I plan on getting racing beat gauges eventually. If I do some mods that tap the cigarette lighter power, will this be a problem when I get the gauges?!

 

Not a bit, it's a great power point - switched and lots'O'amps.

S

 

Sweet. Thanks so much for the help!

 

What other mods are you doing besides the gauges that will tap the cig wires?

 

Uh, I am putting in some lights, just 2 LEDs nothing big at all. Maybe more, but as for now, just that. I was just making sure it wasn't going to have a power issue, or something like that.

Do the gauges even use that power?

 

Hi Stealth,

I tried tapping off the cigeratte ligther (from the back) for power for my bluetooth speakerphone and for my radar detector, I can only have one device at a time, if I plug both in, one device starts flickering or not working properly. I feel this is inadequite power from this place...is that correct?

 

Those two items draw very little power, I must be in the connection.

They need to be connected in parallel not serial.

 

Yes, it is because you are drawing too much power from that source.

What I would do the the radar is to use an add-a-fuse and tap into the fuse box, and then use that to go to the radar.

If you look through all the DIY hardwire valentine one posts on the forum, you'll eventually come across the DIY on it. I found it in a post that was titled as another way to hardwire it, and he just put it in there.

 

Point taken guys. I was just suprised because the cigarette outlet is a high amp output, and these are connected parrallel, so I could not understand how there cant' be enough power. Would the fuse I put between them be causing a limitation?

But I do take Alexb's ideas is a good one, and I was going to do that, I just prefer the lighter outlet cause that way I don't forget to shut off the radar when I get out of the car.

 

You have a bad connection - are you using those little crimp-on wire slicers?

Use proper terminals, that wire has enough power for twenty radar detectors.......

 

i have this same issue. i used the cig lighter for my prosport gauges and charge my phone. if i plug in the phone charger before i start up the car, the gauges do not come on. once the gauges are on, i can plug in the phone charger. i think the gauges have a higher draw upon startup that causes my problem. since i used vampire clips, i'll rewire the gauges so i have a better connection. what better terminals should i use to splice the connection?

 

Thanks for the tips guys, but I am very careful when wiring stuff. I use proper terminals and yes, I belive it should have enough for TWENTY detectors.

So the culprit was the fuse which came default in the adapter I was using. It was meant for only once device and was about 1AMP. I switched it to a 15AMP fuse and problem solved!!!

Thanks again for the suggestions!