Blue Sea locking 12v outlet in the dashboard cig lighter spot? (1 Viewer)

[Timpanogos Slim]

I recently installed the Blue Sea USB charger in my shifter console, allowing me to stop putting up with the motorola 2-port usb charger falling out of the factory cig lighter socket.

I don't smoke, and don't allow smoking in my vehicles. I once informed a smoker that if he lit up the cigarette he just took out of the pack, i would eject him from the vehicle without slowing down.

So the lighter socket is useful only as a 12v outlet, and it's not very good at that job.

So, I wanna install one of these:

Blue Sea 1011 12V DC Socket

Has anyone installed one of these in place of the OEM cig socket?

Dunno if it's normal or not but the trim around the cig socket seems to be glued in from behind. I can't remove it. I am considering cutting the socket off with my dremel on the back side of the dash panel to get rid of it.

 

[george_tlc]

I've installed that style in a bunch of spots on my 80 and also my patrol in oz. They certainly don't "lock" unless you use the matching 'plug' and only then marginally.

They're an ok outlet - I buy a similar (looks/acts the same) unit at Digikey for less $$.

I have 3 in the bottom rear of my 80's console and 2 in the rear passenger side inside panel. All permanently powered from my aux battery.

I wouldn't bother trying to replace the stock socket with one of these - the improvement would be MARGINAL at best.

You are better off installing more USB 2A or 3A outlets for charging uses.

cheers,
george.

 

[george_tlc]

Here you go:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/AS212/AS212-ND/755444

cheers,
george.

 

[kbahus]

Thanks for posting the digikey link, I have one of those 12 volt plugs that looked like a Marinco but was not marked. It appears to be the same one digikey sells. I am not really sure it works all that well with the Maricno brand socket though. What have your experiences been with mixing and matching the two brands?

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Ah, interesting product from digikey.

I just figure that it'll be handy to be able to plug in 12v devices, but the factory outlet is a joke.

 

[george_tlc]

The "marinco"/"blue sea"/etc brands are nothing special. I bought a few of theirs before finding the digikey ones (I order a LOT of stuff from digikey) and they are all VERY similar in design. I'm guessing they are all clones and likely made at the same factory using various brand name 'flaps'.

All 'cigarette lighter' style 12V outlets are a joke - it's part of the design to eject the lighter. They were never intended to be a 12V outlet.

cheers,
george.

 

[Alexbv]

I got one of these for about 6 bucks. It fits pretty tight and flush. I have to actually pry it out in order to take it out. It also works great.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

I got one of these for about 6 bucks. It fits pretty tight and flush. I have to actually pry it out in order to take it out. It also works great.

sure but i already drilled a hole in my shifter console and tapped into the cig lighter harness

 

[Dazrin]

The PO on my truck replaced the factory lighter with an external one screwed to the outside of the dash. Looks like crap! I want to re-install something in the factory location, preferably a 2x USB slot, but I have a 2x Griffin already so it doesn't matter a lot. Do the Blue Sea/Digikey fit that spot w/o any cutting? If not, is there anything that does? Other than OEM.

 

[e9999]

I did install a water-proof (-resistant?) outlet from West Marine. The matching male plug does have rubber ribs on it to seal things up. Works great. Really stays in there. But "regular" plugs (without the rubber seal) are too loose and pop out. So mix and match may not necessarily work well with these things.

 

[86tuning]

I have some genuine Toyota/Lexus accessory sockets that work fine as accessory sockets installed in my shifter console. They're constantly powered so I can plug my phone charger in when the car is off. These sockets are standard issue on most of the current Toyota/lexus cars and trucks.

The original cigarette lighter socket is used to power my gps so that it turns on/off with ignition power.

 

[profro]

I disassembled my dash and replaced my cigarette lighter with a unit from Radio Shack. The problem I have now is that the larger square receptacle that snaps into the dash keeps pulling out when I pull anything out of the cigarette lighter. It doesn't seem to have any ears to keep it in place. What am I missing?

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

You seem to be missing whatever it is that attaches the radioshack 12v jack to the dash?

As for myself i got mine disassembled and tweaked the contacts a bit so it should be tighter, and now I'm leaning toward just using it if i can figure out where the little light bulb holder for it went.

 

[profro]

The cigarette lighter is not what is pulling out. Its the square shaped bezel (?) that is pulling out. I will try to take a picture.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

I've got that same adapter Alexbv mentioned. Think I got it from Wally World. Fits very tight. I keep the lighter in the center console. Might need it to do an interrogation 'man on fire' style but more likely to start an emergency fire.

 

[JohnVee]

This?

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Right, that trim piece is usually held in place by the bulb holder for the original socket's illumination ring.

I don't know how your jack is attached, but the point is that you will need whatever holds it in to hold that sandwich together too.

The bluesea (and similar) jacks are a little bigger diameter than the original hole, but they are held in place by a threaded ring that would easily clamp onto any hole less than about 2" deep.

 

[profro]

Ah. I wonder if I could glue or use set screw to hold it in place?

 

[profro]

This?

Exactly that.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

You could glue them together.

I just wonder how it is that your jack is attached to the trim and not the dash bezel - since the hole in both is the same diameter.