Basic question re cigarette lighters

[Oxtail69]

Hi

Apologies for the basic question in advance, however have recently joined the ranks of Dolly owners (1977 1.3), and have just started finding my way around a proper car engine! (Can't do anything with the Zafira as it has to be plugged in for analysis anytime something goes wrong).

I want to install a cigarette lighter this weekend so I can charge the phone/IPod whilst on the move, and have seen one at Halfords that seems functional (see link). I was hoping they had a nicer looking version, but can't seem to locate any online that would be more appropriate? Has anyone installed one of these before, or can anyone recommend where to pick up a nicer looking version? Not sure if i want it loose or fixed with a bracked yet..........

(http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65479#dtab), #

My next question will be about sourcing some circular spotlamps for the front, but one step at a time!

Thanks

JW

[JPB]

Hello JW.
That Halfords one looks a bit too modern for the car, but that's just my opinion and isn't set in stone.
However, when I found myself needing to fit one to one of my '60s Volvos a few years ago, I bought it at Wilkinson's where it cost only £3.99 and looked much more like the sort of thing that you'd expect in an older car.
The Halfords one was more expensive then too, so even if Wilko's effort has gone up in line with inflation, it should still be cheaper.

I looked at the usual online auto electrics specialists too (AES and VWP), but theirs were of that modern design and as costly as the Halfords ones!

[Oxtail69]

I agree, it doesn't look great, although have stumbled across these which look a bit better;

http://www.classicsagogo.co.uk/cgi-bin/ ... #a555641NI

JW

[JPB]

Now that's more like it, though it is exactly the same as the one that Wilko sells for less money so if there's a branch on your closest High Street it would probably be worth checking out their car accessory aisle before going for the one in the link.

But then I'm as tight as the tightest bit of the fish, so I would.

[straylight]

would you get one second hand from a wreckers ?

but, if all you want to do is plug in a charger, you don't need the big cigarette lighter connection. Find the 12V feed and fettle up an adapter that you can plug into. With only two wires to play with, (12V and ground) it is one of the easier jobs to do.

If you really want to make it neat, then buy a very cheap kit and make up an ipod charger yourself that you can plug the phone straight into or, easier still, buy a second ipod connector/charger, cut the cigarette lighter plug off it and hard wire it into the 12V wire under the dash.

To my mind, wiring the electrics through a cumbersome great thunking cigarette lighter socket isn't that elegant. It might have become the standard for all things electric that need to work off 12V, but there are better ways I think.

oh, and welcome to dolly ownership. It is a requirement of the forum that you post some pics up of your car <joke>

stu

<edit> just had a look through the other products Halfords have.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... &width=800

I'd be tempted to cut the 12V plug off this, wire it into the 12V direct, then you have two sockets (shudder ) and a USB (5V) connection and a handy LED battery indicator which presumably tells you when the battery volts dip below 11.5V or something.l

[Oxtail69]

Interesting, that's a much better idea.

Wonder if I could just wire in a set of 3 or 4 USB's, as these would be much smaller and more subtle and all my gadgets work off these as well. Could then set these just under/over the radio and they'd hardly be seen at all........Hmmmmmm.....

I'll upload some photo's later, it's good to be driving a 'proper' car again, although am still getting used to not having power assisted steering/brakes! Amazing how many people stop and talk to you about the car though.

JW

[james_r_lucas]

That would be a good Idea, I've been thinking about doing something similar in mine for my phone and ipod.

All you need is a few USB sockets, a 5V regulator, and a few wires. Simples

[MIG Wielder]

Hello All, Isn't a cigarette lighter socket a common fitting to all the Dolomite range ? Just had a look on my late 1850.... and there it is and also on my 1980 Sprint resto; project. . I see you have a 1300 so is it possible to fit a later console / heater vent bit ?
Cheers ,
Tony.

[Howard81]

Only on the HL models!

[Spunkymonkey]

Get a (regulated) self-powered USB hub and wire it in direct. 4 sockets in a neat little box you can tape under the dash. I know it's overkill cos you don't need all the data signal stuff, but they're so cheap it'd probably be more expensive to buy a few sockets and a regulator. Betty the Daf has one and it charges anything and everything when we're away

[JPB]

Only on the HL models!

Not so, mine has one and it certainly left the factory with it.

[Oxtail69]

Get a (regulated) self-powered USB hub and wire it in direct. 4 sockets in a neat little box you can tape under the dash. I know it's overkill cos you don't need all the data signal stuff, but they're so cheap it'd probably be more expensive to buy a few sockets and a regulator. Betty the Daf has one and it charges anything and everything when we're away

Can I ask where you got your USB Hub from, and what brand it is? I'm having trouble locating a suitable one online and if you've got one that's proven and tested, then I may consider just picking one of those up.

[xvivalve]

I can send you a dolomite fag lighter...

[straylight]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3-Socket-Car ... 1913wt_902

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-Socket-Car ... 1877wt_902

I'd just snip the end off the cigarette plug and hard wire it into the car.

stu