I've tried doing this in my Commer van (failed and gave up) and need to fit one to the Clubman Estate. If I wire it to a live feed off the fusebox, it blows the fuse straight away, due I guess to the nature of cigarette lighters. I don't want it wired permanently, only when the ignition is turned on and thus save the battery from draining when the car's off.

Could I wire a relay to a switched feed off the fusebox, and use that relay to control a direct feed from the battery? Or will the relay throw a spaz as well, being 'on' all the time the ignition is on? Or is there an approved way to fit a cigarette lighter socket?

As always, thanks in advance.

I have wired in a few.
All I do is grab a switched power wire from the ignition (usually the same wire that feeds the radio) use a scotch connector and run that wire to the big slip on knob on the back of the lighter assembly. Fit an inline fuse between the power source and the lighter because if it shorts against the body you want the fuse to blow not the wiring.

Then run a earth wire from the spade connector on the lighter to an earth. Either a common earth for all wires behind the dash or by screwing it to a metal part of the body.

Whether you need a relay or not depends on how many amps you intend to draw through your socket. If you are only going to charge your phone or run an ipod, you can run off the switched ignition feed. If you are going to use a humoungous air compressor then you will probably need a relay.

Relays have no problem being on for extended periods of time, as long as the power rating of the relay is not exceeded.

Cheers,

_________________
Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

If want to light a ciggie just use the exhaust manifold like I used to. Forces you to pull over to light up