Question on Cigarette Lighter Socket usage

[E-Jazz]

Hi Guys,

 

I have a question on the usage of the cigarette socket splitter.

 

First off, a bad experience:

 

I once bought a 3 Normal Split socket type like the one shown below, plugged phone chargers into it and it worked but when I plugged in a heavy duty vacume cleaner, it totally burn out. Think its the voltage thing. I am a noob at such stuff.

 

So had to buy another one. This time round I purchased another which is slightly different, comes with a Cigarette socket and 3 Normal sockets similar to the image below

 

First question:

 

To play safe these days, I would just unplug the spliter sockets and use the original car cigarette socket when I use my vacume cleaner, its once in a while so no big deal. But I wonder if I am just too paranoid. And given that my new splitter actuall is a 1 cigarette + 3 normal socket, I was wondering if I could plug the vacume into the 1 cigarette socket without burning it out again. Does such spliter actually split the voltage even when other sockets are not in use?

 

Second question:

 

Given the new one I have which is 1 Cigarette + 3 normal socket, can I plug the Griffin Power Jolt Dual for Ipad (click for details) into the Cigarette socket while having my phone charger in the normal sockets all at the same time?

I thrown away the packaging of the new spliter so I have no idea how many volts is each socket getting.

 

Please let me know if you are using a similar product in a similar manner. Would appreciate the experiences shared.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[Rustyz]

Wa u very hardhore , at most I use GPS plus FM transmiter both low voltage device.

 

I personally won't do such thing as it very bad for car battery.

[KVR666]

Most cigarette lighter sockets are fused at 10Amps. So if your vacuum cleaner is rated below that, obviously it'll be fine. The main trouble with those cheap power socket splitters is that the wiring & fuse in the plug section are rated at below 10A. Either that, or the connection points within the splitter are uncapable of delivering constant 10A without overheating/melting. If you want to use a vacuum cleaner on this kind of splitter, make sure you get a reasonable quality unit that has a socket specified for use with a lighter (that round lighter thing you push into the socket & heat up). And only use that particular specified socket for the vac.

 

As for using the iPad charger in conjuction with your phone or even GPS chargers, it should pose no issue as the iPad charger requires about 2A, phone charger <1A, GPS charger around 2A = total of 5A. Well under the 10A fuse rating, provided the splitter you're using is also rated at 10A. I can't guarantee anything with cheap splitter units. However, as long as the splitter's plug is fused (even at less than 10A), you have no need to worry. If the current draw is too large, the splitter's fuse will break before any further damage is done.

[Adrianli]

The splitter does not split the voltage. Voltage can only be stepped up or down using a transformer. However, voltage do drop along the wires, but its minimum for ur application.

 

U might wana check the amp draw for ur vacuum cleaner and compare it with ur splitter rated amp draw. Most of these type of splitter uses 10amp fuse. Ur old one might not have a fuse in it so the whole thing burnt up when u use the vacuum with other stuff plugged into the splitter.

[Kb27]

Never use such splitter for heavy load like vacuum cleaner.

They usually use such thin wire that it will overheat and melt.

 

Fusing at 10A is ridiculous when the wire can only handle 2A.

 

Also, watch out for those usb converter built-in. Most can handle only 0.5A, while your device such as gps needs 1A.

 

So the use for such splitter is very little limited like powering LEDs and charging hand phone.

[E-Jazz]

Wa u very hardhore , at most I use GPS plus FM transmiter both low voltage device.

 

I personally won't do such thing as it very bad for car battery.

 

hehe, I understand what you mean by car battery. I am also avoiding charging as much as I can, only do so when I have no choice e.g phone batt gonna flat soon and i can't find a place to use a computer to charge. Am actually finding this out just in case one day i really need to charge it in a car due to coming presentation in the event i forget to charge the ipad. T_T

 

 

Most cigarette lighter sockets are fused at 10Amps. So if your vacuum cleaner is rated below that, obviously it'll be fine. The main trouble with those cheap power socket splitters is that the wiring & fuse in the plug section are rated at below 10A. Either that, or the connection points within the splitter are uncapable of delivering constant 10A without overheating/melting. If you want to use a vacuum cleaner on this kind of splitter, make sure you get a reasonable quality unit that has a socket specified for use with a lighter (that round lighter thing you push into the socket & heat up). And only use that particular specified socket for the vac.

 

As for using the iPad charger in conjuction with your phone or even GPS chargers, it should pose no issue as the iPad charger requires about 2A, phone charger <1A, GPS charger around 2A = total of 5A. Well under the 10A fuse rating, provided the splitter you're using is also rated at 10A. I can't guarantee anything with cheap splitter units. However, as long as the splitter's plug is fused (even at less than 10A), you have no need to worry. If the current draw is too large, the splitter's fuse will break before any further damage is done.

 

I see, understood. Thanks :)

 

 

The splitter does not split the voltage. Voltage can only be stepped up or down using a transformer. However, voltage do drop along the wires, but its minimum for ur application.

 

U might wana check the amp draw for ur vacuum cleaner and compare it with ur splitter rated amp draw. Most of these type of splitter uses 10amp fuse. Ur old one might not have a fuse in it so the whole thing burnt up when u use the vacuum with other stuff plugged into the splitter.

 

Noted :)

 

 

Never use such splitter for heavy load like vacuum cleaner.

They usually use such thin wire that it will overheat and melt.

 

Fusing at 10A is ridiculous when the wire can only handle 2A.

 

Also, watch out for those usb converter built-in. Most can handle only 0.5A, while your device such as gps needs 1A.

 

So the use for such splitter is very little limited like powering LEDs and charging hand phone.

 

I see, noted on the usb part.

 

 

 

I was also thinking if I were to purchase the ipad one, should i slot in into the cigarette socket or the normal socket since my spliter now comes with 3 normal slot and 1 ciggy slot.

[Chucky2007]

i bought a 3 split with USB..

 

looks quite nice with the lights and i can on/off the ports that are not in used.

 

usually car vacum i am using a rechargeable 16v.. [url="http://www.philips.com.sg/c/vacuum-cleaners/dailyduo-valentine-red-fc6161_04/prd/"]Philip vacum

 

much powerful than the car plug in 6 or 12 v

 

 

[SimonTan]

From my personnel experiences....the splitters are mostly poorly designed.

The thin wires inside are too thin to take high current flow.

The weldings quality are mostly fark-tub lousy.

 

If you are electrically inclined, you can resolder the internal wirings and contact points, the enhanced splitter will work for a long long time.

 

I am using three in one splitter in my car for GPS, ionizer, car-cam.

 

 

[Richard_Peh]

If need a USB port..Can install those radio or dvd set come with USB port...

Edited October 23, 2011 by Richard_Peh