Help! How do I connecting a cigarette lighter socket kit to an XT battery?

**Iain** · #1 15th September 2006

Help! How do I connecting a cigarette lighter socket kit to an XT battery?

I don't want to bugger up my electrics, so thought I'd run it by people to see if there are any potential problems.

If I buy the kit below, can I simply wire it into the battery or would I need to take another approach, for example placing a fuse one the wires?

http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo...em=17&mitem=28

Any help or advise would be much appreciated.

Iain.

**Matt Cartney** · #2 15th September 2006

Hi Iain,
I ran a wire (using an appropriate ring connector) from the positive terminal of my battery to the positive terminal of the 12v socket. On this wire I fitted an in-line fuse of 5 Amps (I'm fairly sure it was).
I then ran a wire from the negative terminal of the 12v socket to a suitable earth on the bike. Somewhere on the frame is ideal, mine uses a ring connector round one of the passenger handle bolts.
It works fine.
Matt

**Iain** · #3 15th September 2006

How's it going Matt?

Thanks for the information.

How are you settling back in after your trip, have you anything else planned?

Cheers,

Iain.

**Iain** · #4 15th September 2006

Matt,

The one I've been looking at does not seem to have an earth wire, do you have details of the one you brought, perhaps a link?

Cheers,

Iain.

**Matt Cartney** · #5 15th September 2006

Hi Iain,
I'm not too bad, just got an office (shudder) job to pay off the debts. Was thinking about going to South America in 2008 actually, but am now diversifying my adventure by doing 5 smaller trips, not all on a motorbike (I know, heresy eh?!) .
So far the trips include: Trans Sahara, possibly to Timbuctou on the XT; a big open canoe trip down one of the big rivers in the Canadian wilderness; skiing across the Hardangervidda in Norway. Not sure about the other two trips yet. Man, 2008 is going to be a fun year!

I had a look at your link for your 12v adapter. It appears to have a red and black wire protruding. The red should be your positive and the black your negative (or earth) wire. However, if your one only has one wire then it is either missing a wire (!) or meant to be earthed through the body work where you bolt it to the bike. I'd say the first is more likely.

Matt

PS- Sorry, can't remember where I got mine.

**Iain** · #6 15th September 2006

So do I know just connect the red to the positive and the black to the negative, the earth connection this throwing me.

Are you saying I should connect the red to the positive and the black to the frame, RATHER than the negative?

Sounds like you have some good trips planned. I reckon my next trip after South America is going to be London to Cape Town. Not sure how much cash I'd need for that, but this is the plan.

Thanks for your help on this.

**Iain** · #7 15th September 2006

One final question, do you know how to connect the cigarette socket up so that it does not give power when the ignition is switched off?

Cheers,

Iain.

**bikerz** · #8 15th September 2006

to connect the lighter plug so there is no power when the bike is switched off you need to find a wire that has power once ignition is turned on.
suggest go to fuse box, select thickest wire and take a feed off this.turn ign on / off to make sure power goes on/off. if you don't have a multi meter to do this then use a small 12v bulb with some wires attached etc.also reccomend putting an in line fuse if using this method.
drawback to this means bike will have to be on while using lighter plug.if this is for a while you risk burning out coil if bike not running.you could always fit a small toggle switch on the red wire to turn power on/off that way.

**Matt Cartney** · #9 15th September 2006

Hi Iain,
Sorry, I'll try to clear this up. You should have two wires, one red, which you attatch to the positive terminal of your battery, and one black. This is the negative wire, also known as the earth. It can either be attatched to the negative terminal of your battery (which is earthed to the frame of your bike) or attatched straight to the frame of your bike. either way it will provide a circuit to provide power for your 12v adapter socket.

Normally the black negative/earth wire is attatched to the frame rather than the battery. I'm not sure why but there is probably a good reason.

Hope this helps.

PS- Note that car electrics are not like those in your house, there is not seperate earth and negative wires.

Matt

**Iain** · #10 15th September 2006

Is there a chance the coil could burn out if the cigarette lighter is connected straight to the battery?

**Matt Cartney** · #11 15th September 2006

I don't see why that should be a problem as you are connecting a completely different circuit, however, I'm no electrics expert.
Matt

**Joe C90** · #12 15th September 2006

OK,
the red wire (centre pin on the lighter socket) needs to go to a fuse, blade style fuses are more vibration resistant than inline cartridge fuses. These are easily obtainable from any auto factor/ spares shop. this then goes to red/+12v. on the battery.

the black wire 0volts, (-ive is the same thing) is better going direct to the battery. that if you have a bad earth and you are stuck in sh.tsville, you can use a lead to another bike/car to charge the battery. If you are going to do this you will need to bypass the fuse, 5 Amps will not be enough for a fast charge.
Do NOT try starting the bike whilst still connected to another vehicle. Current surges may well fry your CDI.

The -ive terminal on your battery will be connected to the frame of your bike, It is a common failing for this link to corrode, give poor starting, dim lights etc.

**ct_miller13** · #13 15th September 2006

I would put an inline or a bus fuse on the wires to the lighter just as a safety precaution.

**tedmagnum** · #14 21st September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by iain

Is there a chance the coil could burn out if the cigarette lighter is connected straight to the battery?

No !! The only thing you can damage here is whatever is connected to the socket.

Also, you WILL have an earth. You can earth the socket to the frame or the battery , makes no difference.

An inline fuse is a must too. Whatever you plug into the socket should/will have its own method of regulation if its a proper ciggy lighter adaptor.

**xtphreak** · #15 27th September 2006

Always fit a fuse to a new circuit.

Fit the fuse as close as possible to the Battery (or voltage source).

The purpose of a fuse is to protect THE WIRE from carrying more current than it can handle without overheating, melting insulation, starting a fire, etc etc.

Size the wire according to the load (i.e. how much current the expected load will require will determine the appropriate wire size).

Size the fuse according to the wire size.

The fuse is NOT there to protect the load.

If you need help, ask