Cig lighter insert = blown fuse

Bennehboy · Aug 30, 2011

I bought a 2000 TD5 last week which had a non working cig lighter socket, noit ideal as I need it for satnav and charging mobile phones etc.

So I downloaded RAVE, figured out how to remove the center console, realised that the socket had been disconnected for some reason - connected it back up, and hey presto we have power.

Anyhow, because my wife smokes I decide to try the cig lighter, only to be met by a spark and a blown 20amp fuse....

Not a biggie as I we can live without the cig lighter, but I'm a little bit concerned about why the cig lighter would blow the fuse? Any ideas?

walpoleer · Aug 30, 2011

dead short= burnt out element...try it in another vehicle...just make sure you can get to the fuse easily, if it blows, then again it might just be the wrong insert that's causing a short....check the amp-age of the blown fuse in-case some Muppet replaced it with the wrong value.....have fun

Bennehboy · Aug 30, 2011

The fuse that blew was 20amp, luckily there was a spare in there. Will try the cig lighter in the other car. ta.

8kphil · Aug 30, 2011

its shorting out,quite common on most cars,check the 2 tabs are not near or touching the centre,best bet would be to buy a new cig lighter element and insert,20 amp fuse sounds right for a cig lighter.

The Mad Hat Man · Aug 30, 2011

10-15a

Bennehboy · Aug 30, 2011

I should have said but the element is brand new from halfrauds, housing is the original.

8kphil · Aug 30, 2011

go to land rover and get one,the halfords one will be touching the centre and the sides causing the short.

Bennehboy · Aug 30, 2011

OK, sounds about right, cheers.

walpoleer · Aug 30, 2011

The centre tabs are the positive connection and work by connecting to the outside of the element, the centre of which is earthed to the outer of the main body of the insert and hence via the outer tabs of the outer body of the holder, most common fault is element burns out( or just gets full of carbon) which causes a short, some people like to hold it in so it gets cherry red, this can burn the lower contact insulator, but as it doesn't blow unless used this is unlikely, but in the insert is the wrong one, it can be pushed in so the outer can contact the lower bi-metal clips and again you have a short and blown fuse.....if in doubt replace the lot they are not expensive...just finding the right colour illumination.

Bennehboy · Aug 30, 2011

Yeah, ever being the optimist I assumed that any insert would work with any housing, my bad.

walpoleer · Aug 30, 2011

as accessory cig lighter plugs usually have just a centre pin they should still work without blowing the fuse....and only four amps, if it blows when using those the holder is FUBAR, have fun

Cig lighter insert = blown fuse

Bennehboy

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The Mad Hat Man

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