Max. load of cigar lighter (1 Viewer)

[cool dad]

I saw an inverter that is suppose to plugged into a cigar lighter. it is suppose to deliver 110-220 volts at 500 amps. Would the stock electrical wirings of the cigar lighter sustain the load of the inverter for long trips, say about 6 hours or so? Actually, I only intend to use the inverter for my laptopas a DVD player for the kids and maybe for fluorecent light in the bush. Just asking before I make any purchase. Thanks in advance

 

[Aussie cruiser]

500 amps seems a bit high.

If it's a 500 watt it will be plenty big enough for a laptop. I run mine off a 150 watt no problems.

 

[Gumby]

Run a seperate power plug off of the power seat wires. They are accessable in the console, carry a large amount of amperage and aren't used much when the inverter would be on. They are also a constant power source, so you can plug in your cell phone charger or laptop and not have them go out when you shut the car off.

The lighter circuit is fairly low amp, and runs a lot of other stuff like the radio.

 

[dfmorse]

500 amps is a typo, right? At that current rate, the cruiser would burn to the ground.

But to answer your question, the cig lighter has two fuses; one is 15amp ( I think) and the other is a piece of wire, like a fuse link on the back of the lighter socket. If u blow the piece of wire, u will have to pull the cig lighter assembly to fix it.

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[cool dad]

thanks guys,
dfmorse, Yes I think it should be 500 watts. sorry. Now do you think a 500 watt inverter can be plugged into the cigar lighter safely?

Otherwise I might as well look for a 150 watt inverter like Aussie Cruiser's and when time permits ask my electrician to make the necessary connections for the extension of the plugs as Gumby suggested.

Thanks a lot

 

[RavenTai]

500 amps at 220 volts?

That is 110,000 watts,

to suply 110,000 watts it would draw minimum 7,586 amps from the cig lighter, you are going to need to up grade your electrical system.


kidding aside can you get the propper input specs?

 

[Gumby]

Most smaller car inverters are right around 300W. All you electrical guys know that and can stop beating up on the guy for a typo now.

300W will draw a little more than 20A when the vehicle is running, which is more than the cig lighter is rated for. It won't do it all the time unless you have that much of a draw on it. I used to run a 13" TV and full size VCR for the kids. The cig lighter couldn't handle the TV startup. It'll do a laptop with plenty left over.

 

[dfmorse]

CoolDad;

I would definitely do what Gumby mentioned. Even the 150 watt inverter will blow the cig light electrics. The start-up current (surge) could jump to ~20 amps. The lighter only pulls about 5 amps.

You might want to consider having your electric friend run power direct (and fused) from the battery.

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[Tuner]

I run a 100 watt inverter from the battery plug without problems to charge the laptop while driving. There is a 750 watt inverter wired directly off the battery to power a 500 watt DJ system, among other things.

 

[valentine]

I have a 400 watt inverter I bought at Costco a while back. I've used it for running a few smaller things.

One time I tried using our air bed inflator while the inverter was plugged into the cig lighter and it wouldn't power it. I had to use the alligator clips and attach it directly to the battery. It didn't do any damage to the lighter fuse. It must have some kind of "overload" protection???

 

[chiz45]

It must have some kind of "overload" protection???

i tried to run a small Nisasn air compressor off of mine. My socket is now dead I haven't taken the time to try to fix it.

 

[Gumby]

It's the glass fuse inside the lighter socket. Easy fix.

 

[valentine]

i tried to run a small Nisasn air compressor off of mine. My socket is now dead I haven't taken the time to try to fix it.

Your socket is dead...that's wierd. Must be a fuse somewhere. I was thinking my inverter had the overload protection not the socket. I don't think I made myself clear.....as always....

 

[tech_dog]

If the cig lighter fuse is 15 amps as someone said, then it will blow at about 190 watts INPUT into the inverter.

Assume 85% efficiency at the inverter, and this means you'll get somehwere around 160 watts AC output before you flash the fuse.

I'd want to stay under 130 if possible, just to keep a safety margin.

 

[Mickldo]

Don't know about your inverter but but mine has to be turned off at the inverter when being turned on. Big PITA through the cig lighter, much better to leave hard wired to the batttery, saves forgetting to turn it off while restarting the motor. By hard wiring it you can run the correct sized cables so you don't get any voltage drop.

 

[drsales]

I toasted my cig lighter running a inverter/ Cheep Costco. I purchased a nice unit thru my stereo shop and hooked direct to the battery. On off by hand, located on the ps of the center console under the dash. Runs my laptop and phone charger. Love it.

BTW the hole lighter assembly is costing $25 to replace.

 

[cool dad]

So its almost settled then. Run a seperate electricals from the battery /ies with a fuse and perhaps two cigar sockets at the end to accomodate the inverter (150 watt) for the lap top among others. I knew it, toyota really discourages chain smoking. Thanks for the help guys.