Forum

Cigarette Lighter E...
 
Share:
Notifications
Clear all

Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

8 Posts
5 Users
0 Reactions
54 Views
jarod
(@jarod)
Posts: 1222
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Hi guys,

I'm looking for one of these for me to charge my car through the cigarette socket. I could build one but i was hoping to find a robust one which could be more safe and practical.

For more of the latest tools, deals and tips - click HERE

 
Posted : 15/06/2010 10:01 pm
(@fgvillegas)
Posts: 117
Estimable Member
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Hi guys,

I'm looking for one of these for me to charge my car through the cigarette socket. I could build one but i was hoping to find a robust one which could be more safe and practical.

i saw one at concorde. i think it's a good buy specially if your car is automatic. you could always do clutch-start on manual cars in case the battery dies down.

 
Posted : 16/06/2010 5:42 pm
jarod
(@jarod)
Posts: 1222
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Thanks bro!

For more of the latest tools, deals and tips - click HERE

 
Posted : 17/06/2010 11:16 am
 guad
(@guad)
Posts: 646
Honorable Member
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Best to check with the auto electrical system experts or car manufacturer first (not the seller of cigarette lighter charging cables) as to whether charging, let alone starting, through the cigarettle lighter is safe.

It might appear to work for trickle charging, but I doubt that the cigarette lighter wiring and contacts are rated for deep charging and starting. Just look at the gauge of the battery wires and jumper cables and the size of the contact areas on the battery terminals and jumper cable connectors vs. those of the cigarette lighter.

 
Posted : 17/06/2010 12:37 pm
jarod
(@jarod)
Posts: 1222
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Yup, this is just intended for my mini car battery charger.

For more of the latest tools, deals and tips - click HERE

 
Posted : 17/06/2010 1:56 pm
JayL
 JayL
(@jayl)
Posts: 5426
Member
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Just curious. Why would you want to charge your car battery externally? Are you have problems with your alternator?

Millermatic 180 Autoset Mig Welder
Miller Spoolmate 100 Spool Gun
Victor Firepower 350 Oxy Ace Outfit
3M Speedglas 9002X AD Helmet
Makita LC1230 Dry Cut Saw
Ingersoll Rand Air Tools
Snap On Tools
Metabo Power Tools
Norseman Drill Cutting Tools
Bosch Power Tools
3M PPS

 
Posted : 17/06/2010 11:47 pm
jarod
(@jarod)
Posts: 1222
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Not really sir Jay, it's just that I rarely get to use the car as I'm only a kilometer away from my office :p

I sometimes only get to use it on Saturdays and Sunday if needed so the battery doesn't get any charging most of the time. I got an external charger so that i could charge the battery every 2-3 days in between so as to have enough charge when needed.

About the cigarette plug, I only use the normal pigtail plug that is connected straight to the battery. I also came to realize that I need to check if the car's cigarette socket is hot when the ignition key is at OFF position otherwise it won't be able to charge through the cigarette socket.

For more of the latest tools, deals and tips - click HERE

 
Posted : 18/06/2010 10:36 am
(@john-jo)
Posts: 107
Estimable Member
 

Re: Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord

Best to check with the auto electrical system experts or car manufacturer first (not the seller of cigarette lighter charging cables) as to whether charging, let alone starting, through the cigarettle lighter is safe.

It might appear to work for trickle charging, but I doubt that the cigarette lighter wiring and contacts are rated for deep charging and starting. Just look at the gauge of the battery wires and jumper cables and the size of the contact areas on the battery terminals and jumper cable connectors vs. those of the cigarette lighter.

Sir Guad is correct. By the looks of the wire size (in your pict), you would lose a substantial amount of the charging energy. Perhaps as much as 2-3 volts or more.

And since you need to have at least 2-3 volts higher from the source, you need a charger with 15v output just to nominally charge the battery with a short charging cable, but with longer wires, to add the voltage drop of also 2-3 volts, that comes out as 16-18 volts DC from your charger.

Needless to say you will need an even higher current and voltage to keep you car battery charged to its peak, which is 13.8 volts.

Trickle charging is ok with a small charger , but keep the DC line short
and extend your AC line cord instead.

Remember: DC voltage cannot travel long distances, thats why AC was used instead, for all power needs from the generation plant.

Goodluck. 🙂

 
Posted : 22/07/2010 3:08 pm
Share: