cig lighter battery charging

sendmyusername · Post by **sendmyusername** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:19 pm

Battery charging through cigarrette lighter....
Bonnet is stuck down, I know you can get into the bonnet realease via the rhs wheel arch, but can't be arsed ripping off wheel and trim and crawling about on wet leaves in the tiny space I have at side of car.
Battery is totally flat.

Saw a ciggy lighter charge thing online. I already have a trickle battery charger, and a cig plug-in thing from something surplus to requirements.(by surplus to requirements, I mean it's easier than rolling about on the ground in winter)
Question is this - provided I get polarity correct, can I charge the battery indirectly through the cig lighter without setting fire to the car, and would the ignition switch need to be on for the charge to work ?
(as the cig power doesn't come on unless switch is on)
I know it's lazy, and a bit rough, but if I can get it to start, I can move it and get easier access.
Pushing isn't an option...

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 4:05 pm

The rate you buggers change cars I am never sure what any of you have any more, but pretty sure you have an S1.

If so why would you want to release the boot catch as the battery is in the front?

tut

sendmyusername · Post by **sendmyusername** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:59 pm

I can't imagine why I would want in the boot either tut, that's why I said bonnet ?
You don't need to take the wheel off to get in the boot either ?
P.s. It is still an S1.

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:07 pm

ah so, excuse a geriatric lapse of concentration, thought you said rear wheel arch.

tut

sendmyusername · Post by **sendmyusername** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:41 pm

so does anyone know if this will work ?
i'm pretty sure that the ignitioin needs to be on for the lighter to come on, so not overly keen on leaving keys in overnight anyway, but thought it may get me out of a sticky problem if i don't melt the cabling first....

tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:05 pm

Ignition does not need to be on for the cig lighter to be live on an S1, at least with the earlier models. I think this may have changed though around '99.

Plug a tyre pump in if you have one to check.

tut

Post by **campbell** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:28 pm

I believe my 99 would need ignition to be on. But the cig lighter socket on mine doesn't work whether ignition on or off

Really should get that seen to eh...

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tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:31 pm

Just prise it out Campbell and check the two wires going in.

tut

Post by **campbell** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:36 pm

Ta, chief engineer, will let you know!

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tut · Post by **tut** » Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:43 pm

ps:- also if you haven't, check the fuse.

tut

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:23 am

On early S1 the cigarette lighter is permanently live through a 20A fuse.

From Oct 97 onwards it's on the ignition circuit (not the accessories - you need to have the ignition in the run position). Again it goes through a 20A fuse. If your immobiliser still works you want to leave the car immobilised - this prevents the fuel pump from running which will hopefully avoid blowing the cigarette lighter fuse; ideally you plug something current limited into the cigarette socket - 1-2A would be ideal.

Cheers,
Robin

Post by **campbell** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:46 am

tut wrote:ps:- also if you haven't, check the fuse.

tut

Ah yes, that was my first thought. But so much to do...

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sendmyusername · Post by **sendmyusername** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:11 pm

Well, just a small update on my progress...
The battery must have been totally drained whilst I was away over the new year.
Tried the charger on it, seemed to work, but as soon as enough charge in it for the alram etc, things went a bit pear shaped.. Pity.
Think if i'd caught it just as battery was getting tired It would have been ok.

So onto my next point...
How easy is it to open the bonnet when the latch has stuck ?
I've been wd40'ing it for last three days to no avail.
Acording to the internet wisdom it's front wheel and wheel arch off to get to it (rhs)

Anyone found a better technique ?
By better I mean easier ...

sendmyusername · Post by **sendmyusername** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 7:12 pm

P.s. I did need to have ignition on.
If I didn't, I think it would have worked ....

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Jan 07, 2014 8:04 pm

Don't give up with the charging through cigarette lighter ... let the alarm go mental ... it won't stop you charging the battery. You won't be able to crank using that technique though - you will actually have to charge the battery, then try to start the car ... also the alarm might well sort itself out eventually once the battery voltage has been up and stable for a day or so.

Cheers,
Robin

Scottish Elises