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Hey

Am looking for information on how to install a 12v cig lighter, it lights up i would have thought it done it automatically but it comes with a cable how do i install or wire this cable in where do i put it, also am looking for other 12v stuff to add to my car, but have no idea of how to wire them up can anyone help

its a Ford Ka 1.3I // 51 plate

any help appreciated, cheers
Liam

Go to the scrap yard and have a look at how they are wired in to them as std. iirc they run off the stereo/inside light. Sometimes when not fitted the loom is behind the cover.

What other 12v stuff do you want to fit?

take your live to the ignition live, or any live cable that looks like it can handle the power and run the earth to the body work some where !

If you have no real knowlege of electrics bud then i wouldn't really start messing around, have you no friends that can offer to lend a hand?

As above.

But if you really want to try yourself or have no-one to help you, look under your bonnet (usually) and look at the cable from the positive terminal on the battery. It might go to a bolt from which you can connect another cable to give you 12v.

Provided you use big enough cable, this is best for things which take a lot of current such as power inveters which allows you to plug 230v sockets into.

If it's just another cig lighter or a light or few LEDs, if you take out your cig lighter, you can connect to the live (12v) cable that go to it to the middle of it.

You can pick up a ground from any unpainted bodywork on the car such as a bolt holding in the centre console.

am looking to install footwell lighting too, is this an easy job lol, or too much for someone who dont know about the electrics,

I have a haynes manual lol

Haynes manual probably wont help you lol

Might be a bit much, but if you want to give it a go, have a look at it.

footwell lights -

take out your cig lighter, the cable going to the middle of it is the 12v one, take another one off it using a split connector (see below)



get a length of cable (doesnt have to be big stuff, small stuff will do for footwell lights ) and connect it with the 12v cable from the cig lighter and take it to a switch (can get little rocker switches from halfords for a few quid).



On the other side of the switch, take another big of cable off going to the inverter of the neon light.


Or.....


Just get a kit that plugs into your cig lighter

Don't forget about puttting a fuses into the + cables. This is for cig lighter and lights, an inline fuse for each. Best be safe than sorry.

Buy yourself a 12v test light, a good investment if your planning on playing with your car. If I was to fit them, I would solder the wires in rather than use split connectors, so maybe a soldering iron/gun would be worth getting hold of.

Vini

Thats if you take a cable straight from the battery.

If you're connecting lights from the cig lighter, the cig lighter should already be protected by a fuse

Check you have a loom behind the cover off the cig lighter.

If the car has not got the Smokers pack 9 times out of 10 the loom is behind the cover.

Thanks for the advice guys and the pics, They will come in usefull, But i do not know what a loom is lol and the first pics the splitters, don't know how that works, also on the switches they come with 3 bits of metal dont they what one do i connect where lol, it's all so confusing sorry guys lol



The plug and go neons seem good, but not great, how good does it look to get in the car and say one sec, lol just plug me lights in lol.

I was joking about the Haynes manual, I read it on the loo and didn't find it much use lol, for me anyway.

Why is it sooo hard to plug lights in lol,

Where your lighter hole is in the KA their should be a blank, either prise it off or try and get your hand behind to get the cover off.

Behind the cover should be the loom for the lighter (a car loom is what all the car electrics)

You will see a connection with 2 pins, you then plug the lighter in their. As for buying one try the scrap yard for 50p or halford or the like for £5