Can I charge my starter battery via the cigarette lighter socket?

[Spriddler]

It's a faff to connect my Halfords charger's croc clips direct to the starter battery. My cig lighter socket in the cab is permanently live (i.e. not switched by the ignition key) so is there any reason why I shouldn't use it with a matching plug to connect my charger to the cab battery? I realise that the plug that I fit to the charger will be live when the charger is switched on. I think the max charging current of my charger is 10 amps so the cig lighter should handle it O.K.

 

[NicM]

Yes should be okay, or make a loom up that’s permanently on the battery with a plug to plug the charger in, that would be my personal choice.

 

[Mikeco]

Don’t these vans have remote lugs under the bonnet for jump starting , so can they be used?

 

[chaser]

Don’t these vans have remote lugs under the bonnet for jump starting , so can they be used?

Yes not many that havnt got them now, useualy a red cap somewhere in the engine bay connect the red wire to this and the other wire to somewhere metal on the engine.

 

[Lenny HB]

If it's only a small charger less than 5 amps it should be OK. Cigar lighter plugs and sockets don't make the best connections so make sure there is good contact as you don't want it working lose and arcing, starting a fire.

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[L' Hobo]

If it's only a small charger less than 5 amps it should be OK. Cigar lighter plugs and sockets don't make the best connections so make sure there is good contact as you don't want it working lose and arcing, starting a fire.

But I have had for years, although I have never used it, what looks like a very professional cable with cigarette lighter plugs at each end for slaving another vehicle with a flat battery. At the time I bought it there was quite a number for sale, is this not what the OP is talking about?
From the instructions, they just plug into both dashboards?
If anyone's interested in seeing it, I will have it at the bring and buy next year.

 

[RandallC]

It's a faff to connect my Halfords charger's croc clips direct to the starter battery. My cig lighter socket in the cab is permanently live (i.e. not switched by the ignition key) so is there any reason why I shouldn't use it with a matching plug to connect my charger to the cab battery? I realise that the plug that I fit to the charger will be live when the charger is switched on. I think the max charging current of my charger is 10 amps so the cig lighter should handle it O.K.

NO

Think the sockets only live with the ignition on, use jump terminals in the engine bay

EDIT, unless the charger is classed as a maintainer then it shouldn't be left on 24/7 indefinitely.

 

[NicM]

But I have had for years, although I have never used it, what looks like a very professional cable with cigarette lighter plugs at each end for slaving another vehicle with a flat battery. At the time I bought it there was quite a number for sale, is this not what the OP is talking about?
From the instructions, they just plug into both dashboards?
If anyone's interested in seeing it, I will have it at the bring and buy next year.

Have seen those, but not sure how it controls the amps going though it, could be a lot!

 

[Spriddler]

Yes should be okay, or make a loom up that’s permanently on the battery with a plug to plug the charger in, that would be my personal choice.

I did consider that and have done it in the past on my other vehicles but since there's a already a socket (the cig socket) in the dashboard which is already connected to the starter battery there doesn't seem much point in duplicating it.

Don’t these vans have remote lugs under the bonnet for jump starting , so can they be used?

Yes not many that havnt got them now, useualy a red cap somewhere in the engine bay connect the red wire to this and the other wire to somewhere metal on the engine.

My 1998 Compass (kept in my drive with EHU) doesn't have supplementary lugs for jump starting etc. and although I only need access to the positive battery post I'd still need to get at it.
I just want to avoid the necessity of faffing about under the bonnet, finding a 10mm spanner to undo the three bolts securing the battery cover...........and leaving the charger in the engine bay more or less exposed to the weather.

I also have a cig lighter socket in the hab section with a rocker switch on the hab control panel with which I can select the hab 12v electrics to be powered from either the 'Aux battery' or the 'Vehicle battery' so I could use that same socket for charging both batteries although not both at the same time but that's no problem. It also means that my charger can remain inside the m/h and out of the weather.

 

[Spriddler]

NO

Think the sockets only live with the ignition on, use jump terminals in the engine bay

EDIT, unless the charger is classed as a maintainer then it shouldn't be left on 24/7 indefinitely.

As I mentioned in my first post the cig lighter socket is permanently live.
It's an intelligent charger with LED's to indicate either 'Charging' and 'Charged and Maintaining'.
I don't want to leave the m/h on EHU with its own hab battery charger 'On' as I doubt that at 26 years old that charger is particularly 'intelligent'.

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[RandallC]

As I mentioned in my first post the cig lighter socket is permanently live.
It's an intelligent charger with LED's to indicate either 'Charging' and 'Charged and Maintaining'.
I don't want to leave the m/h on EHU with its own hab battery charger 'On' as I doubt that at 26 years old that charger is particularly 'intelligent'.

our previous Kon-Tiki and this Rapido do not have live 12vdc sockets on the dash without the ignition switch part or fully on.

If your model does then apologies but only speaking from personal experience.

If concerned about the on-board charger invest in a charger/maintainer used to keep stored motors in ready to go state, easily googled.

 

[Tombola]

I had one from halfords years ago for the Cortina, did exact;y this, took a while like

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

It's a faff to connect my Halfords charger's croc clips direct to the starter battery. My cig lighter socket in the cab is permanently live (i.e. not switched by the ignition key) so is there any reason why I shouldn't use it with a matching plug to connect my charger to the cab battery?

I use/used the same approach on my current Triumph and previous KTM motorcycles which have permanent live sockets. Works ok for these, but obviously much smaller battery.

 

[Spriddler]

our previous Kon-Tiki and this Rapido do not have live 12vdc sockets on the dash without the ignition switch part or fully on.

If your model does then apologies but only speaking from personal experience.

Yes, my cig socket IS permanently live.

Are you viewing Fun on a device (iPhone?) that doesn't show all of my text in previous posts? I don't have an iPhone but I've read that iPhones don't always display all of the screen like my laptop does.

If concerned about the on-board charger invest in a charger/maintainer used to keep stored motors in ready to go state, easily googled.

I'm already using one, as I mentioned earlier........

As I mentioned in my first post the cig lighter socket is permanently live.
It's an intelligent charger with LED's to indicate either 'Charging' and 'Charged and Maintaining'.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

It's a faff to connect my Halfords charger's croc clips direct to the starter battery. My cig lighter socket in the cab is permanently live (i.e. not switched by the ignition key) so is there any reason why I shouldn't use it with a matching plug to connect my charger to the cab battery? I realise that the plug that I fit to the charger will be live when the charger is switched on. I think the max charging current of my charger is 10 amps so the cig lighter should handle it O.K.

I do and it works a treat!
Same problem as a faff to connect croc clips etc so got a Ring 6 amp smart charger with float when fully charged.
Simples!……… and I can still use it on other car batteries as I have made a second detachable lead with croc clips on so I can unclip the cig lighter plug and re-attach the croc clips if the receiving battery is Not chargeable via a permanatly live cig socket ( ie most modern day cars).
One note…… the cig lighter plug has its own fuse internally built in, replaceable fuse. Got mine from Halfords for about £4.

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[DavieA]

I'm not technical by any means. Therefore this is just for your info!

I had a VWT6 campervan prior to getting my motorhome. In the campervan the Sargent system did not charge up the campervan starter battery. I got caught out when my starter battery went flat. With the help and advice of a poster in the T6 forum, I purchased this and never had an issue again. Hopefully someone with the expertise will give you the relevant solution.

 

[pappajohn]

I use/used the same approach on my current Triumph and previous KTM motorcycles which have permanent live sockets

Cig lighters on a motorbike.....how novel!

Doesn't the wind put yer fag out though?

 

[599]

It's a faff to connect my Halfords charger's croc clips direct to the starter battery. My cig lighter socket in the cab is permanently live (i.e. not switched by the ignition key) so is there any reason why I shouldn't use it with a matching plug to connect my charger to the cab battery? I realise that the plug that I fit to the charger will be live when the charger is switched on. I think the max charging current of my charger is 10 amps so the cig lighter should handle it O.K.

you dont say why is because your cab battery keeps going flat ????

 

[Spriddler]

In the campervan the Sargent system did not charge up the campervan starter battery.

Mine's the same; the integral m/h charger is pretty basic and only charges the hab battery. It is unsuitable for leaving it 'permanently' On when on EHU during laid-up periods.
I won't be charging my batteries from a discharged condition. Currently my intelligent charger is only showing 'Maintaining' for both batteries.

 

[Spriddler]

Cig lighters on a motorbike.....how novel!

Doesn't the wind put yer fag out though?

I have waterproof 'cig lighter' sockets on both my m/bikes but I use them for powering my GPS and charging my phone.

you dont say why is because your cab battery keeps going flat ????

No. I have never run either of my batteries flat but I do like to give them a precautionary charge when the m/h has been unused for a while. In winter I take it for a 20 to 30 mile run every two weeks but that isn't enough to ensure fully charged batteries.

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[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I have waterproof 'cig lighter' sockets on both my m/bikes but I use them for powering my GPS and charging my phone.


No. I have never run either of my batteries flat but I do like to give them a precautionary charge when the m/h has been unused for a while. In winter I take it for a 20 to 30 mile run every two weeks but that isn't enough to ensure fully charged batteries.

The Ring charger I bought charges both 6v and 12v, so would also be suitable for use on motorbikes.
My MoHo system is 21years old so pretty basic!
But like me !

 

[Spriddler]

My MoHo system is 21years old so pretty basic!
But like me !

My m/h is a '98 so much the same age as yours and how I appreciate not having an electronic Black Box, Cat converter, AdBlue, TPMS, reversing camera and all the other temperamental 'essential' widgets that require a month's wait for an Oik in a white coat with a computer to tell me (at £110 an hour) that I have a blown light bulb.

 

[599]

I have waterproof 'cig lighter' sockets on both my m/bikes but I use them for powering my GPS and charging my phone.


No. I have never run either of my batteries flat but I do like to give them a precautionary charge when the m/h has been unused for a while. In winter I take it for a 20 to 30 mile run every two weeks but that isn't enough to ensure fully charged batteries.

ok . our m/h a few years back we was in the same boat every time we went to the storage to go anywhere the bugger would start . so bill put a small 30watt solar panel on the roof & wired it straight to the engine battery we never had any problem ever again with starting . then he put 2 120watt solar panels on the roof for the habitation batteries with regulator for both systems plus a 2000watt inverter

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

My m/h is a '98 so much the same age as yours and how I appreciate not having an electronic Black Box, Cat converter, AdBlue, TPMS, reversing camera and all the other temperamental 'essential' widgets that require a month's wait for an Oik in a white coat with a computer to tell me (at £110 an hour) that I have a blown light bulb.

My sentiments entirely, but I have got a reversing camera that is wired to give a permanent rear view as can’t see through the Motorhome.
Other than that it’s basics that I can, hopefully, fix should the need arise on a wet Sunday in March, miles from anywhere and no electric “techs” around.
And if it’s mechanical engine or similar related, its onto the recovery breakdown officianados.
Really don’t understand why some folks need to reinvent the wheel, but hey-ho.

 

[Two Rivers]

Get yourself an optimate charger, a short lead permanently connected to the battery, just plug the small Optimate charger in when your not using the van, A decent motorcycle shop will stock them and advise

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[Spriddler]

ok . our m/h a few years back we was in the same boat every time we went to the storage to go anywhere the bugger would start . so bill put a small 30watt solar panel on the roof & wired it straight to the engine battery we never had any problem ever again with starting . then he put 2 120watt solar panels on the roof for the habitation batteries with regulator for both systems plus a 2000watt inverter

I'm fortunate that my motorhome plus two cars and my son's caravan are in my drive which has EHU and two mains waterproof outdoor sockets so no shortage of power or problems keeping the batteries charged!

 

[Spriddler]

Get yourself an optimate charger, a short lead permanently connected to the battery, just plug the small Optimate charger in when your not using the van, A decent motorcycle shop will stock them and advise

I have two Optimates, one for each motorbike with waterproof sockets on the bikes for charging their batteries, powering my GPS and charging my phone when touring and two intelligent charges - one each for car and m/h, plus a couple more antiquated ones that I inherited from my father which I just use as 12v power supplies for an ignition timing strobe.

 

[L' Hobo]

Have seen those, but not sure how it controls the amps going though it, could be a lot!

It should be used only a certain way and the doner end appears to have a special plug, perhaps it houses some type of regulator?

 

[L' Hobo]

Cig lighters on a motorbike.....how novel!

Doesn't the wind put yer fag out though?

He smokes a pipe

 

[autorouter]

I'm not technical by any means. Therefore this is just for your info!

I had a VWT6 campervan prior to getting my motorhome. In the campervan the Sargent system did not charge up the campervan starter battery. I got caught out when my starter battery went flat. With the help and advice of a poster in the T6 forum, I purchased this and never had an issue again. Hopefully someone with the expertise will give you the relevant solution.

I use exactly this setup for keeping the car starter battery topped up on the drive at home while I am away in the motorhome. Always starts first time when I get back, even if I'm away months. It should work fine for a motorhome too.

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