What car manufacturers used to call "cigar lighters" are more often than not used as anything but.
Would there not be a better way of allowing one to power our phones/ satnav etc than by the cumbersome means of that plug that never fits as snugly as one would like? Perhaps a miniature version of a three pin plug?
Is it just down to car makers saving money by not "reinventing the wheel"?
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No its down to a standard by common use. Its the wrong standard for sure, but do you really expect me to throw all my car adaptors away?
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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How many do you have then?!
I must say that I dread putting my satnav plug into the lighter socket on my Saab 9-5, there is something about the effort and the snapping noise that puts me on edge. Not quite as traumatic when I'm in my Volvo s80 though.
I broke the lighter socket putting in a mobile phone charger when I had a Saab 900 (GM version)
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There are mini 3 pin plugs and sockets. The ones I know of are 24V volt and supply power to bus ticket machines.
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There are thousands of connectors you could use, but the current one is the nearest thing we have to a worldwide power adaptor.
With satnav, phone chargers, in-car DVD etc, I bet the sales of those 4 into 1 adaptors are soaring!
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Even then the 'cigar lighter' socket is not always the same. We had a Ford Escort once [last shape before it went out of production] and the lighter socket was not exactly the same as our Renault Laguna one.
I had to buy a different power cord (mobile phone) to fit.
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USB would be good, for powering most low-power devices such as phones, PDAs, music players, battery chargers etc... Cars could then offer enhanced integrated USB services on higher models, and just power on lower ones.
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USB would be good, for powering most low-power devices such as phones, PDAs, music players, battery chargers etc...
I have always disliked that my cellphones have come with model or manufacturer-specific connection cables. Eureka that my Blackberry Pearl came with USB; no need to carry a separate charger on my frequent international travels, and no need for a special cable whenever backing up to non-Bluetooth device. At last, common sense!
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and before I am informed, yes, it does charge more slowly on USB supplied power, but with a computer running 24x7 this is never a problem!
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And there are 2 (flat) pin 12 volt plugs and sockets already standard in the caravan industry.
--
Terry
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I have installed a 5v usb supply in my car. I bough a cheap mini USB hub, feed it with a cigar lighter/usb power plug and voila - 4 powered USB ports for stuff that needs usb style power leads.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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To tjink my Dads 1937 Austin 10 and 1949 Austin 16 both had a two pin 12v supply on the dashboard ,he used to plug his Lancaster bomber heated gloves and boots into it.
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To tjink my Dads 1937 Austin 10 and 1949 Austin 16 both had a two pin 12v supply on the dashboard ,he used to plug his Lancaster bomber heated gloves and boots into it.
LandRovers had them too. So does my 1964 Triumph 2000, but under the bonnet mounted on the wing. It was a standard size, for inspection lamp, parking light, map-reading lamp, etc.
Of course, you had to look at the colours, red/black, if the polarity was important.
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