Tapped into cigarette lighter and should not have.....
12-30-2007, 09:04 PM
#1
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Tapped into cigarette lighter and should not have.....
Well $#*(%^@%(*#!!!
I skimmed over the posts regarding this, and off I went!
I got the dash open no problems.
Tapped into the back of the switched "cigar lighter" in a feeble attempt to hard wire my GPS unit.
Things seamed to be going well until I powered up.
Since my Nextel work phone has the same mini USB connector as my GPS I luckily decided to plug it in first in case I screwed up.
I screwed up................ The acrid electrical smell filled my nose as I watched the Nextel screen go blank. I turned of the ignition switch, took the battery out of the Nextel, put it back in and it powered back up, but now it has a reverse charge or power surge or some crap. It can not be charged now from any source. Glad I plugged the phone in instead of my GPS. My job will replace the phone for me...................
What did I do wrong, besides taking on a job that I apparently was unqualified for ?????????
What was I thinking.........................
I skimmed over the posts regarding this, and off I went!
I got the dash open no problems.
Tapped into the back of the switched "cigar lighter" in a feeble attempt to hard wire my GPS unit.
Things seamed to be going well until I powered up.
Since my Nextel work phone has the same mini USB connector as my GPS I luckily decided to plug it in first in case I screwed up.
I screwed up................ The acrid electrical smell filled my nose as I watched the Nextel screen go blank. I turned of the ignition switch, took the battery out of the Nextel, put it back in and it powered back up, but now it has a reverse charge or power surge or some crap. It can not be charged now from any source. Glad I plugged the phone in instead of my GPS. My job will replace the phone for me...................
What did I do wrong, besides taking on a job that I apparently was unqualified for ?????????
What was I thinking.........................
12-30-2007, 09:48 PM
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12-31-2007, 06:22 AM
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I don't think it would matter much if the polarity was right or wrong, sending twelve volts to your cell phone is a very bad thing 
If the cable you tapped into the line was made to do so and you simply did not just cut off the "cigarette plug / adapter" then your GPS should probably work just fine. If you did cut off the adapter then you are probably about to fry your GPS as well.
If the cable you tapped into the line was made to do so and you simply did not just cut off the "cigarette plug / adapter" then your GPS should probably work just fine. If you did cut off the adapter then you are probably about to fry your GPS as well.
Last edited by Windrocker; 12-31-2007 at 06:27 AM.
12-31-2007, 10:19 AM
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Without thinking at all I cut the plug end off and wired it straight to the power source.
No mystery now........................
I am posting this thread in shame, so others can learn from my idiotic mistake.
No mystery now........................
I am posting this thread in shame, so others can learn from my idiotic mistake.
dont feel too bad, you may have saved me from frying my ipod this weekend by doing the same thing 
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01-01-2008, 04:31 PM
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update
****UPDATE****
I ended up rectifying my mistake..................
Went back in to the center dash and wired up an additional accessory plug outlet to the factory switched one on the dash.
Zip tied it to the wiring harness (between the two heater / A/C ducts)
Plugged a charger adapter into it (leaving it behind the dash) and ran the connection end up behind the radio and through a hole I drilled in the back of my Daystar upper dash panel.
Conveniently the charger fits both of my cell phones and my GPS (mini-USB)
I ended up rectifying my mistake..................
Went back in to the center dash and wired up an additional accessory plug outlet to the factory switched one on the dash.
Zip tied it to the wiring harness (between the two heater / A/C ducts)
Plugged a charger adapter into it (leaving it behind the dash) and ran the connection end up behind the radio and through a hole I drilled in the back of my Daystar upper dash panel.
Conveniently the charger fits both of my cell phones and my GPS (mini-USB)
