Replacing Cigarette lighter with usb.

[nightshade]

For us non smokers its a hassle to keep track of a charger for our phone and moving it from one car to the other. A pilot friend of
mind sent me this link:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/10030?gclid=CJa8xbWUksMCFc0-MgodUHoAFw

It allows you to replace your stock Cigarette lighter without much modification. Thought others might find this useful..

[cadillacmike68]

Nah, Just get a travel charger for each car.

What you can't afford that? 

And you're in a Cadillac club???

[76eldo]

That's a good suggestion.  They do sell adapters just about everywhere that plug into a standard lighter socket and have a USB output.  I have seen them as low as $5.00.

Brian

[TJ Hopland]

I like it.   Most of those $5 adapters don't last and really don't charge very well due to their low available current.  Also the cords in the same bin as those $5 adapters don't last either.  Its a toss up if the wires break or the contacts wear out after a few uses.  The one he linked to should charge anything you could plug into it as fast as what ever it is will take it. 

[gary griffin]

Too bad it is for 12 Volt and 24 Volt systems.  They always overlook those of us with 6 volt systems and positive grounds are really ignored.

[joecaristo]

When ever I read things about updating an old car to whats popular today I think of when I bought my 77 Eldorado in 1984. It still had the factory 8-track player in it. I was 20 years old. All my friends used to get on me to put in a modern cassette player. I always replied "Someday cassette players will be out of style too. I'm keeping my car factory original" I still have the car and I show kids at car shows how to work the 8-track player. They are amazed that thats the way we listened to music in the car back then. Theres to point to my story. I know everyone's got the right to do what they want with their car. This post just made me smile.

[cadillacmike68]

I like it.   Most of those $5 adapters don't last and really don't charge very well due to their low available current.  Also the cords in the same bin as those $5 adapters don't last either.  Its a toss up if the wires break or the contacts wear out after a few uses.  The one he linked to should charge anything you could plug into it as fast as what ever it is will take it.

The linked item is not $5.

A proper travel charger has proven to be quite durable, and not any more expensive.

The linked one looks like it has to be wired up (thus making it non-portable) and where do you put it?  The link suggests the lighter jack?!? OK, but there goes your lighter outlet.

I'd still prefer a proper charger, you can get them with both the micro USB and a regular USB input.

"Twice the amperage of most cigarette lighter adapters" - well, maybe the $5 ones...

[Jason Edge]

Me and my wife have dual USB lighter adaptors in all of our cars. No, don't buy the very cheapest thing you can find, but a decent dual USB with smart charging circuitry that will limit charging when full and protect against voltage and current surge is not expensive! Most provide 2.1 amp current for fast charging which is about 4 times the 1/2 amp you will get from standard USB ports and on par with the new USB 3 devices and ports. For just over $10 you can get something like the one in this link:  http://www.amazon.com/Dual-USB-Charger-3-1Amp-15-5W/dp/B00CD0JBZK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1421294028&sr=8-7&keywords=usb+charger+lighter
For $20 or $30 you can get some really creative chargers that can charge up to 5 or more devices and provide additional lighter sockets.

With the extremely fast changes in technology, I would just keep the original lighters working and get newer and smarter adaptor as you need them.

[nightshade]

Nah, Just get a travel charger for each car.

What you can't afford that? 

And you're in a Cadillac club???

I kept losing the dang five dollar ones so I just got fed up and replaced my cigarette lighter with the USB port. I wired a second 12 volt port in the back for the portable fridge or whatever else needed a standard plug

[nightshade]

Too bad it is for 12 Volt and 24 Volt systems.  They always overlook those of us with 6 volt systems and positive grounds are really ignored.

Our phones only need 5 volts to charge.

This article uses a GPS but It works the same with USB and answers the question with positive ground
http://www.asciimation.co.nz/austin7/?p=632