Charging via the lighter socket.

[davidd]

Imagine how annoyed I was after leaving the car for a few days with the solar charger plugged in only to find I had a flat battery!

Is the lighter socket output only? Does it only work with the ignition on?

I've checked the charger and it is working.

Should I hard wire the charger in? If so where should I connect it (fusebox I assume, but where do I connect). Or can I make the lighter socked always on???

And before anyone comes up with any funny comments about not driving it...don't!

D.

[alans]

the lighter socket on my 99 cerb is always live. Some plug in adaptors can be a bit tricky to get a good contact on mine though, does your cig lighter work?
My battery does not go flat after a few day even with no trickle charging, may be worth having your battery checked.
alan

>> Edited by alans on Wednesday 27th August 12:11

[RichB]

My trickle charger works fine via the cig-lighter, ar eyou sure it works with the ignition off? Check it works if it does then perhaps you have the polarity wrong on the plug? Rich...

[kojak69]

my lighter socket is always live too. I nearly flattened the battery with my Road Angel speed detector.

[gixxer1000]

Davidd, I had exactly the same thing happen to me.

* bought a solar charger as I thought that this would be the answer to my battery flattening issues

* plugged it into my cigarette lighter and the LED on the solar thing flashed to confirm it was getting enough sunlight to charge

* left the car for about 5 days and the solar charger had flattened the battery!

Bloody waste of money. I have since had the battery replaced and drove the car yesterday after being away for 3 weeks on holiday (without bothering about solar bloody chargers), and it started no problem.

If you do find a solution to the solar charger / cigarette lighter issue then I'd really appreciate an update.

Cheers.



>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 27th August 12:31

[alans]

gixxer1000 said:

Davidd, I had exactly the same thing happen to me. * bought a solar charger as I thought that this would be the answer to my battery flattening issues * plugged it into my cigarette lighter and the LED on the solar thing flashed to confirm it was getting enough sunlight to charge * left the car for about 5 days and the solar charger had flattened the battery! Bloody waste of money. I have since had the battery replaced and drove the car yesterday after being away for 3 weeks on holiday (without bothering about solar bloody chargers), and it started no problem. If you do find a solution to the solar charger / cigarette lighter issue then I'd really appreciate an update. Cheers. >> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 27th August 12:31

You need to look at the wattage, current these things put out, in perfect conditions 125mA is about average, and that is not much to put into a car battery.

[gixxer1000]

alans said:

You need to look at the wattage, current these things put out, in perfect conditions 125mA is about average, and that is not much to put into a car battery.

Good point. Unfortunately I have didched the packaging, and I don't recall any info being displayed on the device. It ought to be fit for purpose however, as it was sold as a "car battery saver"!

>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 27th August 15:20

>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 27th August 15:20

>> Edited by gixxer1000 on Wednesday 27th August 15:21