I have items that use 12v DC. Basically the items are meant to be plugged into the cigarette lighter plug-in's. However, I want to hard wire them. I'm having problems getting behind the 2 cigarette lighter plugins. Is there another source where I can tap 12v DC that has the same amperage as those of the plugins. I don't want to burn my items by putting too much juice to it... Otherwise, I would have run a new cable from the battery...
Suggestions anyone...

 

You are not going to burn up your equipment by hardwiring it to a circuit that can carry more current. Basically, the device will only draw as much current as it needs. What you need to know is how much current the device is going to draw. For example, you don't want to hardwire a decently powerful power inverter to your cig lighter because it will most likely pull more then 10 amps. But, if it's just a a normal device that is safe to run off a cig lighter then you could hard wire it to either of the cig lighters, behing the radio, or even the ignition harness. Hope that helps some.

 

You could go to a store like Radio Shack and buy a plug that will fit the aux. power sockets and you can then attach most any type of plug you would like to the other end (you will probably have the cut the wires). If Radio Shack does not have one, you can order one online.

When connecting a new device, these are major considerations:

1) Does the supply have the correct voltage -- not too little and not too much. If it has the correct voltage, then the current draw will be correct since voltage controls the amperage (current or juice) used by the device. Nearly every circuit in a car is 12 volts.

2) Does the supply have sufficient current capacity (amperage) to provide for the device without creating heat in the wires or original source. In other words, if the device draws 10 amps., don't connect it to a supply that can safely provide only 6 amps.

3) Surge capacity -- when you first turn on a 6 amp. device, it might draw 8 to 10 amps. for the first few milliseconds. Enough to blow a fast acting fuse.

4) Is the line fused or not -- you always want it to be fused -- or else risk a fire.

5) Do you want the supply to be active (live) only when the switch is on or do you want voltage at all times.


Minor considerations:

1) Frequency -- 50 or 60 cycles -- for A/C.
2) Filtering for D/C -- how free is the supply from voltage variations that can cause hum and audio noise in audio equipment.

 

well the device is actually a dvd player and it already comes with a cigaretter plug-in. but I want to cut the wire and have it hard wired so it doesn't look so ugly. the specs on this says DC 12v. and power consumption is less the 12W when operating, so I'm very sure it works with the any wire that is 12DC. There is a warning in the manual saying it must be powered from the type of switched power indicated on the marking label(ie. not directly from the car battery). I think they are just saying they want me to use their cable because there seems to be another transformer or such attached along the power cord. So do you think I can acutally attached it directly to the battery and attach another 10a fuse to it?
Do you think it will work that way.. does it matter what size wire I use to attach to the battery?

Anyways, I know the best approach is to connect it to the wires going to the accessory plugs, however I can not get the center panel off to get at the 2 screws for the lower compartment removal and I can not get at the one in the center console compartment either. I have already read the threads on how to remove the center panel, but it just does not want to come out. Any suggestions either on what to do or an alternate source to get power. I know there is a wire for the light that used to go to the upper box compartment, but that on only has power when the lights are turned on and I don't want to constantly have my lights turned on.

 

You should be able to remove the cigarette plug in the center armrest without having to remove the transmission cover.

I forget if there is enough slack on the wire harness that plugs into there, but I think there is just enough to get teh harness unplugged from the back.

Just open your center armrest and you should be able to pop the whole piece off that sits in the corner. At first looking at it, it's not easy to tell that thing just pops off, but it does.

Let me know if you have more questions. Hope this helps!

 

thanks for the info... actually it doesn't just pop off... you have to remove the rubber piece on the bottom and that reveals a screw. unscrew the screw and tilt the end where the screw was upwards. The top section will slide out nicely when you do that... Now I can see the clip. I tried tugging at it, but it doesn't give much at all... there's practically no space to splice the wire from what I can see. I'll see what I can do.. maybe I can solder something to the harness... or cigarette light...

 

Oops...my bad dude..! I forgot about that screw!!

Anyway...to remove the center transmission cover use this method. It has worked for lots of people including myself:
http://andylee.us/gallery/console

Good Luck!

 

where is this aux power connector? I was planning to tap into the cigarette lighter.