cigarette lighter

[adonh]

I have 2 12 volt accessory outlets (cigarette lighter outlets) both in the dash area with separate 15 am fuses. I want to disconnect one of these and use the 12v hot and ground wires to power my MCD windshield shade. It is always on even when the ignition of off and that is what I need. In looking under the dash this outlet has 1 white wire and 2 black wires. What are the 2 black wires and can I use this as the 12v source for my shades. Thanks

[Brockx]

Originally Posted by adonh

I have 2 12 volt accessory outlets (cigarette lighter outlets) both in the dash area with separate 15 am fuses. I want to disconnect one of these and use the 12v hot and ground wires to power my MCD windshield shade. It is always on even when the ignition of off and that is what I need. In looking under the dash this outlet has 1 white wire and 2 black wires. What are the 2 black wires and can I use this as the 12v source for my shades. Thanks

I would guess someone with a similar unit will answer the 2X black question. However; have you considered just tapping into the wiring and retaining the lighter as a 12volt outlet source? They come in handy.

[BFlinn181]

I'd use a multimeter or test light to determine which is (+) and (-). Either one could be 'daisy chained' to another item under the dash. Check the amp draw of the shade motor, very likely you could leave the power tap and just branch the wires to the window shade. Running a GPS or other accessory, an extra power source is often convenient.

[MDPD]

Normally, in most 12 volt wiring I have seen in my Winnebago, the white wire will be hot and the black ground. To better check, the wire going to the center of the outlet will be hot which I am reasonably sure will be the white wire.

[adonh]

Originally Posted by MDPD

Normally, in most 12 volt wiring I have seen in my Winnebago, the white wire will be hot and the black ground. To better check, the wire going to the center of the outlet will be hot which I am reasonably sure will be the white wire.

The 2 black wires we actually a red and black. The red had a black wire spliced to to further to it back under the dash the red wire was hot attached to the center of the outlet and the other black wire was the ground attached to the side. The 3 rd wire was white and looks like it was serving as a ground wire for something else and been attached to the side. I confirmed that the black wire and white wires were ground with my meter and that the center red wire was hot when connected to the meter with either the black or white wire as the ground. So I guess I am good to go. I am going to attache the black and white wire together so that the wire wire still serves a ground to what ever. Does that sound right

[MDPD]

It sounds like you have it traced out correctly and what you are planning to do is correct. It some times becomes confusing because wire colors are reversed from 12 volt to 120 volt applications. In 120 volt the dark wire (black, red purple etc) is always the hot lead, white is always neutral, and green always the ground. In 12 volt the black is almost always the ground and a light wire (white, yellow) is hot. The real thing here is the center wire of the outlet is always the hot lead although I have seen them with several different colors from the manufacturer and the wire attached to the mounting base is always the ground. It is always best to check any wire you plan to use with a multi meter to confirm.

[gemini5362]

I would check and see where the fuses are for those outlets. if you have something plugged in and try to use the shades and it blows the fuse. Or if you have something like a power cord short out ( happened to me on my GPS cord) and it blows that fuse you would not be able to use your shades. It took me two hours at a gas station with the wiring diagram for my allegro bus to find the fuses for the two cigarette lighter outlets on my dash.

[wa8yxm]

I do agree with the multi-meter suggestion.. However on your shades it may not matter as they should be protected against reverse hookup (They just work backwards)

Your 12 volt ciggy thing should have a metal case with a tab on it.. The wire(s) hooked to this are NEGATIVE If this is a CHASSIS feature they should be black.

It should also have a pin, often round, in the center,, This is the POSITIVE lead and if the unit is a HOUSE device, this wire should be black.

What does this mean.

It means use your multimeter or a test light to be sure you hook positive to positive.

How to use a test light

Lead clip to a known good ground

Wire that lights the light is POSITIVE.

[Rocky Larson]

This will allow a pass thru of the power socket (are any of them really cigarette lighter outlets) while adding a second fuse and line to power your shades. Be sure to get one rated for 15-20 amps.

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