cigarette lighter mod?

[tom klein]

on my '02 legacy wagon, the cigarette lighter/utility socket is only
powered when the key is either in the aux or the on position. i
believe this is normal for this model.

this sucks, because i can't take the key out and lock the car while my
cell phone is charging.

1) are there any simple mods to wire the lighter socket to another
circuit that's live even with the key out? (my preference is for
simple, safe, and reversible mods.)

2) has anybody wired up an extra lighter socket in the armrest box?
this is a very cool place for a socket, since it allows you to hide
valuables like cell phones and ipods while they are charging.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

on my '02 legacy wagon, the cigarette lighter/utility socket is only
powered when the key is either in the aux or the on position. i believe
this is normal for this model.

this sucks, because i can't take the key out and lock the car while my
cell phone is charging.

1) are there any simple mods to wire the lighter socket to another circuit
that's live even with the key out? (my preference is for simple, safe,
and reversible mods.)

2) has anybody wired up an extra lighter socket in the armrest box? this
is a very cool place for a socket, since it allows you to hide valuables
like cell phones and ipods while they are charging.

Of course, it can be done. You'll have to hack the socket there already,
or add an additional one and directly wire it to a live CKT.

You'll need at least a couple tools; a Volt Ohm meter, or one of those
LittleFuse fuse checkers, and a socket, and some method for cutting the
plastic.

http://www.idealtruevalue.com/servlet/the-31649/Detail

(You can see the tester in the upper right corner)

Also, get an inline fuse holder (optional).

Using the fuse tester, with the ignition OFF and the key out, check all
the fuses until the LED lights. This indicates a CKT that's live all the
time. You may want to check it with the ign on and in ACC, just to make
sure it's always live.

If you have a meter, pull the fuse and look for a voltage. One side of the
fuse will be 'hot' all the time, and, with the fuse out the other side
will be dead. Use a fuse tap:

http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/FUSE_TAP_ATC_SPADE_LARGE_p_2095.html

to provide a spade lug to connect onto. Connect the tap to the DEAD SIDE
of the fuse to eliminate having to add another fuse (You may want to fuse
this anyway, but it's kind of redundant...)

Run the wires from your socket to the fuse tap.

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-12vdc-car-power-accessory-outlet--pi-2062272.html

(Note that this already has an additional fuse and female Spade lugs
installed)

The socket can be removed from the mount and snap-fitted into a correct
size hole anywhere in the car.

If you REALLY want to get fancy you can add a timer CKT using something
like a 555 timer, but that's beyond my capabilities!

 

[Larry Weil]

Also, get an inline fuse holder (optional).

Using the fuse tester, with the ignition OFF and the key out, check all
the fuses until the LED lights. This indicates a CKT that's live all the
time. You may want to check it with the ign on and in ACC, just to make
sure it's always live.

There is also an always on wire running to the radio, you can find out
which one by probing the pins on the connector into the radio. Once you
find out you can use one of the squeeze taps to tap into the wire.

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

There is also an always on wire running to the radio, you can find out
which one by probing the pins on the connector into the radio. Once you
find out you can use one of the squeeze taps to tap into the wire.

UGH! He said squeeze taps!

In another thread in another group, I was saying these make excellent wire
cutters in a pinch!

What I do is take a bifurcated crimp (the ones that look like a "U", cut
one of the 'ears' off, and shove it into the connector from the rear of
the connector, and then secure it to the factory wire with a cable tie
to keep it from coming loose. The terminals in the connector are pretty
tight, so you get a good contact.

 

[tom klein]

thank you, this is most helpful, especially since i didn't know about
those inexpensive fuse taps.

once i get 2 of the taps, what i intend to do is use them to jumper
from the fused end of an "always on" circuit to the fused end of the
lighter circuit, and replace the lighter fuse with one that is
purposely "blown", so that i don't energize anything else in the
process. (if i understood correctly, i will need to put a fuse, good
or blown, in just to hold the tap in place.)

also, does anybody know if there were any optional power outlets on the
'02 legacy, like in the back? i'm lazy, and it's so much easier to "go
with the flow" and follow the manufacturer's design, especially if
there's a chance that it's already prewired.