Can cigarette lighters be adapted to switch off when ignition does ?

[niall campbell]

Can the cigar lighters back/ front be controlled by changing say a relay to shut off the power to the ports when you switch off ignition ?


In the day & age of charging phones and satnavs etc, surely VAG can change their vehicles to do this at manufactor

[Guest 2]

Simply change where it gets its feed from in the fusebox can alter its behaviour.

[B5NUT]

As above change the fuse location to a switched live position or run a new positive wire.

I don't see why VAG would change from switched live etc, as when you switch off the car and leave it, you would put the nav away or take your phone with you.

[niall campbell]

It should be changed for modern day purposes

ideally all devices would be removed to save battery, however with chargers changing in usb chargers etc, rather than actually lighting fags ................................. I remember a time radios and cassette players would drain batterys , especially fast forwarding tapes ................... and kids don't help

As the A6 has two fuses for its 2 lighters, its double the work !!

[B5NUT]

The new A6 does have 2 USB ports that switch off the with ignition, you have to remember The C6 was designed over 12 years ago, and production stopped 5 years ago.

I much prefer a permanent live for the lighter sockets, I used them to charge up devices that I've hidden under the seat while the car is locked. On my C6 3.0TDi comes with a sizable battery and it's going to take a lot of devices to flatten the battery.

[niall campbell]

yes I can see a huge battery would be ok

Just I don't understand why the VAG Group don't tie it in with the convience meter and switch the feed off if the battery needs it

[cjackel492]

Can the cigar lighters back/ front be controlled by changing say a relay to shut off the power to the ports when you switch off ignition ?


In the day & age of charging phones and satnavs etc, surely VAG can change their vehicles to do this at manufactor

I have been looking into this and have been thinking about 2 options.

1. Using a local ignition feed (probably from the AC controller) and switching a relay close to the sockets

2. picking up an ignition feed near the fusebox (rear wiper motor feed if an Avant) and switching the outputs at the fusebox.

(The fusebox with the 2 fuses is the rear right fusebox)

Carl,

[Not_Anumber]

The voltage control module will shut down non critical devices such as interior lights, stereo etc in sequence when the battery gets low in order to keep more critical systems running and retain enough power to restart the car. Ive experienced this in other German cars also. My guess would be this behaviour would also include the lighter sockets so there would be protection against anything left plugged in by mistake drawing current for too long.