Automobile auxiliary power outlet: Difference between revisions

12 volt cigar lighter plug.

Metal and plastic sockets

The cigarette lighter receptacle in an automobile was initially designed to power an electrically-heated lighter for cigarettes. It was later used as a de-facto standard DC connector to supply electrical power for portable accessories used in or near an automobile. Examples of devices that can be operated from a cigarette lighter receptacle include lights, fans, beverage heating devices, and small motorized tools such as compressors for inflating tires. Many portable electronic devices such as music players or mobile telephones use a cigarette lighter receptacle to recharge their internal batteries or to directly operate from the vehicle electrical system. Adapters for electronic devices may change voltage to be compatible with the supplied device. Devices that require alternating-current power at 120 volts or 240 volts can be operated with a plug-in inverter. Currently, automobiles may provide several cigarette lighter receptacles that are intended primarily to operate accessories and are not to be used with a cigarette lighter.

While the cigarette lighter receptacle is a convenient and nearly universal feature of automobiles, as a DC power connector it has the disadvantage of relatively low current rating and poor contact stability.

Lighter

Car cigar lighter

The traditional lighter is a metal or plastic cylinder containing a thin coil of nichrome wire, through which high current (~10 amperes) passes when the device is activated, usually by pushing it into the socket as though it were a button. When pushed in, the lighter is held against the force of a spring by a hook attached to a bi-metallic strip. The heating element becomes glowing orange hot in seconds, causing the bimetallic strip to bend and unhook the mechanism, and the handle pops out. If the lighter is then promptly removed from its socket, it is capable of setting cigarettes, cigars and tinder (among other things) on fire.

In newer cars, the socket often ships with a plastic dummy plug, without the lighter heating element due to declining popularity (and legality) of smoking. However, the socket continues to exist to power consumer electronics in cars as the primary purpose. Often, a vehicle may come with several outlets for convenience, some in the rear passenger area of the vehicle. Even the cargo area may be supplied with sockets for such purposes as powering portable GPS devices, recharging telephones, or powering a tire pump or a vacuum cleaner. These usually have a plastic cap tethered to them, and are usually labeled as being only for DC power since they are not intended to withstand the heat produced by an electric cigarette lighter.

Plugs

Twelve volt automobile plugs are standardized in the United States by the "UL standard 2089" regarding vehicle battery adapters. This standard covers plugs and cord sets that insert into cigarette lighter receptacles. In Europe, 12 volt plugs and sockets are regulated and require approvals; see "e mark" for requirements.

History

In the United States cigar lighters started appearing as standard equipment in automobiles in 1925/26. In 1928 the Connecticut Automotive Specialty Company in Bridgeport patented the first automotive cigar lighter with cord and reel. The modern "automatic" automotive V-Coil lighter was developed by Casco in 1956.

In the reel type lighters, the igniter unit was connected with a source of current by a cable which was wound on a spring drum so that the igniter unit and cable could be withdrawn from the socket and be used for lighting a cigar or cigarette. As the removable plug was returned to the socket, the wires were reeled back into it. The circuit was closed either by pressing a button or removing the igniter from its socket.

In 1921, the Morris U.S. patent 1,376,154 was issued for a so-called "wireless" or "cordless" lighter. This lighter eliminated the cables and the mechanism for winding and unwinding them. The igniter was heated in the socket then removed for use.

Technical details

These sockets can be unreliable and the power connections they provide are limited to low current, but they are ubiquitous. Plugs often include a pilot light to indicate a connection has been made. The sockets and mating plugs are defined in the ANSI/SAE J563 specification.

For the 12-volt systems, the "contact point," which is the center part of the plug when viewed end-on, carries the positive voltage, whereas the "can" part, which is the outer part of the connector, carries the negative voltage (which is the "ground" connection for most automobiles, which have a negative ground electrical system).

12 volt auto connectors are made to comply with a standard by Underwriters Laboratories for safety. UL2089 was developed to cover the requirements for portable adapters rated 24 v dc or less that are intended to be supplied from the battery powered electrical system of a vehicle. Products covered by the standard include cord assemblies of a plug that mates with the standard cigarette receptacle found in automobiles.

12V Sockets normally comply with SAE standard J563.

6-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug:

• Receptacle inside diameter: 21.34 - 21.46 mm (median 21.4 mm)
• Plug body diameter: 21.08 - 21.23 mm (median 21.155 mm)

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size A:

• Receptacle inside diameter: 20.93 - 21.01 mm (median 20.97 mm)
• Plug body diameter: 20.73 - 20.88 mm (median 20.805 mm)
• Most often used in American automobiles.

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size B:

• Receptacle inside diameter: 21.41 - 21.51 mm (median 21.455 mm)
• Plug body diameter: 21.13 - 21.33 mm (median 21.18 mm)
• Most often used in European automobiles, and sometimes as a second socket in American automobiles expressly for DC power connections.

Issues with use as a power supply

Since the cigar lighter socket was designed to heat a cigar lighter, using these sockets as power connectors can lead to many problems. In addition to the issues with incompatible sizes, plugs can vibrate out of the socket under normal driving conditions, owing to poor retention. There have been reports of melted plug tips.

A second problem is that nominally "Twelve-Volt" power in cars fluctuates widely. The actual voltage will be approximately 12.5 volts when dormant, (less when cold) approximately 14.5 volts when the engine and the alternator/generator are operating, (more when cold) and may briefly droop as low as 5-6 volts during engine start. DC/DC converters will usually compensate for these small fluctuations.

Rarely, more extreme cases of voltage fluctuation can occur when the car battery is disconnected while the engine is running, or when the car receives a jump start. When the battery is disconnected, a load dump transient can produce very high voltages. A car receiving a jump start from a truck will be subject to its 24 V electrical system. ("double battery jump-start" is performed by some tow truck drivers in cold climates.)

See also

• Automobile accessory power
• DIN 4165 connector
• USB (the 5 volt analogy to automobile cigarette lighters)
• Inductive charging
• Electric vehicle
• Wiring harness

References

• Standards And Specs For In-Seat Power On Aircraft Still In The Clouds discusses mechanical and electrical deficiencies of using the cigar lighter socket for power.
• SAE J563 (Six- and Twelve Volt Cigar Lighter Receptacles)
• SAE/USCAR-4 (Standard for Cigar Lighters and Power Outlets) (USCAR=United States Council for Automotive Research)

External links

• CASCO Lighter History (1925 - 1960)
• CASCO Lighter History (1960 - 2005)
• Pictures of 12V Connectors

An assortment of 12V Auto Connectors

Types of 12V Auto Connectors

12V Plug: The male is referred to as a plug and is commonly supplied as an accessory with cell phones, iPods and other consumer products.

12V Socket: The receptacle was called a cigarette or cigar socket and today referred to as 12V power port or accessory port.

Standard 12V auto plug

12 volt auto socket

Design Considerations

Vibration. Heat. Shock. Humidity. Corrosion. Pressure. These real-world conditions cause device failures and higher support costs for suppliers. Without a reliable and continuous supply of current, an electronic device’s operation will be interrupted and the system might be damaged. Repeated, forceful insertions and removals by consumers could cause stress fractures of plastic or metal components and wires. Retention: An automotive 12v-plug needs to be able to retain itself into the socket even under significant vibration, shock, and torque. Failure to properly hold the connection, even for a matter of microseconds, can result in an interruption of power and device malfunction. A well-designed 12v-plug will resist shock and vibration, while remaining easy to remove without tools.

Durability: Depending on the use, a device could have its 12v-plug inserted hundreds or even thousands of times throughout its lifespan. Because of the retention issues described above, an automotive plug must hold its connection securely. However, this results in extra wear upon the contacts as the same high grip which secured the 12v-plug causes increased wear under the stresses of removal and insertion. Thus, it is important to insure that 12v-plug materials be durable enough to withstand stresses that could cause dangerous fractures.

Corrosion Resistance: When components are exposed to humidity, airborne pollutants, extreme temperatures, and other environmental conditions, corrosion can result. Over time, this corrosive build-up can cause loss of electrical contact. The use of corrosion resistant contacts is particularly necessary for portable devices, where protection from the elements cannot be guaranteed.

Contact Conductivity: The choice of metals in 12v-plug sets determine how easily electricity will flow from the automobile to the device. Some types of platings are subject to oxidation and thus the resulting increase in electrical resistance. More conductive metals that resist oxidation, such as gold, allow high conductivity, meaning lower resistance, which allows for slightly quicker charging during short trips.

Fuses: A safety item that every automotive cord set should have but frequently do not. Many assume that the current in automobiles is not subject to voltage changes. An automobiles electrical system can have very high voltage spikes, for instance when the starter stops a minus 200 volt spike can occur, and large positive spikes can also occur. The battery does a good job as a filter because it acts like a large capacitor to absorb these spikes, but a fuse is an inexpensive insurance, especially in a product having worldwide distribution and use.

Product categories include new plugs, sockets, flexible power cords, charging stations and vehicle connectors. Product safety testing will have to address connectors, stationary and portable electric vehicle cables and personal protection circuitry.

References

• Standards And Specs For In-Seat Power On Aircraft Still In The Clouds discusses mechanical and electrical deficiencies of using the cigar lighter socket for power.
• SAE J563 (Six- and Twelve Volt Cigar Lighter Receptacles)
• SAE/USCAR-4 (Standard for Cigar Lighters and Power Outlets) (USCAR=United States Council for Automotive Research)
• Automotive voltage transients