C1 Lighter Wiring
I would like to use the lighter receptacle for a GPS or other device. I assume the wiring used for the lighter is adequate to handle the typical current draw. Am I wrong?
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Re: C1 Lighter Wiring
Art, I have used a map light, portable vacuum, and small hand held blower powered through the receptacle with no problems. Steve -
Re: C1 Lighter Wiring
GPS draws much less than a lighter so you're okay.....however, I recommend you tap a 15 amp fuse between the ammeter tap and the lighter to protect everything. I use a glass fuse type twist holder and make up a mating connector with spade terminals to use the existing harness terminals.
I also add a 30 amp fuse at the input to the ammeter from the engine harness to protect a catastrophic type short. Also a 15 amp fuse to the clock if it's the original wind up type. I make these junctions so that they can be easily removed for judging, but consider safety and fire protection most important on any car I restore.
Remember.....There is no fuse protection for Ignition, wiper motor, lighter, clock, gauge feeds, and horn relay on base C1's.
I fried my ammeter to lighter harness wire while driving my '59 100 miles to Kissimmee Regionals in 2008. I installed a new lighter element as part of the preparations, and unbeknown to me I mistakenly used a later type element. While driving along about 20 miles from home, I remembered the lighter and that I forgot to test it back at home. I pushed it in........
It exploded and blew out back towards me. There was a yellow flash of fire as it ejected. The flash was worse likely due to some oily residue on the lighter housing from the oil gauge leaks in past years. The oil gauge is directly above the lighter on the 58-62 cars. It was a direct dead short because the element was wrong. My stupid mistake. If I had a temporary 15A fuse in the ligher circuit, it would have saved it. I've had one there now!
Needless to say, when I got to the Regionals I had no time for repairs, and got major deducts in OPS and Interior Judging due to this. This failure prevented me from the next Flight Tier. I missed by just a few points and the lighter problem and a defective brand new repro T3 lamp nailed it all negative just under the Flight breakpoint. Live and learn.
A typical way I locate the Main and Lighter fuses. Hidden yet easily accessible.
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RichComment
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Re: C1 Lighter Wiring
Art,
Believe in Richard's fuses. Another bad story, during OP's pushed in lighter - it jammed, smoke from under dash & hood! Smart judge pulled battery disconnect and all was well except no more starting - we rolled into & out of show You can loose the entire car!Comment
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