General Lighter socket - too small/shallow

[psychocandy]

Anybody else found this problem?

It seems the lighter socket is not all that deep. My phone charger etc keeps popping back out.

Anybody know of an extension or something or got any ideas?

 

[Tris Harris]

yeah i used to find this aswell...

annoying as hell when trying to charge your phone!

 

[Captain Mike]

yeah i also nock my knee on it when putting the cluth down so i nock my charger out

 

[alexGS]

Anybody else found this problem?

It seems the lighter socket is not all that deep. My phone charger etc keeps popping back out.

Anybody know of an extension or something or got any ideas?

There are two sizes of lighter socket in the world, I have found.

The European socket is bigger in diameter than the Japanese (and possibly American) socket.

This means that everything is a slack fit in the European socket, and, as you said, doesn't seem to push in very far. Anything that is designed to be a support or holder (e.g. for iPod) just wobbles around hopelessly.

The best solution I've found is to buy a replacement lighter socket from a general parts/accessory store and fit that in the dash in place of the original (keep the original for, err, originality). Replacements seem to be in the Japanese/Asian size, so that everything is a nice tight fit. I'm sure there's an opportunity here for crude jokes, but I am far above that

-Alex

 

[Captain Mike]

There are two sizes of lighter socket in the world, I have found.

The European socket is bigger in diameter than the Japanese (and possibly American) socket.

This means that everything is a slack fit in the European socket, and, as you said, doesn't seem to push in very far. Anything that is designed to be a support or holder (e.g. for iPod) just wobbles around hopelessly.

The best solution I've found is to buy a replacement lighter socket from a general parts/accessory store and fit that in the dash in place of the original (keep the original for, err, originality). Replacements seem to be in the Japanese/Asian size, so that everything is a nice tight fit. I'm sure there's an opportunity here for crude jokes, but I am far above that

-Alex

ive resisted the urge to make a joke

Venomco has many extra lighter sockets (i think about 12)

anyone who adds more please make a guide so us newbs can see how to wire these thing up

i like the idea of having extra places to plug things in

 

[alexGS]

Anybody else found this problem?

It seems the lighter socket is not all that deep. My phone charger etc keeps popping back out.

Anybody know of an extension or something or got any ideas?

There are two sizes of lighter socket in the world, I have found.

The European socket is bigger in diameter than the Japanese (and possibly American) socket.

This means that everything is a slack fit in the European socket, and, as you said, doesn't seem to push in very far.

The best solution I've found is to buy a replacement lighter socket from a general parts/accessory store and fit that in the dash in place of the original (keep the original for, err, originality). Replacements seem to be in the Japanese/Asian size, so that everything is a nice tight fit. I'm sure there's an opportunity here for crude jokes, but I am far above that

yeah i also nock my knee on it when putting the cluth down so i nock my charger out

Gangly Legs are too long or you are sitting with the seat too far forward. Knock has a silent k, just like knee.
I thought you weren't tall enough to see dents on the roof of a car

-Alex

 

[Captain Mike]

There are two sizes of lighter socket in the world, I have found.

The European socket is bigger in diameter than the Japanese (and possibly American) socket.

This means that everything is a slack fit in the European socket, and, as you said, doesn't seem to push in very far.

The best solution I've found is to buy a replacement lighter socket from a general parts/accessory store and fit that in the dash in place of the original (keep the original for, err, originality). Replacements seem to be in the Japanese/Asian size, so that everything is a nice tight fit. I'm sure there's an opportunity here for crude jokes, but I am far above that




Gangly Legs are too long or you are sitting with the seat too far forward. Knock has a silent k, just like knee.
I thought you weren't tall enough to see dents on the roof of a car

-Alex

haha.

no i sit too far forward

 

[Tris Harris]

The best solution I've found is to buy a replacement lighter socket from a general parts/accessory store and fit that in the dash in place of the original (keep the original for, err, originality). Replacements seem to be in the Japanese/Asian size, so that everything is a nice tight fit. I'm sure there's an opportunity here for crude jokes, but I am far above that

-Alex

i really do want to make the joke, but i cant do it because you realised exactly what you were writing

 

[The Free(welsh)man]

haha.

no i sit too far forward

how the heck could you knock things out of the lighter?!?!?! My legs go nowhere near that thing!

 

[Mikey-D]

I've found i knock my sat nav adaptor out with my hand when im changing gear - the bloody plug is too long!!

 

[Focus Owner]

i have this problem and shall try your fix
and might make a guide might be a film rather than words tho cause it cant be that hard

 

[The Sultan]

yes i have also found that my 12v in car microwave has minimal or no support in the (cigar lighter socket!!!)

for Christ sake go out and buy a car with both lighter socket and accessory socket you an also get hold of adapters that bulk up the Japanese style plugs for eu or as alex says

or you can get one of them like 2 or 3 gang extensions for them also and run many things from there

but be weary of certain phone chargers that may short out the socket and blow the fuse robbing you of your radio and interior light in most cases

anyway try here

http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/servlet/the-938/Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket/Detail

 

[Tris Harris]

yes i have also found that my 12v in car microwave has minimal or no support in the (cigar lighter socket!!!)

for Christ sake go out and buy a car with both lighter socket and accessory socket you an also get hold of adapters that bulk up the Japanese style plugs for eu or as alex says

or you can get one of them like 2 or 3 gang extensions for them also and run many things from there

but be weary of certain phone chargers that may short out the socket and blow the fuse robbing you of your radio and interior light in most cases

anyway try here

http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com/servlet/the-938/Car-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket/Detail

you sound slightly annoyed?

 

[Ziggy122]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar_lighter_receptacle

This may be intresting to read

its literally just about 1mm difference

12 volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size A

• Receptacle inside diameter: 20.93 mm to 21.01 mm (median 20.97 mm)
• Plug body diameter: 20.73 mm to 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 mm to 21.51 mm (median 21.455 mm)
• Plug body diameter: 21.13 mm to 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.

Will see about getting a Type A then

Ziggy

 

[The Sultan]

you sound slightly annoyed?

not really just a bit miffed at the kind of things people expect!! from something that is only designed for one purpose

the title of this threat should be i have bought a rubbish (insert appliance here) and it came with a second rate charger/power cable that is not fit for any modern car

 

[alexGS]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar_lighter_receptacle

This may be intresting to read

its literally just about 1mm difference

Officially that may be the case - unofficially I have found slightly more than 1mm difference to be typical!

My suggestion is, when you go shopping for a replacement socket, take the lighter plug from your car with you, and make sure you buy something that the lighter plug DOESN'T fit into

-Alex

 

[oktopod]

I also have this problem, and my friend dont, he has a Marea weekend
I use it for mp3 FM modulator.

Anyway, i found 4 positions in which it doesnt move, its like you have 2 contacts that stick out a bit on the appliance itself, and some that stick out in the lighter hole. Try to put it in so these 2 fit one on another exactly.

@littlepip its not that its not designed for any modern car, its just that Punto hole is shallow Why shouldnt I use it for other stuff then lighter, its a 12V socket not a lighter only socket? Only argument could be constant power consumption where lighter works for few seconds only

 

[Ziggy122]

i might have to try halford - i know they do illuminated one - so i can stick my orange surround on not the nasty green

But as u've said - take sumthing that dont fit - and test it in theres

I will need to change mine other wise i'll be using tape to hold the satnav charger in

Ziggy

 

[Tris Harris]

@littlepip its not that its not designed for any modern car, its just that Punto hole is shallow Why shouldnt I use it for other stuff then lighter, its a 12V socket not a lighter only socket? Only argument could be constant power consumption where lighter works for few seconds only

:yeahthat: agree with you, sat navs and phone chargers aren't pointless/ rubbish appliances...

 

[psychocandy]

not really just a bit miffed at the kind of things people expect!! from something that is only designed for one purpose

the title of this threat should be i have bought a rubbish (insert appliance here) and it came with a second rate charger/power cable that is not fit for any modern car

Ummm, no. Said adaptor fits fine in my last car and my wifes car. Also, any of my chargers (pds, nintendo ds, mobile) do not fit very well in the puntos 'hole'.