Installing an additional cigarette lighter in a car

The cigarette lighter is an essential attribute of any car. Often there is a need for an additional cigarette lighter, located in the trunk or on the panel, next to the main one. Through a splitter you can connect up to 3 different devices to one cigarette lighter. The additional cigarette lighter is connected directly to the battery. After reading the article, you will learn how to connect the cigarette lighter in your car correctly without harming your car.

How does a cigarette lighter work?

A car cigarette lighter is two devices - a heating element and a connector (plug) in a convenient housing. It can be directly connected to the battery, so the device works even if the ignition switch is turned off. In addition to its main purpose, the plug is often used as a 12/24 volt outlet to which a splitter is connected to provide power to a laptop, phone or other devices. A splitter is also connected to it, so you can simultaneously charge a laptop, phone, or use a DVR. The power splitter or power supplies of these devices are inserted into a plug that provides a reliable connection to the cigarette lighter socket contacts.

What you need to insert a cigarette lighter

If you decide to install an additional cigarette lighter, you will need the following tools:

• drill;
• set of metal drills;
• metal crown, the diameter of which corresponds to the selected cigarette lighter;
• round and flat files;
• soldering iron;
• solder;
• rosin;
• pliers;
• side cutters;
• Screwdriver Set;
• heat-shrink tubing;
• switch;
• fuse;
• the wire;
• a regular cable splitter (220 volts) from a hardware store

Where is the standard cigarette lighter located in a VAZ 2110 car?

The standard cigarette lighter of the VAZ 2110 has a long socket, but modern devices are designed for a European cigarette lighter (short). If you need to install an additional cigarette lighter, you must ensure that it is compatible with new devices. It is possible to connect a second cigarette lighter either by running a separate wire from the battery through a 15A fuse, or in parallel with the standard one. The placement of the cigarette lighter in the car interior depends only on your imagination.

What to choose?

If you are thinking about purchasing a car cigarette lighter splitter, then you probably already have a fleet of in-car electronics that you need to connect. This allows you to roughly imagine the required number of connectors. For example, if you simultaneously use a DVR, navigator and radar detector, then it is logical to look towards models with three 12-V sockets and two USB ports. In this case, the main devices will be occupied by all the car cigarette lighters, and there will be a couple of free USBs left for charging a smartphone or tablet. The maximum possible configuration is four 12-V connectors and two USB ports.

When choosing, you should also pay attention to the cable length. It can reach three meters. If you don’t need extra cords in your car, then you can get by with a model without an extension cord, but in this case it would be wise to choose a splitter with a variable angle. In this case, it will be more convenient to connect devices; besides, in some cars the sockets are hidden in niches: in this case, you cannot do without such a design.

Installing an additional cigarette lighter on a VAZ 2110

The simplest way to install an additional cigarette lighter is to install the cigarette lighter in place of the socket of a portable lamp. It already contains a permanent “plus”, you just need to remove the socket, not forgetting to disconnect the battery, slightly increase the diameter (by 1 mm) and install an additional cigarette lighter in the socket. Another way is to install a cigarette lighter in the VAZ 2110 tunnel. In stores you can easily find cigarette lighters with a cover, fuse, and wiring.

Test program and methodology

All devices were tested for maximum current load. To do this, their output sockets were loaded with reference resistances, providing a load current of 10 A (or 5 A, if specified in the instructions) at an input supply voltage of 13.5 V. We monitored the thermal conditions of the devices and the integrity of the fuses (if they existed at all).

If there were USB sockets, the output voltage was checked, as well as the actual current output at a load corresponding to the average consumption of a smartphone with navigation and DVR programs turned on. The standard charger of such a smartphone produces a voltage of 5.24 V and a current of 1.75 A. The limiting parameters for ensuring a positive energy balance were considered to be a voltage higher than 5.0 V and a current greater than 1.15 A. These are average parameters that are strongly influenced by brightness display backlight or data exchange intensity. The presence of nest illumination was assessed separately.

How does a cigarette lighter and its structure work?

The device circuit is simple. The cigarette lighter in a car consists of several parts:

The cigarette lighter is designed in such a way that when the car owner presses the button, the contacts are closed, to which alternating current is supplied. As a result, the element begins to heat up. When the maximum temperature is reached, the built-in thermal relay gives the command to snap off the device. If used correctly, the car cigarette lighter will work for a long time. However, there are reasons why the device fails earlier.

This is the connection of several powerful devices to one socket. The maximum permissible current value increases and the cigarette lighter fails. Therefore, car owners tend to install an additional device in their car.

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How to select and install a cigarette lighter socket A cigarette lighter socket is necessary on long trips to recharge a mobile phone, connect a navigator and other devices to the on-board network. Let's start with choosing a nest!

Cigarette lighter socket. Easily attaches to the side of the plastic

Cigarette lighter socket double overhead

Mortise cigarette lighter sockets. Mounted in plastic panels, they do not spoil the appearance, they look as if they were installed standard from the factory

Cigarette lighter with crocodiles. Used as a temporary (spare) option for charging the phone while parked. A universal thing, for those who don’t want to bother with installation, put the crocodile clips on the battery terminals and go.

To use this version of the cigarette lighter when driving, we recommend replacing the alligator clips with ring connectors (sold at any radio parts store)

There are several ways to connect the cigarette lighter socket. Let's consider the most popular connection schemes:

1. The simplest connection diagram: the cigarette lighter socket is connected directly to the battery terminals, without a fuse

Disadvantages: this circuit is not protected in any way; if there is a short circuit, the wiring burns out, and there is a high probability of fire.

We strongly recommend using a 10-15 amp fuse to protect the electrical wiring! The fuse is installed on the positive wire as close as possible to the power source.

2. A more interesting option: connect via a power relay, controlled from the ignition switch.

Connection diagram for the cigarette lighter, via a relay, with a control plus from the ignition switch.

In case of emergency, you can install a toggle switch for turning on the cigarette lighter, bypassing the ignition switch. The toggle switch can be used to turn on the cigarette lighter. For example, to charge the battery while parked, without disassembling, we will make an adapter for your charger.

To increase the performance of additional equipment, all elements (fuse, relay...) of our circuit must be well secured. It is better to tape the wires with electrical tape to the standard wiring or first lay them in a plastic corrugation, and then fix them along the body.

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How to improve a ready-made cigarette lighter

Many car enthusiasts purchase a special splitter unit that allows you to connect several devices to one connector (see photo). However, the design of the car's cigarette lighter, as well as the cross-section of the wires, does not allow it to be used as efficiently as possible.

Connecting several devices leads to excess voltage or current, causing the fuse to blow or the wires to burn out. Then the device needs to be repaired. You can improve the device by choosing thicker cables that fit the car cigarette lighter.

The millimeter of cross-section is designed for a current of about 5 - 10 amperes. If a device with a power of 300–500 watts is connected to the socket, then the power will reach 25–40 amperes. You will need wires with a cross section of 4 - 6 mm. Such a reinforced structure will work for a long time without causing problems. You can connect an additional socket according to the instructions described earlier.

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How many cigarette lighter sockets do you need?

Autotourism experience suggests that the driver and navigator use 3-5 slots for portable equipment:

• DVR;
• navigator;
• mobile phone.

Advanced users will add more consumers:

• tablet or chartplotter to view the map;
• radar detector to avoid speeding;
• spare mobile phone for communication while roaming;
• a walkie-talkie for talking on the road if you are traveling in a convoy.

All that remains is to add heated seats, charging a laptop, camera and batteries for flashlights - and the problem will rise to its full extent. What to do?

The easiest way

— buy a splitter (tee) for the cigarette lighter and attach it next to the main one. As the number of electrical appliances increases, use new tees or Y-splitters.

Negative point

— you need to control the total power (read: current consumption) of the connected equipment. The cigarette lighter is not designed for currents exceeding 10 amperes, the total load should not exceed 120 watts. Therefore, attempts to use a boiler with a fan heater are nipped in the bud.

Helpful advice:

In advance, find in the fuse box the chip responsible for the operation of the cigarette lighter. Stick a contrasting mark nearby and attach a spare fuse-link of the required rating. Then, when you change it at night during the rain, you will thank yourself.

It is prohibited to replace a blown fuse with a higher rating! Thin wires will not withstand such current, the insulation will melt, and a short circuit will lead to a fire!

How to connect correctly

A three-pin plug fits a standard car cigarette lighter. Before installing an additional device, you need to understand how a car cigarette lighter works and learn the pinout.

The connection diagram looks like this.

Option to mount directly to the battery

There is a way to connect directly to the car battery. This scheme has advantages. You need to know how to connect the cigarette lighter directly to the battery. This will avoid interference with the wiring itself. The work will take less time; the positive wires should be brought directly to the battery, and the negative wire should be attached to the car body.

It is necessary to select the necessary spare parts. Initially, this concerns the wires. Each square millimeter of cross-section is designed for 5 - 10 amperes of current. You should take the wire with a reserve. A cross-section of 3–5 mm is quite sufficient to transmit the required voltage. Otherwise, the wires may burn, resulting in a risk of short circuit. The circuit should be routed through an additional fuse with a rating specified by the manufacturer.