 12v stuff unless its something that sucks amps.

that is a good idea,would it be ok for a satnav,dash cam??,a right angle one would be a neater looking thing

if its 12v yes.

CovKid wrote:I'm wondering if 1/4" mono plugs and sockets would work. Easy enough to fit and only a small hole needed. Should be ok for 12v stuff unless its something that sucks amps.

Is there a chance of a short as you push the plug in??

Can't see how.

scottbott wrote:is there a way of converting a cable that has a fag lighter fitting into something smaller e.g.USB,I do not like these things hanging out of the power outlet,they look big and messy to me,any ideas?

Stop twiddling Bernard - leave it alone and get camping!

CovKid wrote:Can't see how.

I wasn't sure if audio plugs/sockets were built to a tolerance that ensured that the tip of the plug couldn't short the ground sleeve of the socket to the tip contact (if that makes sense) but looking at some pics online it seems unlikely that it could/would short.

So the only other concern would be someone mistaking it for an audio aux-in socket and plugging their MP3 player into it - which would be a bad idea!
Think I'd stick to those power plug/sockets that are used on most household pieces of equipment - something like this;

Can't be much now (other than older headphones) that can be plugged into an old-fashioned 1/4" mono jack. They're quite chunky and plug clicks in firmly. You'll be somewhat limited with above jacks in terms of items that draw more than 2 amps, plus more fiddly to solder but both would work, each with its own advantages/drawbacks I guess. Certainly the ciggy plug is a bit flakey. I hate them.

CovKid wrote:Certainly the ciggy plug is a bit flakey. I hate them.

Agreed!! My van has pretty much switched over to usb power only now - have one of those double usb things stuffed in the cig plugs all the time ...... much neater and so much stuff is driven via usb these days that it seems like a no-brainer!!
(And if need be you can whip the usb thing out and still have a cig plug if someone needs it.)