cigarette switch

hello, this is a weird question but i was wondering if a cigarette lighter can be turned into a switch? i have a 2000 chevy silverado and i have 3 cig lighter/power points. i want to see if i can turn two of them into switches. will i have probelms with the coils heating up or it being a momentary switch instead of a full on or off switch? thanks!

for the cigarette lighter, cut one of the two leads on it. connect each of the cut leads to terminals 85 and 86 of a bosch-type relay. terminals 30 and 87 will end up being your switch contacts. since the resistance of the lighter element is much less than the relay coil, the relay coil will activate when the element is pressed in.
if you compare the power socket to the lighter socket, the lighter socket has the metal clip that grabs/holds the lighter element. the power socket usually does not.
mark

Ok I see what your saying. So I can't actually use the lighter as a switch but use it to toggle a relay on and off

when you press the lighter in, it will activate the relay. when you pull it back slightly, the relay will deactivate.

You have to cut the hot wire of the lighter, connect the hot side to terminal 86 and the end that goes to the lighter to terminal 85. 

Ok cool and will this work with the 12v power ports too or only cigarette lighters. I want to make sure I have the right sock before I attempt to convert haha.

So I take it this has been done several times before

So would it be better to use the cig lighter socket if you wanted an on off switch or a power outlet?

I know that the cig lighter socket will work, I am not sure about a power outlet.