inconspicuous switch for non smokers

w99t4rweos · 12-23-2006, 03:41 PM

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Here's a reprint of my post from a different section that may benefit more of us.

Hi all, It's great when you can post a thread that might help others!
Any how, to make a long story as short as possilble.

First of all, I'm not responsible for anybodies actions or results after reading this. I'm just posting a actual experience.

Today I was installing a stereo in my runner , all went well thanks in part of all of the excellent threads regarding stereo installs! .

But my HU is the kind that activates the power antenna everytime I turn the unit on in CD mode, that means it will continually be cycling up and down wearing the poor thing out. So I located the wire that does this and thought , I could wire a switch to this very easily, but I did not want a obnoxious switch sticking out of my dash or a hidden one where I had to bend over while driving.

Started looking around the dash to see what I could use. And then it came to me..... Why can you use the CIG LIGHTER ? Think of it? It has B+ and B- hook up to it, and the element is the load , the lighter itself, when you go to push it in ,is just a switch!!

I took my multi meter out and found out that the center post and the large spade are connected when it is push in ! Al man, way cool . This is my switch!

I checked the amp load of the wire to the power antenna unit and it only draws 7ma B+, hardly anything ( goes to 85 or 86 of the relay) . I removed the lighter and completly disassemble it , b/c the center post nut has to be removed.This will take patience since man has not evolved the third arm yet. I installed 2 longer leads to the 2 terminals at the lighter and used spade connectors, so when I take the dash apart again ,there is enough slack to do this and I can disconnect it also.

I wired the P/A wire from my stereo to these 2 connectors at the lighter, plug in all my stereo connectors and push in the lighter and wah la!! the antenna went up . Pull the lighter out , and the antenna goes down . This works so sweet! And you can't even tell where the switch is! The worst that could happen is if the lighter did not make contact, no P/A.

I'm thinking of possiblities of using this, anything that you can wire a relay to. Use the lighter for the trigger for the relay! If there is something I'm missing here as to why this can't be use in this manner, let me know. Also if you still any questions , let me know. BTW the stereo sounds great!!

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drguitarum2005 · 12-23-2006, 03:49 PM

so are you pressing in the stock lighter? wouldnt it pop out after so many seconds and then interrupt the circuit? i dont know what kinda device i'd be using that would need to be activated for 10 seconds only...

w99t4rweos · 12-23-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drguitarum2005

so are you pressing in the stock lighter? wouldnt it pop out after so many seconds and then interrupt the circuit? i dont know what kinda device i'd be using that would need to be activated for 10 seconds only...

The factory wires are diconnected, so the lighter is inoperable. I took the P/A wire and cut it in 2 and connected them to the lighter spade connectors.
The lighter will stay in indefinitly.

drguitarum2005 · 12-23-2006, 04:01 PM

oh ok i missed that part. sounds good to me.

Alperovich · 12-23-2006, 04:30 PM

nice!

rdharper · 12-23-2006, 04:51 PM

Sounds like a cute way to disguise a kill switch.

2KTacoma · 12-23-2006, 08:00 PM

The heat generated by the current flowing through the cigarette lighter is what causes it to pop. by running only a little current through it it will not heat up enough to pop out.

ChickenLover · 12-23-2006, 08:08 PM

What an awesome idea.

I have a power-interrupt kit for my winch. Instead of putting in another switch, I used an existing one as well. I now have to engage my ECT button for my winch to have power.

Elton · 12-23-2006, 08:57 PM

thats a good idea...my antenna is broke so i pulled it up and unplugged it as i barley listen to the radio

Surfgromdave · 11-04-2008, 08:53 PM

I just did it to my 99 4runner. its awesome!

mikes19984x4 · 11-05-2008, 11:28 AM

wish i would've thought of that 2 years ago when i put a switch on mine, but oh well, it's just one of those little micro switches on the side of the console, so no big deal...lol. cool idea man

1styota4X4 · 11-05-2008, 11:50 AM

so just so i follow you its not enough to heat up the element? Cause if it was My parents had an old econoline van and the circut shorted somehow and the cig lighter melted the plastic around it cause it got hot...Just something to be aware of and to keep an eye out for

surf4runner · 11-05-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1styota4X4

...and the circut shorted somehow and the cig lighter melted the plastic around it cause it got hot...

another reason not to use chinese made crap !

a decent lighter socket wont melt and short from the heat generated by the lighter element.

w99t4rweos · 11-08-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1styota4X4

so just so i follow you its not enough to heat up the element? Cause if it was My parents had an old econoline van and the circut shorted somehow and the cig lighter melted the plastic around it cause it got hot...Just something to be aware of and to keep an eye out for

The wires going to the lighter are from the trigger side of the relay which only draw a few milli amps, I have not had any heat generated when using it .
If you have heat in your lighter after this mod, then you have hook up the wrong wires.

12-23-2006, 03:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
drguitarum2005 Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston (home), Atlanta (school), Cincinnati (work) Posts: 2,235	so are you pressing in the stock lighter? wouldnt it pop out after so many seconds and then interrupt the circuit? i dont know what kinda device i'd be using that would need to be activated for 10 seconds only... __________________ -David 2000 Taco TRD Access Cab v6 \| 5spd \| 33" BFG A/Ts \| 33" PC Mud Terrains \| OME 882's \| Bilstein HD struts front \| Rancho shocks rear \| Chevy 63" leaf spring swap \| Custom sliders \| Custom front bumper \|3" BL \| U-Bolt flip \| Flowmaster exhaust \| Kenwood Speakers \| Grey Wire Mod \| Aux. Reverse Lights \| Deckplate Mod \| Lots of lights Pictures

12-23-2006, 04:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
drguitarum2005 Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston (home), Atlanta (school), Cincinnati (work) Posts: 2,235	oh ok i missed that part. sounds good to me. __________________ -David 2000 Taco TRD Access Cab v6 \| 5spd \| 33" BFG A/Ts \| 33" PC Mud Terrains \| OME 882's \| Bilstein HD struts front \| Rancho shocks rear \| Chevy 63" leaf spring swap \| Custom sliders \| Custom front bumper \|3" BL \| U-Bolt flip \| Flowmaster exhaust \| Kenwood Speakers \| Grey Wire Mod \| Aux. Reverse Lights \| Deckplate Mod \| Lots of lights Pictures

12-23-2006, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alperovich Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 191	nice! __________________ ~Alex My cars.. 93 Acura Legend cpe 6spd ; 93 Legend cpe auto (parts) ; 90 T4r V6 5spd ; 82 Yamaha Maxim 550 Past cars... 02 Dodge Durango ; 89 Lude 4ws 5spd totaled :( - not by me! ; 96 Chevy Blazer 2dr Other cars in the fam 05 Dodge Grand Caravan (dads) ; 01 Dodge Ram B3500 (dad's) ; 01 Civic (moms) ; 00 Lexus RX300 (sisters) ; 96 Cherokee (sisters bfriend)

12-23-2006, 04:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
rdharper Contributing Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 1,048	Sounds like a cute way to disguise a kill switch. __________________ Richard "Science by consensus... is not Science." Richard Harper -1988 '94 Toyota 4Runner V6 3L 158K miles 14mpg '85 Toyota 22rec 4WD SR5 LB PU 208K miles 18mpg '08 Honda Ridgeline RT 2.6K miles 16mpg '06 Honda Rincon ATV 410miles/65hrs 22 mpg

12-23-2006, 08:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
2KTacoma Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 159	The heat generated by the current flowing through the cigarette lighter is what causes it to pop. by running only a little current through it it will not heat up enough to pop out. __________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver 2000 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab V6 5spd SR5 Now with URD short shifter and Milled polyurethane shifter seat Hella FF1000 Driving Lights

12-23-2006, 08:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
ChickenLover Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NV Posts: 2,583	What an awesome idea. I have a power-interrupt kit for my winch. Instead of putting in another switch, I used an existing one as well. I now have to engage my ECT button for my winch to have power. __________________ 95 4Runner, 3VZE , 141k, 4WD, Auto. (Head gaskets replaced at 106k) Last edited by ChickenLover; 12-23-2006 at 08:20 PM.

12-23-2006, 08:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Elton Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Siletz,Oregon Posts: 10,662	thats a good idea...my antenna is broke so i pulled it up and unplugged it as i barley listen to the radio __________________ My Truck 98 4runner SR5 3.4L 5spd 4x4 E-Locker Mods Mom 07 Tundra d-cab limited 5.7L 4x4 auto sister 92 pickup SR5 X-cab 3.0L 5spd 4x4 Papa 89 Pickup SR5 X-cab 4x4 3.0L 5spd/98 4runner SR5 4x4 auto 3.4L R.I.P 91 4runner SR5 4x4 3.0L 5spd Totaled 5/13/06 My Wreck

11-04-2008, 08:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Surfgromdave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SD Posts: 12	I just did it to my 99 4runner. its awesome!

11-05-2008, 11:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
mikes19984x4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 703	wish i would've thought of that 2 years ago when i put a switch on mine, but oh well, it's just one of those little micro switches on the side of the console, so no big deal...lol. cool idea man __________________ 1998 4Runner SR5 4x4 3.4 w/5-speed & E-Locker Deckplate & ISR mod w/K&N, 2.5-inch Exhaust w/40-Series Flowmaster Centerforce Clutch Bilstien Shocks, 265/75/16 Buckshot Mudders Sylvania Silverstars, Hella 500s on front bumper (no longer), Orange Gauge Lights, JVC Arsenal Head Unit, Pioneer REV-Series Speakers More mods to come...

11-05-2008, 11:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
1styota4X4 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 572	so just so i follow you its not enough to heat up the element? Cause if it was My parents had an old econoline van and the circut shorted somehow and the cig lighter melted the plastic around it cause it got hot...Just something to be aware of and to keep an eye out for __________________ NEW* 1985 lifted locked dual cases bumpers and sliders now my daily! 1985 Stock Had to do head gasket and some other minor things left. 1983 Hilux 4X4 SR5 4 Sale 3" Rough Country Lift 32" Goodyear Wranglers. Custom bumpers being made!! 1995 4Runner 4X4 V6 SR5***TRADED

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