Car Question

[0Face]

I have an older Audi A4, so it only has one power outlet (cigarette lighter). I bought a three into one for the gps, radar detector and phone, it even has 2 USB spots. with the three sockets in use it blew the 15a fuse.

Question: can I stick a 20a in there without melting the wires, causing the car to burst into flames at 80mph?

:flaming smiley:

 

[Geezer]

It depends on the size of the wire.

According to this Wire Gauge chart a 10 gauge wire will carry 20 Amps up to 15 feet with no problem.

That said, I am surprised that those three devices are drawing more than 15 amps. 15 * 12 = 180 watts.

 

[FJRay]

Replacement smoke for an Audi is real spendy so be careful.

 

[allrider]

Instead of a bigger fuse you might try off-loading some of you stuff to the lighter in the backseat. You can hardwire the radar detector to the fuse panel. If it's an Escort RD there are fused wiring harnesses on Ebay with mute buttons that make it easy.

 

[0Face]

It depends on the size of the wire.

According to this Wire Gauge chart a 10 gauge wire will carry 20 Amps up to 15 feet with no problem.

That said, I am surprised that those three devices are drawing more than 15 amps. 15 * 12 = 180 watts.

I know. I thought it was a little weird. That's why I was hesitant to just jam a bigger fuse in, in case it was something else causing it to pop. I suppose i could have caused some kind of short plugging or unplugging it. It did work for a whole day. When I unplugged it and plugged it back in the next morning it didn't work. User error?

 

[0Face]

Instead of a bigger fuse you might try off-loading some of you stuff to the lighter in the backseat. You can hardwire the radar detector to the fuse panel. If it's an Escort RD there are fused wiring harnesses on Ebay with mute buttons that make it easy.

No lighter in the backseat. I guess people back there don't get to smoke. Although, there is one in the trunk. What's up with that? I was planning on hardwiring the RD eventually. I'll probably do it sooner rather than later now.

 

[RossKean]

No way that stuff would draw any significant fraction of 10 amps! You either have a crapped splitter/USB connector or one of your devices has a significant problem. Maybe it just shorted on plugging or unplugging?

 

[0Face]

No way that stuff would draw any significant fraction of 10 amps! You either have a crapped splitter/USB connector or one of your devices has a significant problem. Maybe it just shorted on plugging or unplugging?

I know! I'm thinking user error now. Of course I have every fuse known to man except the one I need.

 

[RossKean]

No way that stuff would draw any significant fraction of 10 amps! You either have a crapped splitter/USB connector or one of your devices has a significant problem. Maybe it just shorted on plugging or unplugging?

I know! I'm thinking user error now. Of course I have every fuse known to man except the one I need.

A 5 amp or even a 3 amp fuse should run that stuff but the cigarette lighter might blow it.

 

[kaitsdad]

I would also suspect the 3 to 1 adapter - it might be shorting internally which would pop any size fuse you install.

 

[Bounce]

Keep in mind the fuse was picked to pop before the wiring harness fries. If you put in a larger fuse you're likely, as mentioned to cause costly damage. Why not simply wire in a new circuit with higher gauge wire like you would with the bike? Why risk your OEM harness?

 

[0Face]

I'm not going to risk it. I was wondering if 5a would be a significant difference. I'll just wire stuff in like the bike.

Even used Audi parts are ridiculously expensive. A used lighter socket is about $45 and you have to take out the whole center console to get at it.

 

[wfooshee]

Does that fuse run only the lighter plug? If not, be sure to include the full load!

 

[0Face]

As far as I can tell just the one. There's nothing I can find that says there is anything else on that circuit.

As far as I can tell just the one. There's nothing I can find that says there is anything else on that circuit.

 

[Bounce]

interesting

interesting

 

[wfooshee]

I've seen a lot of these duplicate posts lately, and then it happened to me.

What happened is I hit the Post button, and nothing seemed to happen for a really long time. So I hit it again, and it posted my reply twice inside the same post.

 

[0Face]

I've seen a lot of these duplicate posts lately, and then it happened to me.

What happened is I hit the Post button, and nothing seemed to happen for a really long time. So I hit it again, and it posted my reply twice inside the same post.

Yeah, I hit it twice from my phone. :huh:

 

[Bounce]

Easy fix: don't hit the save button twice. hit the refresh button if it doesn't seem to update right.

 

[0Face]

Wait... are you saying repeatedly hitting the button does NOT make it go faster?