Cigar lighter socket.

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doug748

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I would like to fit an cig lighter socket in the cockpit.

I am aware that they they are a dodgy item.


A lot are available for ostensible outside use but seem to be the standard item with a rubber bung

Does anyone, for certain, know where I could get a stainless one designed for the job?
 
Tried some of thiose in my unending search for reliable ones, the front is SS, the rest isn't, I removed one and fitted a proper two pin IP67 socket as the customer complained of intermittent ciontact and binned the other 4 I bought, If anybody knows of a robust cig lighter socked entirely constructed of material designed to last that will constantly take a decent draw I would love to know.
 
David2452 said:
If anybody knows of a robust cig lighter socked entirely constructed of material designed to last that will constantly take a decent draw I would love to know.
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I think the important point is that cig lighter sockets are intended for very short-term use. Constant current applications require a more robust contact design, like the DIN-style sockets.
 
How about fitting a good quality DIN socket, and make up a flying lead with a cigar type socket at one end? That way you have a reliable socket and a simple way of reliably giving you the cigar socket when you need it?
 
pvb said:
I think the important point is that cig lighter sockets are intended for very short-term use. Constant current applications require a more robust contact design, like the DIN-style sockets.
Click to expand...

In my experience intermittent usage receptacles actually need to be more robust, constant connection and disconnection causes arcing and loosening of spring contact lobes and the like. I would only fit proper two pin screw cap connectors now as try as I may I can find nothing in the cig lighter range that will stand up to it. Odd really as when we used to have cigar lighters in cars in the past they seemed to work OK, but I guess they were protected.
 
As said cigar lighter socket design is 'orrible and unreliable however it seems more and more we are provided with chargers and plugs to this design for all sorts of electronics so we are stuck with this standard. Good luck with your search for reliability. olewill
 
David2452 said:
Tried some of thiose in my unending search for reliable ones, the front is SS, the rest isn't, I removed one and fitted a proper two pin IP67 socket as the customer complained of intermittent ciontact and binned the other 4 I bought, If anybody knows of a robust cig lighter socked entirely constructed of material designed to last that will constantly take a decent draw I would love to know.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the warning. More junk.

I will give maxi's suggestion a go.....and give it a blast of Co, every now and again.
 
Let's face it, the cigarette lighter in your car never works - what chance has it got in a cockpit environment?

Rob.
always a box of matches in the car...
 
William_H said:
As said cigar lighter socket design is 'orrible and unreliable however it seems more and more we are provided with chargers and plugs to this design for all sorts of electronics so we are stuck with this standard. Good luck with your search for reliability. olewill
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Exactly, and many of them have stuff inside which makes it more difficult to change over to a more marine suitable temporary connection, if it were always just a matter of cutting off the plug and putting another on it wouldn't be so bad. But even then it means the thing would be dedicated to the boat and unusable anywhere else.
 
nigelmercier said:
+1 but I coat the internal surfaces with Co...

Come on, you must know by now :)
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You coat it with Carbon Monoxide?? Coffee? Cobalt trichlorate?

Sorry, as a newcomer to the forum I haven't picked up on all the regulars' foibles. I am pretty interested in this topic since I have just bought a boat and have a number of minor upgrades to make, this being one of them. So, seriously, what co do you use?

I am plucking up courage to ask about 240v charging arrangements, but there are sooooo many postings here on the subject and it all sounds way more complicated than I want or need, so I will bide my time a bit.
 
We used a cigarette lighter socket to run a computer but it was next to the switch panel by the chart table, had no problems with it. Tandy sell an adjustable converter from12 volt to your computer's power requirement. Alternatively they also sell a 12v to 240v plug in so you can use your normal plug.
 
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lampshuk said:
You coat it with Carbon Monoxide...
Click to expand...

Apologies, my fault. I probably mention Contralube770 in about 10% of my posts, it is awesome stuff. In my post #10 above I started to write it, but then, for a joke, stopped typing.

I think the seller on Amazon is out of stock, putting the price at a silly figure keeps their listing open, but makes sure there will be no buyers.

There are other sellers, for example Maplin (spit).

http://contralube.com/
 
The plastic socket at 15Amps looks good. I like the way the plug locks in too.

But if you have a friend with a lathe, and you really want a cigar socket, maybe get them to turn you up a nice hefty socket _ could even be in stainless if they have it or can get it and have decent tool bits and lathe. Even better if they have a milling machine to make a one piece unit with a nice flat face plate. Would certainly be an original and unique socket.
 
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