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Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Sisophous
Novice
Dec 6, 2010, 4:25 PM
Post #1 of 12
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Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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I have a 1996 Buick Park Avenue and recently had a battery go dead on me that was purchased new less than a year ago. My mechanic shop found nothing wrong with the car and I chose to purchase a Solar Car Battery Maintainer from Amazon.com to help prevent my car battery charge from dropping this Winter.
The uncertainty I have from reading customer reviews on this battery maintainer is using the Cigarette Lighter's slot to charge the battery. Some people claim the Cigarette Lighter will not take the charge when their car is shut off whereas others claim it does.
Is there anyone who would know whether a Solar Battery Maintainer will work on my car through the cigarette lighter slot because I have no way of knowing whether the maintainer is sending the charge to the battery this way? On some cars, an adjustment has to be made to activate the Cigarette Lighter even when the car is off. I have no way of knowing how to do this, whether it is necessary or what to expect. The Solar Maintainer is generating electricity as an LED bulb flashes but I do not know if the signal is being sent to my battery.
Any feedback is appreciated, thanks in advance for any suggestion.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 6, 2010, 6:02 PM
Post #2 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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That would depend on whether your cigarette lighter is normally powered when the key is off. If it is, then it will work. If your lighter normally shuts off with the key, then so will the charger.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 6, 2010, 6:27 PM
Post #3 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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As HT said Cig lighter or power ports that work when car is off will allow charging thru them. I question the power of a solar one and hope it's voltage regulated.
I use 4 (house current) maintainers right now on things that don't get used much - two thru cig lighters or power ports, one direct to battery,
T
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Sisophous
Novice
Dec 6, 2010, 8:29 PM
Post #4 of 12
(6348 views)
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Your reasoning makes sense but if true then how could this device work on so many vehicles which some people claim it works perfectly? In other words, whose Cigarette lighter works when the engine is shut off for hours? I pulled my Cigarette lighter out when the engine had been shut off for hours and the Cigarette Lighter was cold.
Why would any car have a Cigarette lighter that works, meaning the knob is hot, when the car has been shut down for hours? Would that not be pointless and just be a drain of power from the battery? I'm just using logic in terms of why a manufacturer would power up the Cigarette Lighter when cars are not being used.
If you don't mind, I would like to know if your Cigarette Lighters work when you pull the Lighter out after the car has been shut down for hours and the engine is cold? If they do, my apology for questioning you, but frankly this doesn't make any sense to have the Cigarette Lighter functioning when a car is cold.
I am not even sure my Cigarette Lighter works when the car is running and will check it out tomorrow. This hook up and my receiving this battery maintainer all took place this afternoon.
Thanks very much for your replies and I welcome additional feedback.
(This post was edited by Sisophous on Dec 6, 2010, 8:33 PM)
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 6, 2010, 9:19 PM
Post #5 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Cigarette lighters work when when you push the knob IN.They then POP back up when heated to a preset temp . Many vehicles now have "power sockets" that are made just for accesory power . Some are wired to be powerd with key on some powerd all tme ,there is no batt drain unless something is plugged into the socket.All models are different some even from year to year. Simply use a test light or plug a device (cell phone charger will do) and see if it comes on with key off/on.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Sisophous
Novice
Dec 7, 2010, 9:39 AM
Post #6 of 12
(6340 views)
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Great suggestion, I have a cell phone with a cigarette lighter adapter/charger. I will test it today with the key off/on to see whether it works and will post what happens. Thanks again.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 7, 2010, 9:45 AM
Post #7 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Just a note: Cig lighters sockets fit and became the size but power ports are more dependable with smooth walls for the ground of them. Seems silly but cig lighter that have been used to actually light cigs get trashed fast and don't last well. Best to warm up a key for a frozen lock
T
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Sisophous
Novice
Dec 7, 2010, 12:58 PM
Post #8 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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re-tired,
You are a genious. I plugged my cell phone into the Cigarette Lighter with the engine off and presto, the Cell Phone read "charging". So, I now know the Cigarette Lighter is active if a device is plugged in with the engine off. Today I received a Battery Monitor in the mail that inserts into the Cigarette Lighter and just got a reading of 12.37 with the engine off. That is in the upper range of the Yellow (Caution) meter, not a Good range but not a Problem range. Tomorrow I will use the Battery Monitor reading after the Battery Maintainer pumps some juice in. I heard the Maintainers truly do not charge the battery but give it enough juice so not to weaken the battery. Not sure if my reading is significant because my car started fine. Thanks again and any feedback is welcome about the battery reading I got.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 7, 2010, 1:22 PM
Post #9 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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Most of those things are just snake oil gimmicks to make somebody some money and deliver nothing.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sisophous
Novice
Dec 7, 2010, 1:39 PM
Post #10 of 12
(6321 views)
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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I read the reviews at Amazon and some people claim they got great results and some like you claim it did nothing for them. I only paid $22 and can always return it. It beats bringing my car back to the mechanic to try to pinpoint what could be draining my battery, likely something in the circuitry and paying ridiculous fees in labor. My alternator is fine.
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re-tired
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 7, 2010, 4:05 PM
Post #11 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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First , thank you for the thank you . It was a team effort , I'll pass along the good words.As to the panels ...I own one to keep my batteries in my airboat topped off , it works for me . PLease remember ,the guys who gave you this great free advise are the same ones that charge those ridiculous labor fees. Finding those electrical gremlins in todays high tech cars can become very involved. Anyway ,thank YOU for using us ..... come back anytime...
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 8, 2010, 11:21 AM
Post #12 of 12
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Re: Car battery Maintainer and Cigarette Lighter Compatibility
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On- Line purchases: I almost never do that. A fully automatic "battery maintainer/charger 1.5 amp) is at Walmart here right now and other places. Shumacher - little box priced last checked 20.96US. Automatic means it just comes on and off without tending to it as need. Cool. It will charge a low battery but can take all day and night so if in a hurry this isn't it.
Also - if drain exceeds the power of one of these it will slow it but wouldn't keep up. You may need to make up your own male unit to use in power port. They used to come with them and if so - do check polarity!
T
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