Trickle chargers and cigar lighter connections

[Big M1ke]

I’m looking to buy a trickle charger for my elderly sister. I thought the type that uses the cars cigar lighter socket would be easiest for her but can’t seem to find any. They all seem to need direct connection to the car battery. What has changed? Why can’t I find the easier option?

[Andy665]

C-Tek offer a cigar lighter connector - great chargers too

[Uggers]

A lot of modern stuff doesn't have the 12v power sockets permanently live to prevent any plugged in items draining the battery.

Therefore I imagine in order to charge the battery through one, you'd need the ignition on? Or there is a diode to allow a socket charger to be used?

All depends on the car but it can also be easily modified so you could use the 12v power socket.

[RobM77]

My wife's charger has a plug on the output lead so you can buy a cigarette lighter adapter if required (or Anderson etc):

Charger: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E907PWS/ref...

Cigarette adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004LWWNI0/ref...

To use a cigarette lighter socket to charge a car though you need to have a socket that's always on in the car, which few are. My wife had initially bought the adapter for the same reasons as you quote, because she didn't want to have to pop the bonnet etc, but it didn't work.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Uggers said:

A lot of modern stuff doesn't have the 12v power sockets permanently live to prevent any plugged in items draining the battery.

Check this. I have an optimate with a cigar adaptor, but then my old motor is 20 years old & the lighter is permanently live.

[xiodene]

The VX220 has a permanently live cigarette lighter socket, I charge mine through it sometimes.

So yea... that might be helpful ... if your elderly sister drives a VX220??

[Hoofy]

What they said. You could connect direct to the battery to bypass the cigarette lighter socket. This kinda thing with the crocodile clips would work. https://amzn.to/2VvdYhb

I use it on my 10 year old car but the lighter socket is constantly live (which was a surprise to me).

[SuperPav]

If the car has an OBD port you can use that as a permanent live for charging, as long as it's trickle charging only.

Something like this will make it plug and play...

https://amzn.to/2VvOFfb

[Big M1ke]

Thanks for the help. I’ve established that her 8 year old Honda Jazz has an always live cigarette lighter socket so I am getting her a Ctek charger with an additional lead for cigarette lighter connector.

[RobM77]

Big M1ke said:

Thanks for the help. I’ve established that her 8 year old Honda Jazz has an always live cigarette lighter socket so I am getting her a Ctek charger with an additional lead for cigarette lighter connector.

That's interesting My wife's car (as mentioned above) doesn't have an always live cigarette lighter socket, and that's a 13 year old Civic. I guess Honda changed their mind!

[normalbloke]

Ctek also do an adapter option to charge through the tow socket,if you have such a thing.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

normalbloke said:

Ctek also do an adapter option to charge through the tow socket,if you have such a thing.

That's cool, I've never heard of that!