How to Rewire a Car Lighter Adapter Plug

How to Rewire a Car Lighter Adapter Plug

Portable electronic appliances typically come with 12-volt adapters and patch cords that enable such appliances to be used inside vehicles. In the United States, production of 12-volt automobile plugs is standardized under "UL standard 2089," which covers plugs and patch cords that insert into cigarette lighter receptacles. A 12-volt car lighter adapter plug is easy and convenient to use, but can sometimes become defective due to abuse or misuse. If you know how to rewire a defective car lighter adapter plug you can save yourself some cash.

Things You'll Need
Diagonal pliers
Wire stripper
Soldering gun
Solder wire


Instructions
Cut the cord attached to the lighter plug about 2 inches below the plug, using diagonal pliers. Remove about 2 inches of outer covering from the tip of the patch cord, using diagonal pliers. Strip off 1/2 inch of insulation from the tip of the two inner wires (positive and negative), using a wire stripper.

Look at the plug. Observe the two retractable metal fins protruding on each side of its cylinder, and the retractable metal nipple at its tip. Note that the side fins are negative conductors, and that the tip is the positive conductor of the 12-volt circuit.

Hold the plug cap in your right hand, hold the cylindrical body in your left hand, and twist the cap counterclockwise to unscrew the cap from the plug's cylindrical body. Find the holding screw along the adapter plug's cylindrical body, and unscrew it with a screwdriver. A lighter plug is typically split lengthwise along its center into two identical halves. Open the cylindrical body to reveal the metal fins and nipple inside, including a small spring that pushes the retractable metal nipple.

Note the order in which the metal conductors and spring are arranged inside the plug's cylindrical body. Remove the existing wires attached to the metal nipple, and to the metal fins, by cutting the wires using diagonal pliers.

Loop the stripped end of the positive wire (red, or black with white stripe) around the base of the metal nipple (positive terminal), and solder the copper wire to the metal nipple, using a soldering gun and solder wire.

Wrap the stripped end of the negative wire (black, without stripe) around the base of the metal fins. Fasten the wire onto the fins, using soldering gun and solder wire. Replace the metal nipple and metal fins inside the plug, and reassemble the plug in the same arrangement as you had found them earlier. Make sure that the positive and negative wires do not come in contact with each other.

Turn on your vehicle's ignition switch. Insert the car lighter adapter plug into a 12-volt receptacle on your vehicle's dashboard, and turn on your appliance to test the connection.

How to Install a New Cigarette Lighter in a Car

How to Install a New Cigarette Lighter in a Car

Most cars produced now days no longer have an actual cigarette lighter inside of the car. The port the lighter uses can still be found in all modern models, but these are now used to power electronic devices. Even if you have an older vehicle you may have burned out the cigarette lighter. If you tend to smoke in your car you may want to look into installing a new cigarette lighter in your vehicle.

Things You'll Need
Replacement cigarette lighter

Instructions
Place the key to your vehicle in the ignition and power on the vehicle. You do not need to start up the ignition, but at least turn the key far enough to start up your radio and power up the windows.

Place an electrical device that uses the lighter charger into the charger to make sure it still works properly. It is possible to accidentally blow out the charger if you have extracted too much power from it at one give point.

Pick up a replacement cigarette lighter. These can be purchased at most automotive stores such as AutoZone or Pep Boys. All cars use the same size so there is no need to measure the size of your power port.

Place the cigarette lighter into the power point. When you want to charge the cigarette lighter press it down completely. Once the lighter is hot enough it is going to pop out. Hold your cigarette against the hot tip for a moment to light the cigarette.

How to Wire an Extra 12 Volt Outlet in a Car

How to Wire an Extra 12 Volt Outlet in a Car

Adding an extra 12 volt outlet really comes in handy when you want to plug in that charger and the other outlet is being used. Wiring the outlet is simply a matter of connecting a positive and negative wire from the battery to the back of the outlet. Add an inline fuse in the positive wire and attach the negative wire to ground for safety. Test the outlet and you are finished.

Things You'll Need

Wire

Wire cutters

Wire crimpers

Wire connectors

Wire fasteners

Inline fuse with holder

Electric tape

Drill

Pliers

Instructions

Investigate the area behind the panel where you plan to install the outlet. Make sure there is enough room for the outlet to fit and be mounted. Outlets have different mechanisms used for mounting. It may have a ring behind it that must be screwed or a spring clamp that must be compressed to hold it in place. Some outlets are held in place with screws located in front at each side of the outlet.

Drill a small pilot hole in the panel where the outlet is located. Drill a larger hole, the same size as the outlet diameter.

Install and route two wires from the outlet location to the battery location. Use wire fasteners to secure the wire in place every few inches to avoid chafing the wire insulation and to keep it in place. Leave several extra inches on both ends for ease of installation and possible future needs.

Crimp the positive and negative wires to the corresponding wire leads at the back of the outlet. Wrap each connection separately and securely with electrical tape. Mount the outlet onto the panel according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Install the inline fuse holder in the positive wire at your desired location. Do not install the fuse at this time. Attach the positive wire to the positive post of the battery. Attach the negative wire to the negative post of the battery or to a common ground location. Insert the fuse into the fuse holder and test the outlet.