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Cigarette lighter socket capacity? 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters
Excuse this for being slightly off topic but it could apply to a
vintage or any car? Some of the 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters now available at quite reasonable prices can have a capacity of 175 watts or more. Some are advertised as "Just plug in to your cigarette lighter". Even at an efficiency of, say, 90% the DC input will have to be (175/0.90)/ 12 = at least 16 amps! That's equivalent to approx. four old style headlamps all on at once? I think I've seen a 25 wat model that would take 23+ amps. Recalling some difficulties with cigarette lighter sockets where underdash wiring either caught fire or the socket itself got extremely hot is this perceived as a problem? Better, I guess, to use a pair of clips onto the battery itself and/or use a separate fused circuit. TIA welcome opinions. |
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#2
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Cigarette lighter socket capacity? 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters
On 14 Jan 2007 07:14:39 -0800, "terry" >
wrote: >Excuse this for being slightly off topic but it could apply to a >vintage or any car? > >Some of the 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters now available at quite >reasonable prices can have a capacity of 175 watts or more. Some are >advertised as "Just plug in to your cigarette lighter". > >Even at an efficiency of, say, 90% the DC input will have to be >(175/0.90)/ 12 = at least 16 amps! That's equivalent to approx. four >old style headlamps all on at once? I think I've seen a 25 wat model >that would take 23+ amps. > >Recalling some difficulties with cigarette lighter sockets where >underdash wiring either caught fire or the socket itself got extremely >hot is this perceived as a problem? > >Better, I guess, to use a pair of clips onto the battery itself and/or >use a separate fused circuit. > >TIA welcome opinions. ======================== Well...I think I see a math error, but it doesn't help much. I believe the formula should be 175*0.90/12 but that is still 13+ amps, which is a bit to pull through the typical 16 gauge wire used to connect a "power outlet". I have used the battery clips, and have also wired dedicated outlets (in travel trailers) with12 gauge wire. Joe -- Heather & Joe Way Sierra Specialty Automotive Brake cylinders sleeved with brass Gus Wilson Stories http://www.brakecylinder.com |
#3
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Cigarette lighter socket capacity? 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters
Heather & Joe Way wrote: > On 14 Jan 2007 07:14:39 -0800, "terry" > > wrote: > > >Excuse this for being slightly off topic but it could apply to a > >vintage or any car? > > > >Some of the 12 volt to 120 volt AC converters now available at quite > >reasonable prices can have a capacity of 175 watts or more. Some are > >advertised as "Just plug in to your cigarette lighter". > > > >Even at an efficiency of, say, 90% the DC input will have to be > >(175/0.90)/ 12 = at least 16 amps! That's equivalent to approx. four > >old style headlamps all on at once? I think I've seen a 25 wat model > >that would take 23+ amps. > > > >Recalling some difficulties with cigarette lighter sockets where > >underdash wiring either caught fire or the socket itself got extremely > >hot is this perceived as a problem? > > > >Better, I guess, to use a pair of clips onto the battery itself and/or > >use a separate fused circuit. > > > >TIA welcome opinions. > ======================== > Well...I think I see a math error, but it doesn't help much. I believe > the formula should be 175*0.90/12 but that is still 13+ amps, which is > a bit to pull through the typical 16 gauge wire used to connect a > "power outlet". > > I have used the battery clips, and have also wired dedicated outlets > (in travel trailers) with12 gauge wire. > > Joe > -- > Heather & Joe Way > Sierra Specialty Automotive > Brake cylinders sleeved with brass > Gus Wilson Stories > http://www.brakecylinder.com Ask your local mechanic what ,p[eraage the fuse built intop the back of the lighter socket is.... but remember that is just for a short time in normal use. (hard-wire is a good idea for just about anything) |
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