Cigarette Lighter Always On

[jslipher]

I'm a new to RV ownership and bought a 2003 National Tradewinds 395le. We were running a fan plugged into a cigarette lighter yesterday. When I shut everything down....turned off the generator, hit the 'Disconnect' power button near the entry door, and manually turned off the inverter. However, I noticed the fan was still on and the cigarette lighters still had power.

Do people know if these are always supplied with power, or am I missing something?

[Skip426]

Welcome to iRV2 .

I would suspect that your , disconnect , only controls the coach battery power and the lighter socket is powered of a chassis battery circuit .

When you've switched the disconnect ; can you still start the coach ?

If that's the case then the disconnect only effects the coach battery bank.

Some National wiring info in this pdf.

[TandW]

Sounds like an ideal spot to plug in a battery maintainer if the need arises.

[Iceclimber]

Yeah they are intended to stay on. They are only going to really draw if you plug something in. I have various phone chargers and tablet in mine and just slide the plug out as desired.
Adding a battery disconnect to your battery banks is the sure way to stop parasitic drain.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by TandW

Sounds like an ideal spot to plug in a battery maintainer if the need arises.

Think about that statement.

[Argosy]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Think about that statement.

??

Older vehicles had cigarette lighters that were wired directly to the batteries. Most of the newer ones shut off with the ignition. I like the always on sockets, if I plug in to charge while traveling it will continue to charge when stopped. I can program the GPS while sitting in the driver’s seat instead of taking it to the charging station and finding the right cord.

[DutchmenSport]

Yes, on older vehicles it was standard to have cigarette lighters that were powered all the time. I was very disappointed when the automotive industry switched and put them on a switch with the key. Then later, some models of cars didn't even have a cigarette lighter. And (IF) you have a cigarette lighter port in any newer vehicle, it won't come with the actual cigarette lighter. In fact, if you plugged in an actual lighter, it would probably catch the vehicle on fire. Those plugs are now designed for adapter devices to be plugged in, not something that will not heat and cause fire to start. New ones are made of plastic parts.

So yes, yours is probably powered from the engine battery and remains on.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Argosy

??

Older vehicles had cigarette lighters that were wired directly to the batteries. Most of the newer ones shut off with the ignition. I like the always on sockets, if I plug in to charge while traveling it will continue to charge when stopped. I can program the GPS while sitting in the driver’s seat instead of taking it to the charging station and finding the right cord.

I'm referring to plugging in a battery charger into the cigar lighter socket. It's an exercise in futility, unless the battery feeding the cigar lighter is also being charged by an outside source.
Yes the cigar lighter in my MH is always hot, just like the headlight switch.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

I'm referring to plugging in a battery charger into the cigar lighter socket. It's an exercise in futility, unless the battery feeding the cigar lighter is also being charged by an outside source.
Yes the cigar lighter in my MH is always hot, just like the headlight switch.

One example, plugging a solar charger into an always connected power receptacle can work well to keep a chassis battery maintained. Depending on parasitic draw and amount of daily sunlight, a small 20 watt panel can be ideal in some situations.

I've also had a few vehicles with more than one power receptacle, one always hot, the other switched.

[Argosy]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

I'm referring to plugging in a battery charger into the cigar lighter socket. It's an exercise in futility, unless the battery feeding the cigar lighter is also being charged by an outside source.

Until cigarette lighters were controlled by the ignition switch it was fairly common to have trickle chargers that used a cigarette lighter plug to maintain the battery. It was an easy and fool proof way to hook up.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by Argosy

Until cigarette lighters were controlled by the ignition switch it was fairly common to have trickle chargers that used a cigarette lighter plug to maintain the battery. It was an easy and fool proof way to hook up.

I read it to mean when not on shore power, which would require perpetual battery power.

[153stars]

Probably off topic for MH but seen more than one vid of different make cars , you can move/shift cig. fuse over and will change from keyed to constant power. Not equipped for wife's 2008 Hyundai though sadly.