Cigarette Lighter Socket

[Slingshot]

I need to wire up a cigarette lighter socket to the bike, I did it on my last one and wired it directly to the battery but I've heard that I should really wire it through a relay.
Can anyone tell me how this is actually done and what kind of relay I would need to get, I'll be powering a small air pump (for inflating an airbed) and a cellphone charger.
Cheers

[vifferman]

I need to wire up a cigarette lighter socket to the bike, I did it on my last one and wired it directly to the battery but I've heard that I should really wire it through a relay.
Can anyone tell me how this is actually done and what kind of relay I would need to get, I'll be powering a small air pump (for inflating an airbed) and a cellphone charger.
Cheers

Nah, you don''t really need a relay (or is that "relay need a really"?), unless you want it to only work when the key is on. But (however) you should have an in-line fuse. I had a lighter socket on my bike, and wired it straight to the battery with heavy-gauge (12?) wire, and a suitable fuse, then just twist-tied it up under the seat when not in use. I took it off recently and replaced it with a plug-in extension thingo (technical term) for the battery charger (just because it came with one).
If however (although, despite, inasmuch, perhaps) want it to be tied into the ignition, then just buy a weatherproof 10-amp relay, or even a 20 or 30; doesn't matter much, you just don't want it so puny that it craps out. You'll then need to wire the switching side of the relay to something that's only live when the key's on, like the tail-light, and the switched side to the battery (via fuse) and the positive on the lighter plug..

[qldzxr250a]

i would think from my little knowledge of electronics that you could wire it to batt as long as you ran an in-line fuse on +wire and things would be ok.

dont quote me tho im far from a sparky...

[vifferman]

dont quote me tho im far from a sparky...

Why have you got that picture then? You look pretty handy and technical.

[RiderInBlack]

The one I did on "Roxanne" has a fuse on the +ve wire and switch (so I can turn it off when I want to). Have 2 leads off it. One for a ciggie plug for the radar detector and the other is a two pin plug for the Celephone changer for the odd times I need that.

[Slingshot]

Sweet...I'll just wire it directly to the battery with a fuse. I'll have to try and figure out how much current the pump draws.

[qldzxr250a]

Why have you got that picture then? You look pretty handy and technical.

he's a builder....not a sparky....

[T.W.R]

you used to be able to get lighter socket plugs with just alligator clips for connecting to Batteries from DSE & Repco especially for 12v compressors/tyre pumps. one of those would save you any hassle mucking around with the wiring.