TomTom install help needed
 

Alright guys, I have my tomtom in the upper left hand side of my windshield in the corner. i want to run the wire down the pillar (tucked away) and to my fuse box to hardwire it.

i hardwired my radar with a special cord i bought, but i was wondering if i cut the cig lighter adapter off it would expose the 2 wires i need. i can wire it in easily once i have wires to splice.


my only question is about voltage. does the cig lighter send a 5v signal or 12v? if i hardwire it straight in will it be ok, or fry my tomtom.

i dont want to buy a cord if i can just lop the adapter off this one to get the same job done


EDIT: ok...... hmm, more direct question.... if i get an "add a fuse" and wire that to the POS+ wire that will be exposed when i cut the adapter off the tomtom cig lighter power cord and then wire the NEG- to a ground. it should work correct?

Cigarette lighter is 12 volts. Just make sure the plug is strictly a plug, and does not have a drop-down regulator in it.

Adding a fuse is never a bad idea. As is matching polarity...make sure you keep track of it when you cut the Tom Tom's wire.

Hope you live in a safe neighborhood...I'd be afraid to leave a portable GPS in plain view. I always remove mine (and wipe the windshield) except in my own garage.

Ken

ok so the plug DOES have a regulator in it. it drops the voltage from 12 down to 5.

i went and bought a female cig lighter to connect to the tomtom plug.

on the other end of the female side i was going to tap into a wire but i didn't know which one, so instead i bought an "add a fuse"

when i connected it all together it ended up blowing the 1.6amp fuse inside the tomtom plug.

tried getting a 1.6amp fuse from advance auto and radio shack but they didnt have them. ugh...


this is gay i wish the tomtom just took 12v