+12V Cigarette Lighter

[dpnguyen]

Anyone know of a way of having the +12VDC from the cigarette lighter turn off when the key is pulled out? I'd like to use it for my cell phone charger but hate to keep on pulling it out when I turn off the car.

thanks in advance.

 

[JTravick]

Yeah...Great question! I have the same problem, but with my radar detector. My old acura would turn off with the car -- I have never heard of a way of changing it. Its gotta be something to do with the programming. I wonder if the dealer can program it.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I highly doubt it's programmable. Cigarette lighters are hardwired. A computer-controlled cigarette lighter would be overengineering taken to the extreme. Theoretically, it would be possible to rewire it to a switched power source, but it wouldn't be worth the effort, IMO.

 

[bmwrocks]

I'd like to use it for my cell phone charger but hate to keep on pulling it out when I turn off the car.

This is my understanding of how this works: As long as your cell phone is not connected to the charger, you can leave the charger plugged in. The charger is drawing no current with no load (the phone) so it will not discharge the battery even though the charger itself is powered on.

 

[JTravick]

My cell phone charger has a little red LED -- Im sure it doesn't pull much current -- but its still getting some power.

 

[330i and like it]

A car battery is not going to run out of charge from charging a cell phone even if the engine is not running. I leave mine plug in all the time and have never had a problem, if you do I think it is time for a new battery!

 

[Kirby]

The LED in the charger draws so little current that you could get 6 months or more of continuous power before the battery would run down.

Most (all?) phones have charge controllers inside the battery or phone to prevent overcharging the battery, which is very bad for Lithium batteries. So when your phone is fully charged, the current drain is almost 0.

Don't worry about it......

 

[karpman9]

What about my Escort Passport X50? Do you guys think if I leave it pluged in, and the detector is left on, it can drain my battery? I have thought about having it hardwired to avoid this from happening.

Thanks.

 

[Talk2USoon]

What about my Escort Passport X50? Do you guys think if I leave it pluged in, and the detector is left on, it can drain my battery? I have thought about having it hardwired to avoid this from happening.

Thanks.<<<<<<

I've done that by accident plenty of times, with no obvious effect, but never in the dead of winter (since I took delivery last March).

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

The LED in the charger draws so little current that you could get 6 months or more of continuous power before the battery would run down.

Most (all?) phones have charge controllers inside the battery or phone to prevent overcharging the battery, which is very bad for Lithium batteries. So when your phone is fully charged, the current drain is almost 0.

Don't worry about it......

good to know...know i didnt' start it but something good to know to tell teh folks...

 

[subsilver]

OK... follow up question... does anyone know of a thread on here (or any other instructions) that shows how to install an additional cigarette lighter? I hate that I have only one. Been thinking about installing it on the back of the arm rest, but am open to suggestions.