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MG MGA - Mobile Phone

Hi
Is it possible to charge a mobile phone from a cigar lighter socket in an A with positive ground?
Thanks
Brian Paddon

Brian,
Yes, but you have to wire the lighter socket the other way round to normal, so that the centre pin (Pos) goes to earth and the outer part goes to Neg (Live).

That way any normal modern piece of kit will work.

Don't forget to fit an in-line fuse of some sort on the feed wire.

regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Thanks for your reply Colin
Am I correct in thinking that I will have to isolate the case when fitted in the metal dashboard?
Thanks
Brian Paddon

Brian

You do need to isolate it. The cigarette body is normally the ground for -ve earth cars. I found it easier to mount the unit on a wooden board such as one of the panels behind the seat and wire up as Colin says.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Brian
As the others have said, it can be done quite simply. As Steve mentioned it needs to be isolated but I sourced one with a plastic body so that eliminated that problem. I am not sure but think I got it in Halfords.
i wired mine in to the "live always" section of the fuse box. My battery charger now also has a cigarette lighter adapter on it, so I can charge the car very simply by plugging the charger in there.
Graham
Graham V

Forget cigarette lighter adapters and all that goes with them - yesterdays solution.

What you want is a solution that gives you a solid connection and a couple of USB sockets without the dodgy connections of the cigarette lighter adapter

Have a look at this: eBay auction 361508428851

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tachograph-Dual-USB-DC-DC-Output-Converter-Module-12V-To-5V-3A-15W-Power-Adapter-/361508428851?hash=item542b94dc33:g:cn0AAOSwyjBW4R7z

I use these all the time, and have much better results for a VERY reasonable price. They are also much easier to install with positive earth cars, as apart from the connection, everything is already well insulated. It is also easy to make a very discrete installation, and the USB sockets ensure a rock solid contact.

dominic clancy

Just be careful if you instal a USB output that get a 2.4 amp output type not the 1 amp output. The 2.4 amp is need to run your phone if using a gps app for a long period or want to charge a tablet.

Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I have not yet totally gone Domin's route. I have the cigarette socket in the wooden bulkhead and a USB plug-in connector. Works well with my mob and sat nav.

Steve
Steve Gyles

For some reason they all seem rated at a nominal 3A. Must be some technical limitation in one of the internal components, or perhaps the usb connector.
Graeme Williams

I have a pos earth electronic fuel pump, and really no intention of changing to neg earth. So to get this right for a cigarette socket, I insert the plastic socket in the wooden backboard, and also switch the wires on the socket itself?...then all should be OK?
Gary Lock

Just remember that the metal body of the lighter will be live so make sure dangling keys from the ignition switch can't touch it.
To my mind, the usb option is safer!
Graeme Williams

This might be of interest. I converted the ashtray in my positive ground '57 MG Magnette to a power source for charging phones and running accessories such as tyre pumps etc. (see photos) I used fully insulated sockets bought on eBay from a Chinese seller titled 1st.ing. The USB connector is still available - item No. 261978688989.


Andrew Dear

"...and the USB sockets ensure a rock solid contact."

Not necessarily. I drove for two hours this morning, under the misapprehension that my phone was charging from a USB socket.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 07/05/2016 and 09/05/2016

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