Who designed the automotive 12V power connector? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:40:07 am
content: As the title says, who thought it was a good idea to design a connector that is held in only by friction, with the center pin trying to push it out, for use in a high vibration environment? I've had to modify those plugs to prevent them from working loose while driving. (If I were to design it, I would at least put in a locking tab...)

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:42:58 am
content: It's an artifact of the original power interface - to push in a coil of metal and heat it up enough to light a cig ... you have to look at that first. The power connector was just designed to fit what was already in the car.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:46:39 am
content: Beaten by xrunner--but yes, it was never designed as a power connector, it was designed as a cigarette lighter and some bright spark had the idea of re-using the receptacle for a purpose never intended. It was useful, so it caught on...That said, I've never had a problem with any of my cellphone chargers working loose. The plugs and receptacles these days seem to be designed to lock in place fairly securely.

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:50:35 am
content: Some of the plugs are really stupidly designed. They only have a ground connector on one side and it doesn't grip well enough to hold the plug in.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:51:56 am
content: Quote from: Mike Warren on May 09, 2013, 01:50:35 amWell, there's no accounting for 0.1 cent mass produced parts...

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 01:54:31 am
content: Quote from: IanB on May 09, 2013, 01:46:39 amIf you don't light cancer sticks and ruin the connection it usually works fairly well.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:20:57 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on May 09, 2013, 01:54:31 amand your car! Seriously, why do people spend thousands of dollars on a car and then freakingsmokein it?? Even if they do smoke otherwise! Pretty much my whole family smokes and they all have the restraint not to ruin their expensive possessions with it...

author: envisionelec
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:33:48 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 09, 2013, 02:20:57 amDo they not possess their lungs?

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:41:07 am
content: God I miss them...After a root, a coffee, a meal, during a beer and whilst driving. I'd give my left lung for one right about now

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 02:47:06 am
content: Quote from: envisionelec on May 09, 2013, 02:33:48 amPeople make unhealthy choices all the time. I'd probably be a few pounds lighter if that weren't true...They generally, however, do not choose to vandalize their own property. Whether or not it's indicative of an improper sense of priority is beside the point.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 04:17:28 pm
content: I remember my dad smoking cigs and using the car lighter. I also remember the built-in car ashtrays, full of butts. I remember as a kid seeing where people had dumped the ashtray full of butts on a parking lot here and there. Yuck.I remember the coil getting red-hot and popping out of the power hole. I really loved the red-hot looking coil as a kid, but not what goes along with it.I wonder how many amps that coil of metal took to get red hot. Must have been a few.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 05:06:32 pm
content: Quote from: xrunner on May 09, 2013, 04:17:28 pmYou know, coming from a family of smokers I'm not really the type to be prejudiced against them, but if somebody tried to tell me that all smokers are disgusting, irresponsible and rude people, I don't think I'd be able to give much of a rebuttal. A good few of them do a fine job of giving that impression, don't they?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 05:20:12 pm
content: I tend to rip them out and replace with a din socket and plug.http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/hella-din-plug?_trksid=p2045573.m2388http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PACK-of-3-Continental-DIN-HELLA-12-24V-16A-Accessory-Power-Sockets-/290854377210?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item43b84596fa

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2013, 05:43:22 pm
content: The actual contact to the positive supply is made to a bimetal clip inside the socket, as the coil of wire heats up the bimetal expands outwards to eventually let the unit spring back. You can make a better plug by using the disc in the place of the positive lead, and the shell as ground, This will make better contact in the original design, but the common ones nowdays are no longer designed to have the clip ( biggest cost item there, and as they are now "power sockets" it is no longer used) so you cannot plug a lighter in them now.

author: Dr.Fiero
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 12:51:18 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on May 09, 2013, 04:17:28 pmTypical circuit had a 25 amp fuse, so... Probably 20 amps or so (the resistance and thus current would change as the coil heated I'm sure).Who else has fixed someone's lighter circuit, by removing the penny (etc) from the socket!

author: envisionelec
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2013, 02:48:34 am
content: Quote from: Dr.Fiero on May 10, 2013, 12:51:18 amSpeaking as a former car audio installer: Many, many times.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:00:32 am
content: Quote from: xrunner on May 09, 2013, 04:17:28 pmI haven't bought a new car in a long time.. what is there now? do they still have a socket, just for accessories? but it's empty? no more glowing red firecracker lighter?Yes, I agree ashtrays dumped on the parking lots is something I don't miss now.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 12:06:16 pm
content: The socket is still there, but is now marked Accessory socket, new cars often do not come with a lighter, but to compensate they often have 2 or more sockets, as well as in some vans a socket or two in the rear section as well. They now though have a 10A fuse in the fuse box, not the 15 or 20A that was there before, and use a thinner wire, so you can only really draw 8A with the engine running, or else the voltage drop on the wiring becomes large.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 03:55:26 pm
content: They should just do away with that.. and put some a few real accessory sockets there. But there is far too much momentum now for that cigarette lighter as an accessory socket.Also, new cars should have multiple USB sockets, not more lighter sockets.And Vans and Pickup trucks should have built in Anderson Powerpoles.. but I guess they leave that to the after-market guys.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2013, 11:21:48 pm
content: I have a 2005 Toyoya Xrunner (that's where my name comes from) that has a 120 VAC plug near the tailgate for tailgating parties. Enough power to run a blender.