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[Shackeng]

Is there a simple way to make either cigarette lighter permanently live?

[Kevin Wood]

Is there a simple way to make either cigarette lighter permanently live?

The rear one is switched by a relay fed from the auxiliary delay timer, so you could probably just remove the relay and bridge the contacts.

IIRC, it's in the driver's footwell area. I can have a dig and see if I can locate it.

[Shackeng]

Thanks Kevin, that would be helpful.

[Kevin Wood]

PM sent.

[RobG]

Quoted from one of Kevin`s earlier posts

ISTR there is a group of 3 "relays" behind the fuse box up under the driver's side footwell. One of these is the servotronic control unit (6 pin device, IIRC). Another of these (an 8 pin device) is the timer itself (K153 in Mark's diagram). The socket itself is fed via K154 which is a 4 Pin relay and the lowest of the 3 IIRC.

So, K153 feeds all the interior lights, etc. and energises K154. K154 feeds the socket.

Could be either K153 or K154 faulty, depending on if the interior light circuits extinguish after the timeout or not. If the lights don't extinguish, it's likely that you have a drain on the battery since K154 will be permanently energised.

Easy to test the timer. Leave the boot open. Light will extinguish after 10 minutes or so. Press the pillar switch on the boot lid. Light should come on for another 10 minutes and then go out.

If you want a permanent socket supply, just remove K154 and bridge the contacts with a piece of wire with 2 spade connectors on.

[Kevin Wood]

I've assumed this is on the 3.2. Not sure if the setup is the same on the PFL.

Kevin

[Kevin Wood]

You should be able to make up a wire with a spade connector on each end, remove K154 and link the two terminals 30 (Red) and 87 (the larger of the two red and white).

[Shackeng]

I've assumed this is on the 3.2. Not sure if the setup is the same on the PFL.

Kevin

I am interested for both the FL Elite, and the mfl TD, as I don't use them both all the time, and they may stand for two weeks unused, I wanted to plug in my solar pv panel, so I either have to fit a live socket in the glove box, or make one of the existing ones live, preferably the passenger ones, just in case I flatten the battery by leaving the sat nav left in by mistake. 

[Shackeng]

Quoted from one of Kevin`s earlier posts

ISTR there is a group of 3 "relays" behind the fuse box up under the driver's side footwell. One of these is the servotronic control unit (6 pin device, IIRC). Another of these (an 8 pin device) is the timer itself (K153 in Mark's diagram). The socket itself is fed via K154 which is a 4 Pin relay and the lowest of the 3 IIRC.

So, K153 feeds all the interior lights, etc. and energises K154. K154 feeds the socket.

Could be either K153 or K154 faulty, depending on if the interior light circuits extinguish after the timeout or not. If the lights don't extinguish, it's likely that you have a drain on the battery since K154 will be permanently energised.

Easy to test the timer. Leave the boot open. Light will extinguish after 10 minutes or so. Press the pillar switch on the boot lid. Light should come on for another 10 minutes and then go out.

If you want a permanent socket supply, just remove K154 and bridge the contacts with a piece of wire with 2 spade connectors on.

Thanks very much Rob, very helpful.

[Dave DND]

I would have thought it better to wire in an extra lighter socket directly across the battery and to mount it up underneath the bumper / engine bay etc - somewhere where it won`t get any road spray / dampness.

This way all of your car electrics can remain untouched, the solar charger can be plugged in from the outside leaving the vehcle locked and secure, and should the battery go flat, then you have an external charging point so that you can gain access to the car once battery charged up, which is much easier than trying to force locks and clamber through tailgates etc.

 

[Shackeng]

I would have thought it better to wire in an extra lighter socket directly across the battery and to mount it up underneath the bumper / engine bay etc - somewhere where it won`t get any road spray / dampness.

This way all of your car electrics can remain untouched, the solar charger can be plugged in from the outside leaving the vehcle locked and secure, and should the battery go flat, then you have an external charging point so that you can gain access to the car once battery charged up, which is much easier than trying to force locks and clamber through tailgates etc.

 

Interesting idea Dave, only trouble would be routeing the lead  inside to the solar charger. :-/