Rear cigar lighter help.

[Seagull]

My Inverter just went up in smoke and after changing the main fuse to the cigar lighters' circuit (thank god it tripped out), I notice the rear cigar lighter - where the inverter died - is still not working.

The little light is on but the socket does not work. Does is have it's own separate fuse behind the socket? If so, how do you get to it to change?

Mine's a T Reg (2000) Ford Freda by the way.

Cheers,

John

[daveblueozzie]

The wiring for the cigar socket is very thin and not up to the job of an inverter, the best thing to do is upgrade and rewire to a new socket to be on the safe side.
If you have a leisure battery wire it up to that with an in line fuse.

[Simon Jones]

There's a fusible link built into the rear of the socket but I don't believe it is replaceable. Either go with DBO's suggestion or bypass the link using a separate replaceable fuse and holder.

[scanner]

I think it is correct to point out that the rear socket is NOT a cigar lighter socket even though it looks like one. It is simply a quite low power socket unsuited to anything more than running a low powered cool box.

There have been plenty of posts on this forum warning about using it for anything other than low power applications.

I have found that using an inverter other than wired direct to the battery is asking for problems.

[Seagull]

Thanks for the responses.

I wish I had spotted the issue with the rear socket before. Looks like it's more of a repair than changing a fuse then.

[Velocette]

Thanks for the responses.

I wish I had spotted the issue with the rear socket before. Looks like it's more of a repair than changing a fuse then.

When I upgraded my wiring I replaced the standard socket with a Marine one and added a 2pin DIN for the fridge as well. You do have to enlarge the hole for the Marine socket but it is much sturdier. ( Tip: If you use the Marine socket from Maplins and you have to put the spade connector on with it in situ hold a plug in the socket while you push it on or the centre terminal can pop out causing much bad language!)

[bongojoe]

I have the factory-fitted inverter with a 100v outlet beside my rear lighter socket. The same set of wires powers both and they're incredibly thin. I plan to use the 100v to charge camera batteries while away, but certainly going to rewire straight to the leisure battery first.