flat

flat

Well-Known Member
I want to wire my CB direct to the battery in my defender 90. I also want it to be easily removed as I only use it laning.
Can I run a +ve and earth from the battery in a conduit, with a fuse inline, up to the rear bulkhead then stick a cigarette lighter socket on the end to plug it in?

I have a small switch box maybe 8 x 8cm x 5cm from a workshop machine I was thinking to put the socket in. I would also like to wire my spare map reading light off this aswell.

Can I do this or do I need to have second fuse boxes/ relays and all that **** I don't understand?

I want it perm live so both items work with the ignition off

Is this acceptable or am I going to light myself up in flames?

Ed
 
The way I see it, the standard fitted cigarette lighter socket in the dash is normally permanent live from the battery with an in line fuse. No relays there.

as long as all the wiring and fuse are sized for the correct amps then I cannot see a problem. Just check your CB and map light for the watts you are going to use / amps required and go with that.

although remember cigarette lighter sockets are normally only rated to a certain wattage. but atm I cannot remember exactly what that is.

Cheers
 
Cheers yeah will work that out,

The light is 0.5w 12v, not sure about the cb will have a look

Ta

Ed
 
Yes, I've done something very similar with mine around a year ago, and I haven't gone up in flames yet. I've put a lived feed from the battery to a new fuse box behind the driver's seat which works a lighter socket and an inverter. I put an inline fuse on the wire before it left the battery box so if it chafes on the bodywork that'll blow fairly quickly and prevent any disasters. Not that it should, because I've got grommets wherever it goes through a panel, but just in case. Yes, you might need a relay if you want it switchable, but otherwise no need. You can get lighter sockets that have a finished-off rear end so you don't need to mount them in an enclosure.
 
flat said:
Cheers yeah will work that out,

The light is 0.5w 12v, not sure about the cb will have a look

Ta

Ed
Click to expand...

Oh well, that is a small light so I cannot see that being a problem for a wire, You could look at it this way, instead of making the wiring to fit the CB, just make the wiring to suit the maximum wattage the cigarette lighter is rated for, then you would be able to plug pretty much anything with a cig lighter plug into it in the future if needed.
 
neilly said:
Oh well, that is a small light so I cannot see that being a problem for a wire, You could look at it this way, instead of making the wiring to fit the CB, just make the wiring to suit the maximum wattage the cigarette lighter is rated for, then you would be able to plug pretty much anything with a cig lighter plug into it in the future if needed.
Click to expand...

Cool cheers, that a good idea
 
i plug all my extras (cb, sat nav,phone charger)into a multi socket cigar lighter socket easy to take everything out when i need to
 
Fuse needs to be as close to the battery terminal as possible for best protection against chaffed wires.
 
Cig lighter sockets are by far the worst invention in the world for 12V power sockets. They are highly unreliable and really don't work well off-road as plugs bounce out.


I use these:

PowerCons.jpg


For most of my electrics I've just chopped the lighter plug off and wired one of these sockets on, but, I have also made a 12v cig. socket adapter, so, if someone else wants power i can still provide it.

The joy with them as well as you can buy off the shelf cables and extend power where ever you need it (e.g. up to a roof tent to power lights / phone chargers)
 
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