Is there a relay for the cigar lighter?

[MrAl]

Hello there and thanks for any info.

I wanted to know if there is a relay for the cirgar lighter. I figure there must be something like that because it switches with the ignition key so when i turn the key on it turns the cigar ligher on and when i turn the key off it turns that cigar lighter off.
This is quite a bother with the new meter i got for less than 10 dollars USD> The meter takes a good 3 seconds before it will provide a voltage reading and i'd like to have it on all the time without installing anything new for now except perhaps my own wired in relay to act in tandem with the (presumed) relay that is already there. This way maybe i could flip a swtich to get constant 12v readings on teh new meter and turn it off after i get the measurements i am after.

One of the reasones i want to do this is because starting the car is one of the best tests of the battery when you can constantly measure the battery voltage without interruption. When the starter starts to turn, it draws a huge current and so that loads the battery heavily. Now with a new battery the voltage may not go down too much, let's say 11.5 volts. As the battery ages the voltage during a start up (with similar outside termperature) will go down lower and lower as time goes on. It may sink down to 11.3v and then some time in the future down to 11.1v, etc. This way you can get a relative idea of the healt of your car battery.
I used to do this with my old Hyundai but i installed my own circuit just to measure voltage. As the car started i could watch the meter go down. A fast responding meter is better too so you can see the quick changes. I used an analog meter because it is very fast, i can see all the dips even when i turn the heater on (the blower draws quite a bit of current too).

I have been planning to run my own 12v circuit as i did in the old car, but i never got around to it and then realized that all i have to do is short the contacts on the (presumed) relay and it will do what i want. I figure a nice heavy duty 12v coil relay should do it. Alternately, wouild it hurt to leave the cigar plug energized constantly evcn with the car off if there was no meter plugged into the socket and therefore no presumed load?

Thanks for any info on this. I figure there should be a relay because i dont think they would want to go through the ignition switch directly, although who knows with this unusual car.

[RickHaleParker]

I wanted to know if there is a relay for the cirgar lighter.

They switch in and out with the overload relay ( 2/30 ).
The relay is is witched with line X of the Ignition Key Switch ( POS I ).
? Hook up meter, turn to POS I or POS II, wait then crank ?

Or you could jumper 2/30 when you want to do the test.

Capture.PNG (291.24 KiB) Viewed 841 times

[abscate]

Note that the X relay defeats exactly what you are trying to read, ie, voltage under starter load. I’m not sure that’s a good battery condition parameter anyway. Too many variables. Temperature , SOc, valve train resistance, cylinder lube?

[RickHaleParker]

Note that the X relay defeats exactly what you are trying to read, ie, voltage under starter load. I’m not sure that’s a good battery condition parameter anyway. Too many variables. Temperature , SOc, valve train resistance, cylinder lube?

Wow ... X does disconnect in POS III on a P80.

He is trying to setup a heavy load test. Same thing Autozone does with that massive dummy load when they bench test a battery. In this case the starter is the massive load and he will be testing the whole system not just the battery. Which is clever because he will not need to buy the high wattage dummy load, which would be quite expensive. He can do a heavy load test whenever and wherever he needs to.

MrAl, A toggle switch between the Red-Black wire ( line 30 always on ) and the Yellow-Violet (Line X ) wires of the ignition switch will let you manually switch on line X and the relay and it will stay on in POS III when you have it manually switched on. Just don't leave it on or you will deplete the ions out of the battery. There is more then just the 12V outlets on that circuit.


3/1 is the ignition switch.

[abscate]

I think I would wire a usb plug right off the battery, with a fuse of course, and then put in one if the many USB voltage plugs in to check the battery.

The typical 1 Hz sample rate will be a problem as the voltage will fluctuate on this frequency range while cranking.

[BEJinFbk]

Accessory connector!

How come no one ever remembers the accessory connector?
Right there under the dash, little yellow 8 pin connector clipped
to the steering column just WAITING for a job like this.

It's got to have some pretty serious self-esteem issues by now...

The white arrows are pointing at it ( Ignore the Door Chime legend and it's red circle ) :

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98 S-V-C70 Accessory Connector.pdf

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Accessory Connector - 5 Wire.jpg (52.21 KiB) Viewed 796 times

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Looks like some enterprising individual even came up with a kit for
using the empty mating plug that it leaves the factory with - Sweet!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/254614458625?chn=ps
_
You can also scavenge pins from other JY connectors or even
some styles of stereo wiring adapter harnesses to snap in there.

[BlackBart]

I thought........ you just used a wooden match to light your cigar....


Or have I watched too many cowboy westerns.

[MrAl]

I wanted to know if there is a relay for the cirgar lighter.

They switch in and out with the overload relay ( 2/30 ).
The relay is is witched with line X of the Ignition Key Switch ( POS I ).
? Hook up meter, turn to POS I or POS II, wait then crank ?

Or you could jumper 2/30 when you want to do the test.

Capture.PNG

Thanks, not sure what relay that is though just yet.
I think the socket turns off when you go to start the car too, so it goes off then too until you let go of the key.
Yes i can get one reading by turning the key and not starting, but once i turn the key a little more, the meter goes off again.

What is a overload relay? Not sure what that is for or where that is

[BEJinFbk]

Pin 1 on the unused accessory connector under
the dash ( see picture a few posts back ) runs
through two fuses to the battery. No switches,
no relays, showing battery voltage at all times.
One might even describe it as Hot At All Times.

If you want to monitor your battery voltage
24/7/365, you couldn't ask for a better place.

If you’d like a relatively pain free way to mate
with that connector, buy the kit off of ebay.

[abscate]

you’d like a relatively pain free way to mate
with that connector, buy the kit off of ebay.

It’s customary to buy it drink first but if it says “ you had me at Hella” you can skip that