12V cig lighter socket

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yoyoman @ Apr 5 2006, 08:48 PM) [snapback]235687[/snapback]</div>

Sounds like you just popped the fuse that's under the dash. Look up from the floor just to the left of the steering wheel, and you'll find the interior fuse block, with the items labeled. The wires to that 12V outlet are pretty skinny, and a compressor may be a bit much!

Here it is:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yoyoman @ Apr 5 2006, 09:25 PM) [snapback]235709[/snapback]</div>

No, no. That's MY job.

Wow. 15A. That's huge for the size of the wires that go to the socket. I'd think 10A was pretty generous. Anyway... stop using that compressor in that outlet.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 5 2006, 09:52 PM) [snapback]235726[/snapback]</div>

I vaguely recall that somebody tested the available voltage on the outlets when the vehicle was in Ig-On and when it was in Ready. The 12v outlets put out about 11v when in Ig-on and closer to 14 v when in Ready.

Where you running this compressor when the vehicle was in Ready or Ig-on? I'm curious more than anything else.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jeromep @ Apr 5 2006, 09:59 PM) [snapback]235728[/snapback]</div>

I just measured 12.8V and 14.1V respectively ("rest" measurement will depend on how long the car has been sitting). Measured with my FLUKE, so should be quite accurate. I'd be concerned if we were seeing 11V at rest. Should be 12V or better without the inverter on.

Of course I also popped the fuse while testing (stupid long probes that are handy for OTHER projects just burned me!) I hope these little tiny fuses are available somewhere other than the Toyota dealer. Every car I but, the fuses get smaller. Why don't we have micro breakers in cars yet?

The silver lining here is that now I know my wiring and connections for my additional always-hot 12V outlet are safely protected by a 15A fuse. (hey, I'm not always an optimist, so this is a breakthrough).

 

This happened to me on one of our previous cars. Those compressors that use the cigarette lighter outlets have a tendency to pop the fuse eventually (usually sooner rather than later). I'd advocate investing in a larger compessor (albeit somewhat more expensive, though certainly not prohibitively) that you can charge with your regular household outlets - they tend to hold their charges well enough to do the job. Very happy not having to seek out one of the few (and ever rarer) service stations that don't charge for air!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowman83 @ Apr 6 2006, 02:25 PM) [snapback]235983[/snapback]</div>

Or get a REAL compressor. You won't believe how often you use it once you have one! That said, I have three compressors here (for plasma cutter, nail guns, other air tools, general cleaning) and yet I still use my manual floor pump to pump the tires on the bicycles and car. Never needs to be charged or plugged in, totally portable, and a great workout. Can be puchased for $20, but I recommend getting a good one for about $80 so you'll enjoy it more, and not write me hate mail.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 6 2006, 02:28 PM) [snapback]235984[/snapback]</div>

My father has one and I use that most of the time to do my tires. I have a tiny compressor that was bought for my last car. I rarely use it these days (although I did use it 2 weeks ago), but I have the Prius in "Ready" when I do use it.

 

My favorite pump, now obsolete with today's almost unreachable engines and their computer control, was called "Enginair" and it used the pressure from a valve you screwed into one of your spark plug holes in the cylinder head. Start your engine (and listen to it run rather rough!) and watch your tire pump up very quickly. I don't think I'll try it on a Prius...