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cig lighter relay?


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tenchu 
Member - Posts: 33
Member spacespace
Joined: August 23, 2009
Location: Texas, United States
Posted: December 14, 2014 at 2:31 PM / IP Logged  
This is probably an odd question, but I am curious if it is at all possible to have a switch to change my cig lighter from constant power to accy power. It is currently in its factory configuration to turn off with the car, but on occasion I would like to be able to turn it on constant power so I can charge my phone with the car off. I am paranoid about parasitic draw so I don't want to just change the wiring to constant power.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
Pot Metal spacespace
Joined: January 09, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: December 14, 2014 at 4:23 PM / IP Logged  
No problem just run a direct feed from the wire feeding your fusebox from the battery and fuse it at 15 amps.
No relay needed.
The only parasitic draw will be on leaving the charger in the lighter.
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
Gold spacespace
Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: December 14, 2014 at 5:31 PM / IP Logged  
Although Howard omits the switch so therefore the cig socket is always powered (constant +12V), there is no parasitic draw from the socket itself - it's only if you have things plugged in and on.
I have always had constant +12V cig sockets (and radios & HUs etc). Even when I have mistakenly left things on - like GPS etc thru the cig socket (or left the HU on either paused or no volume) - I have had no problems for a day or few.
Mere charging of phones or GPS etc should be no problem. They are a relatively low load anyhow, and that decreases as the battery charges.
Besides, an actuated relay to connect constant +12V would itself be a 60-250mA draw.
howie ll 
Pot Metal - Posts: 16,466
Pot Metal spacespace
Joined: January 09, 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: December 14, 2014 at 5:51 PM / IP Logged  
I omitted the switch because the OP said "constant" else it could have been left in its original state.
I wonder if our OP understands no need for a relay as much as he or she misunderstands the meaning of parasitic draw.
oldspark 
Gold - Posts: 4,913
Gold spacespace
Joined: November 03, 2008
Location: Australia
Posted: December 14, 2014 at 9:09 PM / IP Logged  
Fair enough. I was referring to his first line re having a switch to select between the two (ACC {else IGN} & constant.
Alas a switch - or relay - involves cutting into the existing cig socket supply - else duplicating it - and since IMO it is fine having a cig socket to constants +12V (rad: often that's desirable).   
In short - no switch - just rewire to constant +12V (ie, battery +12V via a fuse) just as you suggested.
As to parasitic draw, I often read where people think there (might be) a parasitic draw with cig sockets. I have no idea where they get that idea from, after all even a lighter is not drawing current until it is pushed in - but it is a common theme in webland.
Maybe such people use those health damaging air fresheners....? [ Or cig-socket battery chargers to keep their batteries fully charged? (ha fracken ha!) ]

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