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 . (I took pics but could not figure has to post them) 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 leads 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!!

 

Cool idea.

 

What happens when the cig lighter gets hot and pops back out? Won't your antenna go back down

Erich

 

Ok, I think I got the pics here. thanks to MSW0085

this one shows the longer leads with the spade connectors
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...s/9b426b60.jpg

this one show what terminals to use at the lighter- sorry for bad pic
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...s/IMG_0446.jpg

this one show the back of the lighter - hard to see the terminals
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...s/IMG_0444.jpg

Any ? let me know

 

Ah hmmm , I DID NOT hook up the factory lighter wires, tape these off. the lighter is used as a switch.

 

That makes a whole lot more sense

Erich

 

I can just see the faces of the next owners of your truck (if you ever sell it) when they plug their cell phone in the cig lighter to charge it, and the antenna goes up... J.K. (However, If you plug in something with a low enough watt consumption, it should still allow enough volts to power the relay for the antenna).

Anyways, good idea, I've heard of people using the lighter as a starter kill switch before, but that was the only "other" use for it that I'd seen to date.

 

in my 510, i used the power wires from the lighter for an internal (map) light, but i may go back and use the lighter itself for the switch. 8)

 

Just make sure that the lighter is used with a RELAY, on the ground of the trigger side . If the circuit draws too much, it could heat the lighter up. I have not experience this yet using it for my P/A

BTW i'm going to wear this P/A motor out b/c I keep playing with this freaking switch

 

Just get a Satelite Radio and then you won't ever need your antenna again anyway!!

 

Ill use the lighter as a switch for my passenger side ejection seat!