Cigar lighter advice wanted - Non Lude related

andypont · Post by **andypont** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:29 pm

As per subject line, this isn't an issue with my lude, but instead on my brother's Skoda.
His cigar lighter powers a heated seat but will not work for the sat nav / phone chargers etc. The charger is getting power to light up the led but not output. Other chargers have been tried but still not good. My first thought was that he is getting voltage but maybe not enough supply to operate the adaptors that then convert to 5v output. I suspected it would be a poor connection in the socket (maybe arcing on some plugs so only getting a partial feed) but can discard that theory as its the same results even when using a 2-1 socket. Any suggestions on a possible cause?

Supercharged 無限MUGEN BB1 Profile · Post by **nucleustylzlude** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:33 pm

Just a thought but if its already powering the heated seats then maybe there's not enough 'juice' left. Normally the cig lighters are around 10amps. I know heating elements draw a lot of amps, usually why rear windscreen demisters and factory heated seats have there own supply and fuse on the distribution board.

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:35 pm

I don't think I can help I'm afraid, but as a comparable experience, my 12v socket works for some things but not others - a USB adapter for example, does not work - and I have tried 2 different ones.. Is the charger you're using a USB adapter with normal phone USB cable, or have you got a one-piece charger with cable and all permanently attached? I tried the latter in mine and it worked ok..

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:39 pm

What phone is it?
I get problems trying to charge my phone from car fag lighters (and also from portable chargers).

It charges ok unless I'm using it as a sat nav or streaming internet radio into the phone and then out of the phone to another device via bluetooth. In those cases it has a habit of not being able to supply enough power (the phone shows it's still receiving power but brings up a message saying that it's using more power than the charger can provide and it is no longer charging the battery).

I think in my case it might be because the phone battery has got warm (which in turn makes it harder to charge because it draws more current). My phone has a plastic case and I also have a phone skin round it, so all in all, it doesn't give it much hope of shifting heat away from the battery tbh... I've tried it without the phone skin and it seems slightly better, but still does give problems.

EDIT: also, yes same as bb1boy I have also found it's better with a 'pukka' bespoke charger (which I've bloody left in a hire car

) rather than a USB adapter/USB lead combo.

andypont · Post by **andypont** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:09 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately I think all of those bases have been covered.
The heated seats have only been plugged in to test output from the socket, and found working. The chargers tried are both moulded units rather than the usb socket / plug to plug ones. The phone is a Samsung S4, but he has had it for a while with no problems until about 3 weeks ago. I have tried both of his phone chargers, as well as my charger, with his phone and mine and still all we get is a red light on the adaptor to say theres power but the phones showing as not charging. It seems that everything needing 5v output (usb) doesn't work. The sat nav is the same. This also worked until about 3 weeks ago.
One thing I have just found out is that the fuse blew initially (causing no output from the socket of course). He changed the fuse and has had these problems since. I will search Google, but just sharing my thoughts here..... Does a cigar lighter get controlled by a regulator or anything to ensure an even feed? maybe something like that has gone down. That would possibly explain the fuse? I will see him again tomorrow and will test the output of the socket using a meter.

Bludge · Post by **Bludge** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:49 pm

Was the phone charging in the car ok before then? i have a galaxy note and it has never been able to draw enough power from the cig lighter in my mondeo to charge it, only slow the drain on the battery.
Im sure i read somewhere about having to get a certain kind of adaptor, but cant remember the specifics.

andypont · Post by **andypont** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:56 pm

Yeah. It was all working ok. Everything stopped working so he checked the fuse and found it had blown. Replaced the fuse and since then the adaptors light up but don't power anything. The only thing he has that runs on 12v is the seats which still work fine. Cant find anything online to help.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:53 pm

No regulator on the fag lighter feed, no.
Interesting you say it's been a problem since the fuse has been changed... Could be slightly high resistance of the new fuse, causing a slight voltage drop. Check the voltage across the battery with the engine running and then check what voltage you get at the fag lighter?
At such low voltages, a small drop in voltage has a big effect.

andypont · Post by **andypont** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 8:18 pm

Sounds feasible, but not the case. I tested 14.7v at the battery and 14.5v at the cig lighter. I did then wonder if it was simply that the plug on the chargers weren't connecting properly so plugged in the 2-1 splitter. Even got 14.3v there so no idea why none of his adaptors work.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sat Aug 23, 2014 9:27 pm

Ok, strange then!