Imagine you’re on a road trip, relying on your car’s 12-volt outlet to charge your phone or power important devices, only to find that it inexplicably doesn’t work, which could derail your plans.
In an upcoming article, we’ll dive into the common reasons your car’s 12-volt socket might stop working. From blown fuses to faulty connections, understanding these issues allows you to diagnose the problem and, in some cases, even fix it yourself, saving time and hassle.
What Is A 12-Volt Socket?
A 12-volt outlet, also known as a 12-volt power outlet or auxiliary power outlet, is a device installed in your vehicle that allows you to plug in and use electrical devices powered by a 12-volt power source. The external interface of the vehicle’s 12V volt socket is often located on the inner wall of the trunk or the lower part of the center console.
The simplest way to power the device is to connect the cigarette lighter plug and draw power from the cigarette lighter interface, but the current should not exceed 10A. The cigarette lighter socket can be connected to: air pump (car-specific pump), car-specific vacuum cleaner, various car-specific lights, inverter (can be converted into 24V, 36V, 110V, 220V power supply), which is convenient for use when going out.
The 12V socket in the car can be connected to external electrical equipment, such as car mobile phone chargers, driving recorders, car air purifiers, car MP3 players, car air pumps, car vacuum cleaners, car phones, portable DVD players, mobile phone chargers, etc.
How Does The 12-Volt Socket Works?
It works by using a small transformer to convert the car’s 12-volt electrical system to a lower voltage that can safely power electronic devices. When you plug an electrical device into an outlet, the device can draw power from your vehicle’s electrical system and run.
12-volt outlets power devices that don’t require a lot of power, such as cell phones and portable chargers. However, some devices, such as laptops or power tools, may require more power than a 12-volt outlet can provide. In these cases, it may be necessary to use an external power source or inverter to convert the car’s 12-volt electrical system to a higher voltage.
Reasons Why My Car’s Accessory Socket or Cigarette Lighter Stop Working?
Objects obstructing the socket: This issue frequently arises when the cigarette lighter socket is vertically positioned within the center console, facilitating the inadvertent dropping of small items into the socket. Non-conductive obstructions can impede the charger’s connection, whereas conductive items like coins have the potential to cause a circuit overload.
Burned cigarette lighter socket: This simply means there is no power to the socket at all. The fuse may have blown, or there may be other issues with the wiring.
The charger itself is bad: Chargers do break, so you need to rule this out. The electronics inside the charger may be damaged, or the spring in the plug that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket may be worn.
Check for Debris or Objects
This may sound a bit simplistic, but sometimes junk can get stuck in an outlet; pushing in a plug or lighter will only push it further in and prevent the contacts from connecting.
Now let’s look at the fuse, it may look fine but the contacts may be dirty and causing resistance.
Fretting wear commonly occurs at electrical contact points, resulting from the buildup of corrosion due to the flow of energy. To address this, remove, inspect, and clean fuse contacts using sandpaper. You can locate the fuse box and identify the correct fuse by referring to your owner’s manual.
If there’s uncertainty regarding whether the fuse is receiving power, proceed to check it using a test light. Begin by placing the ground clamp on any clean chassis ground and ensuring that the test light is operational. Next, locate the cigarette lighter fuse and test both sides of the fuse for continuity.
Test the Power
These two simple tests will tell us which circuit is at fault:
- Power side circuit test
- Ground-side circuit test
You can use a test light or a voltmeter. A partially broken wire or dirty connector will show 12.65 volts when tested with the voltmeter but drop out when loaded.
A test light is especially useful to load the circuit, a dim light will indicate a poor connection.
No light or volts indicates a broken wire between the fuse and the lighter socket or a broken ground wire from the chassis to the socket.
Power Side Test
For this test, our focus lies solely on the power side of the circuit. Test the circuit at designated points 1, 2, 3, and 4. Keep in mind that the ignition must be turned on, although extended testing periods with the ignition on can deplete the battery; consider utilizing a battery maintainer if necessary. Both a voltmeter and a test light can be employed for this task.
The diagram depicted above illustrates the ground wire leading from the receptacle to the chassis ground. However, in practical scenarios, it will typically be another wire coupled with the power wire, which will eventually diverge and establish connection with the chassis ground.
Ground Side Test
In this test, we only focus on the ground side of the circuit. Here we use the black negative probe on the positive feed, using whatever battery power is available.
Testing at positions 1 and 2, as you know the ground wire will be paired with the power wire and will need to be traced back to the chassis ground point. A reading of -12v means ground. Ground connections often corrode and block the flow of electricity, so make sure your chassis’ ground is clean and tight.
You can use a test light to test the ground-side circuit. Just connect the alligator clip to the power source; when the test lights up, you’re in good shape.
Replacing the Fuse
If you come across a faulty cigarette lighter, check the device for a bad fuse. Different manufacturers use different names for charging devices or accessory outlets. Most car manufacturers label this fuse as LTR and it can be found in the fuse box under the hood.
If you are unable to locate the right fuse, check the vehicle’s manual to avoid causing damage to any other part. In the manual look for terms like cigar lighter, cigarette lighter, AUX power point 12 V outlet or 12 V power point.
Once located, pull out the fuse using the fuse gripper or you may use your fingers. Burnt or broken metal indicates a bad fuse. Replace the faulty fuse with a new one and try turning on the lighter again and it should work fine.
Conclusion
The 12-volt outlet offers drivers a convenient solution for powering electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, and portable chargers while travelling.
Operating at a voltage of 12 volts, these outlets are directly powered by the vehicle’s electrical system. Positioned in easily accessible areas such as the dashboard or centre console, they serve as essential power sources for various electronic gadgets.
A 12-volt outlet may stop working due to a blown-out fuse, damaged wiring in the outlet, the outlet itself malfunctioning, or an alternator problem.
A damaged or malfunctioning 12-volt outlet needs replacement as soon as possible to ensure there is a reliable way to power electronic devices while driving on the road. Pls, contact us at [email protected] for more information.