1994 GMC K2500 - I Want To Install Some Extra Cigarette Lighter Plugs

I'm getting frustrated by having only the one in the ashtray, and I'd like to add at least one or two more.

Is there a safe and easy way to tap into the existing plug's wiring? Will it overload anything? I can probably figure it out, but I thought I'd ask first so I don't end up with zero working plugs.

c

Answering my own thread...

I was browsing around Amazon, and this item looks promising: amazon.com/Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Extension-Refrigerators/dp/B0CYB2B35F

Thoughts?

c

cc333 said:

Answering my own thread...

I was browsing around Amazon, and this item looks promising: amazon.com/Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Extension-Refrigerators/dp/B0CYB2B35F

Thoughts?

c

Click to expand...

That one is designed to be wired directly to a power source, with its own fuse included, so if you power it from the battery you won't be risking popping the fuse for your existing lighter socket.

If you chose to piggyback on the existing lighter socket, just consider the potential draw of how many things you might have plugged in simultaneously. The circuit on your '94 that powers the lighter socket is also shared with the park lamps, horn relay, and horn itself - should be a 20A fuse. Don't be tempted to over-fuse it or you could have a bad time.

I've been thinking about this subject myself as I get my '93 closer to daily driver capability. I generally need 2 sockets instead of 1. I don't smoke, and don't care about an ashtray, so I might fab up a simple little panel to pop in place of the ashtray and put the 2nd socket on it next to the original.

Richard

Is the goal for something like this? I installed these on a couple of Atv’s and they work great.
As a bonus you get a more accurate voltage.

Caman96 said:

Is the goal for something like this? I installed these on a couple of Atv’s and they work great.

Aluminum Dual QC 3.0 USB Car Charger Socket Power Outlet with Digital Voltmeter | eBay

Specifications: Material: Aluminum alloy Dual USB interface, voltage detection, good compatibility QC3.0 Qucik Charge With waterproof cap Voltage LED Digital Display Built-in short-circuit protection of over-current and over-voltage, support trickle maintenance charging mode USB Port: 2 USB...

www.ebay.com

As a bonus you get a more accurate voltage.

Click to expand...

I've seen a bunch of those and thought about them but personally decided against - I get a little annoyed with a bunch of lights and such on the dash, especially bright blue LED's. A while back I had a particular phone charger with a stupid bright blue LED that was particularly obnoxious, so I ended up painting over it. Small indicators are helpful but some of these folks take it too far, LOL

Oh and in my case, one of the charge cords I need to plug in isn't USB, it's an actual lighter plug, so I'd need to retain at least one regular socket.

Richard

someotherguy said:

I've seen a bunch of those and thought about them but personally decided against - I get a little annoyed with a bunch of lights and such on the dash, especially bright blue LED's. A while back I had a particular phone charger with a stupid bright blue LED that was particularly obnoxious, so I ended up painting over it. Small indicators are helpful but some of these folks take it too far, LOL

Oh and in my case, one of the charge cords I need to plug in isn't USB, it's an actual lighter plug, so I'd need to retain at least one regular socket.

Richard

Click to expand...

I totally agree with that, although it doesn’t bother me on an Atv. Seems nowadays, many like all kinds of lights lighting up the dashboard…double dins, leds. Definitely not for me, I find it distracting and I don’t like changing the look inside either.

Hmm, which is safer?

I feel like wiring directly to the battery would be the best, since I wouldn't have to touch the OEM plug wiring at all.

Caman96 said:

Is the goal for something like this? I installed these on a couple of Atv’s and they work great.

Aluminum Dual QC 3.0 USB Car Charger Socket Power Outlet with Digital Voltmeter | eBay

Specifications: Material: Aluminum alloy Dual USB interface, voltage detection, good compatibility QC3.0 Qucik Charge With waterproof cap Voltage LED Digital Display Built-in short-circuit protection of over-current and over-voltage, support trickle maintenance charging mode USB Port: 2 USB...

www.ebay.com

As a bonus you get a more accurate voltage.

Click to expand...

I thought of it, and it might be nice, but I think a regular plug would work better for my needs.

@someotherguy My thoughts exactly!

I once had a portable hard drive enclosure with a particularly obnoxious blue indicator, and what I did was open it up and put a piece of electrical tape over the LED itself, and while it was much more tolerable, I could still see it through the tape!

If I do get one of those USB widgets (I might get a dual version, with one regular socket and a pair of USB's where a second socket would normally go), I'd likely do the same.

c

cc333 said:

I once had a portable hard drive enclosure with a particularly obnoxious blue indicator, and what I did was open it up and put a piece of electrical tape over the LED itself, and while it was much more tolerable, I could still see it through the tape!

Click to expand...

Then just get this type:

cc333 said:

Hmm, which is safer?

I feel like wiring directly to the battery would be the best, since I wouldn't have to touch the OEM plug wiring at all.


I thought of it, and it might be nice, but I think a regular plug would work better for my needs.

@someotherguy My thoughts exactly!

I once had a portable hard drive enclosure with a particularly obnoxious blue indicator, and what I did was open it up and put a piece of electrical tape over the LED itself, and while it was much more tolerable, I could still see it through the tape!

If I do get one of those USB widgets (I might get a dual version, with one regular socket and a pair of USB's where a second socket would normally go), I'd likely do the same.

c

Click to expand...

I'd think wiring directly to the battery is a safe choice, as long as it's fused properly, and routed away from anywhere it can get chafed or burnt. I'd go with the smallest possible fuse you can select for your purposes. I'd rather experiment with popping a few small fuses instead of finding out the wire will catch fire from a direct short before the fuse pops. The design of the one you posted is pretty decent IMO, with the fuse holder very close to the source. The less unprotected wire run, the better.

Richard

OK.

I'm thinking of maybe having something like this tapped into the stock wiring for phones and other low power stuff (FM transmitters, etc), and the direct-wired plug for heavier stuff, like back massagers, AC inverters, air compressors, etc).

Is this a sound plan?

c