Hi. Bought a car USB charger that goes into cigarette lighter to charge the phone. Noticed as I got out that the charger stayed on when I switched the car off.
This would drain the battery?
Anything I can do so that it goes off with the ignition?
TIA
Cigarette lighter always on
Moderator: martauto
A couple of weeks ago I killed my battery in exactly this way.
Been thinking about this and it maybe that I will connect the power wire to the lighter to something like the positive to the stereo power. This way when I turn the car off, the lighter with the stereo will get no power.
Just a thought at the moment????? Not sure if this causes any electrical issues?
Just a thought at the moment????? Not sure if this causes any electrical issues?
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Moz
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 494
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
AFAIR the cigarette lighter is constant 12v. There are other 12v ign lives that you could use such as the radio you mentioned. I ran an extra fused cable direct from the battery alongside my amp wire when installed so I could add a small additional fuesbox for things like this. I took it to the boot though.
Thanks
Thanks
Everytime you idiot proof something, the world will just give you a bigger idiot.
Pretty certain its a constant 12v too - same as on the E36, lots of people do a bodged electric seat retrofit by just tapping into it. Easiest option as said above is to just remove the socket. If you don't want to do that for some reason, you could always add a switch somewhere.
- davidt
- Pompey Council 4 door deviant
- Posts: 2760
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: portsmouth
You will find on the auxillary connector a suitable live that will swich off when the ignition is off . https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.php/Loom.
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minesapint
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 510
- Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: Lancashire/Yorkshire border.
That’s the way they were designed. With ignition switch in position “0” ie, off & without the key inserted, all items of electrical equipment are switched off except.......hazard warning lights, flashers, cigarette lighter, interior lighting, side/parking lights.

