cigarette lighter socket too short for any appliance - is there an adapter (1 Viewer)

[Lindan]

Hi there
We are just about to leave home for a long european trip and I have bought a usb car charger to fit the cigarette socket, but it is too long. It does connect as it lights up but less than 50% actually fits inside so most of it is outside, and it just falls out, because the bedt contact strips dont go in far enough to 'catch'. Is there an adapter that will convert this to a full length cigarette socket?
The pictures show how short the lighter is, and the contacts showing when the adapter is in as far as it will go.

 

[Yorick]

Try a specialist electrical hammer to tap it in firmly

 

[GJH]

Over the years I have used a number of multi-socket adapters to power items like sat navs and dash cams &c on the road. I have found that the plugs themselves are the main problem. I have two from the same manufacturer - one fits the van socket but not the car and the other fits the car but not the van. Others fit neither satisfactorily.
Unfortunately it seems to be a matter of looking round to try to find a compatible plug and can be a bit trial and error.

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[brianju]

My TomTom usb adapter looks like it could fit, it might be worth giving one a try ... bought mine from Halfords.

 

[Lindan]

Have you got a product code there at all, brianju?

 

[mitzimad]

the plugs are so unreliable thats why we changed ours for usb sockets

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

I have had the same problem with various plugs. They do not grip the socket properly and work their way out and disconnect the power.
To help cure this I get a pair of sidecutters and put some nicks (burr the edges) into the sides of the outer metal contact which makes the metal to metal contact more secure. Don't overdo it or you will cut through the metal.

 

[Geo]

First thing you should know is a cig lighter socket is not the same as a 12v power socket of similar design
and there are some plugs that simply wont work in a cig lighter, and vice versa
The OP's plug is not suitable for cig lighter socket use,
The best all rounders ive found are these( see pic) and usually have a red tip and a spring loaded center pin
there are others sold as Universal plugs that do both 12v socket and cig lighter sockets
If changing a standard plug for a universal type remember the live always goes to the centre pin
you can always ID the live by taking the original plug to bits before wiring up the new
G

 

[brianju]

Have you got a product code there at all, brianju?

This is the one that fitted ours at Halfords .... you can but try, maybe take a trip to your local branch, they might let you see if it fits.

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[pappajohn]

Fag lighter sockets are simply unreliable depending on friction to hold them in and spring pressure to make a contact.
I would replace the fag lighter socket with a dedicated USB socket.

 

[Bobby22]

This could be what your looking for.