Pin connections for cig lighter?

[triggz]

Anyone know which pin is what? I'm re-wiring the cig lighter in my car onto another circuit.. The factory connector seems dead (checked fuses)

the connector is shaped like this:

[] []
..[]


1 2
..3

I think #1 is +12, and #3 is the ground.. #2 looks like it goes to a small metal piece on the outside of the plug well and isnt used(?).

TIA! :SNSign:

 

[Dragstr05]

If the fuses are good, did you check for power supply traveling through the fuse?

Wiring it into another circuit may not be such a good idea...you may overload another circuit whenever you use it. You should be able to get a connector with wire leads pre-attatched that you can simply solder into your existing harness.

 

[dude496]

*edit* did you ever do a voltage check across the pins? Did you get your 12 volts?



unfortunatly i don't have the wiring diagram.... but from what you are describing, pin #1 would be your positive, pin #2 would be your shield, pin #3 would be your return (ground) A shield is used to basically clean up the electrical signal (i.e. alternator hum).

Return is a tricky word in the direct current (dc) world for ground...if your bored and want to learn more do a google on how dc

Basically, in a car there is no true ground...everything works off of a difference of potential. The only point where alternating current (ac) is in play is at the alternator, everything else is dc.

If what your installing only has a + and a - use pins 1 & 3...if it has all three, use 3 as your return, 2 as your "ground"

To verify what i'm saying, take your meter and do an ohm's check; the setting that looks like a horseshoe. If the reading is less than 6 ohms, its electrically the same.

Hope this helps some....if you have questions, feel free to ask