12V jac - cigaret lighter

Hi'

First of all thanks for all the great info in this forum.
But here my Q goes: I'm having some troubles with my 12V jack (the lighter-jack). I would like to use it as a power source to i.e. my cell-phone and PDA.

It works allmost allright, but it seems that the jack does NOT match EXACTLY the different things i've trying to connect. It is a bit hard to explain, but it seems that the jack in my car is a bit too wide/big so there is a risk for a "loose" connection when i plug my devices in.

Does I need some sort of an adapter from FIAT in order to let the 12 V jack accept devices without these troubles?

try bending in the metal strips on your devices plugs out slightly and/or bend in the ones in the lighter socket. had this with a few cars where they dont fit so well and you need to adjust them to get power

I bought a RoadTrip to plug my iPOD into the lighter socket. It came with a plastic colar that reduces the size of the lighter socket and stops everything flapping about. Works a treat with phone charger aswell. I can't think where you would get one from besides getting it with the appliance you are trying to run. I'll post again if I can thing of anything.

One thought. I bought a 12V jac socket from Maplin. It wasn't cheep at £6.99 GBP but the plugs snap in place very securly. I don't know if it would be posible to fit one of those in place of the Fiat one???

Hi again.

First of all - thanks to "custard boy" and "lanchester01" for their answers. But my problem is not solved yet.
It might be a good idea to tell 3 facts about my situation: 1) I'm not a car-freak, and 2) I'm from Denmark and 3) I need to put both my phone and ipaq in the 9V at the same time (so I have bought a splitter for 40 DKK => 4£)

I tried "custard boy's" hint and tried to modify the jack (of my splitter) - but it does not seem to work well for me ;-)

Then I tried to buy another splitter (which might fit better), but then my 12V jack died. And I needed to change the fuse in the car's engine room. (It took me almost a hour to figure out...:-(

Then I took a look on "lanchester01"'s idea. First I've searched the web after "RoadTrip" - and it seems to cost 28$ (rather expensive when the only thing i need is a 12V jack...)

Concerning the 12V jac socket from Maplin. First of all I'm from Denmark and don't know "Maplin" - is it a UK autostore?
Secondly I'm not a carfreak and I does not want to change the existing Fiat plug.... :-(

So my best idea is if anyone knows about where (in Denmark or by mail) it is possible to order a plastic cone like the one with the RoadTrip???

Thanks for all the hint - I'm still hopeing to find a solution...

/gtergy

Fiat cigarette lighters are slightly wider in diameter than standard ones.

could do as i have in my car and have a cigarette lighter socket running of the rear connections of the existing wiring(my lighter is replaced by a boost gauge).that way you can position it where its handy for you and hopefully it will be a bit tighter for you.

i bought a standard size power socket for my old brava. just drilled out the hole and stuck it in. wiring was already there (for something my hsx didn"t have!)

Whats the with 'carfreak' comments

Yep "darkcircuitUK" - you got the point :-)

I am afraid Drilling, replacing, screwing, wireing etc. is not an option... (since I'm no carfreak at all... - I only know how to refill with more gasolin).

So it seems like the only solution is if I can buy one of those cones from a RoadTrip for the ipod... - or another external solution.

But anyway... thanks to all the posters. It's nice with all those ideas!

Niels

Ps.: A little "bonus Question" - what would be the optimal rpm to have the engine running: 20000, 25000, 30000 - or?

my 04 panda gone 2 but its r8t i gettin new astra in 8 week

and thats relevent to this thread how?

Hi'

I would just inform you that I've found a solution to my 12V splitter problem.

I know most of the readers in this forum are from the UK - but just in case any Danes have the problem:

A "twin jack" from the Danish shop "Merlin" (www.merlin.dk) fits 100% in a fiat Panda 12V jack!

The ones you can buy in the Danish shops "Harald Nyborg" and "T-Hansen" does not fit correctly in the Fiat Panda jack. It was the one from "T-Hansen" which broke my fuse...

But: I'm happy now.