Ignition firing cigerette lighter, quick and dirty

[steve69]

So I recently had a paracitic power drain issue. After measuring power drop I realised it was coming from the ever on cigerette lighter circuit on fuses 5 and 8. Nothing was connected to them, so I decided after inspecting it I'd resolve it with a fuse tap.

I'd long wanted to move my 12v charger for my USB Bluetooth dongle and USB c behind the dash so did this at the same time off the same fuse. The 12v charging adaptor is fused in itself so I ran the positive from before the fuse, the lighter on the fuse out.

2 birds with one stone and I'm not lying this is quick and dirty as hell, I did it with speaker wire and leccy tape I had laying about, I tapped into the ignition powered spare fuse (no 2) and connected the wires with just the pressure of the fuse. Took 20 minutes.

Ran the negative connections off the existing lighter circuit, and sent the 2 new positives one to the charger and one to the USB. Tucked it all in Behind the glove box and panel just above the Ash tray. She works, and the battery no longer vanishes over night. It also means I can now keep that nice little spring loaded door above the Ash tray closed, which as an ocd thing, really winds be up when it's open!

 

[steve69]

The finished article

 

[enuff_zed]

Have you seriously just wedged wires into a fuse holder?
Tomorrow’s job?
Fit a fire extinguisher

 

[Argyll Andy]

Have you seriously just wedged wires into a fuse holder?

Heavy duty wires at that!

 

[steve69]

Oh yes, its redneck electrical engineering at its best. I trimmed some of the gauge away to squeeze them in... the salesman in me would say its snug, but secure.

In all seriousness i know it cant stay like that, Ive ordered a proper fuse tap and will sort it out, but it'll do for the week. She's at 111k miles now martin hitting 500 a week with this new job I'm doing.. and I don't have the time in the day to disconnect the battery or unplug the fuse every time I'm leaving it for longer than 4/5 hours

 

[Street]

I love it! This should be called the MacGyver Mod!

 

[Scooba_Steve]

Oh yes, its redneck electrical engineering at its best. I trimmed some of the gauge away to squeeze them in... the salesman in me would say its snug, but secure.

In all seriousness i know it cant stay like that, Ive ordered a proper fuse tap and will sort it out, but it'll do for the week. She's at 111k miles now martin hitting 500 a week with this new job I'm doing.. and I don't have the time in the day to disconnect the battery or unplug the fuse every time I'm leaving it for longer than 4/5 hours

There isn't any need to use a fuse tap. You can quite happily use a crimped blade in one of those empty sockets and fit an inline fuse. There are good earth points close to the fuse box.

 

[steve69]

Eh, they cost about the same price on amazon, will fit better and you get a bit more flexibility I reckon

Richard Dean Anderson would be proud now just to build a stargate in my boot out of some cd's and a microwave

 

[steve69]

Fuse taps arrived today unexpectedly. After Martins message and a lingering fear of a short causing an engine bay fire I threw them straight in this morning and cleaned it all up, insulated everything properly and each circuit is fused individually.

 

[enuff_zed]

Fuse taps arrived today unexpectedly. After Martins message and a lingering fear of a short causing an engine bay fire I threw them straight in this morning and cleaned it all up, insulated everything properly and each circuit is fused individually.

I shall rest easier now.