QP5 Charging from the cigarette lighter

keith.willey1

Junior Member
Messages
41
Folks I've tried various USB adapters in my QP5 (2011) centre console cigarette socket. They all blow the fuse after short period of use. What am I doing wrong? Is there an adapter model that will charge but not pop the fuse? I know someone will say run a wire from the 12V in the boot but surely I can get that socket working reliably? Thanks
p.s. if I put a higher rated fuse in am I risking death???
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
I mean, this is about the most simple circuit on the car, isn't it? 12v and a fuse.

This is why I suspect it's got the wrong fuse in it.

C
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,698
I mean, this is about the most simple circuit on the car, isn't it? 12v and a fuse.

This is why I suspect it's got the wrong fuse in it.

C
Hope you said that out of earshot. Calling your car simple is going to lead to a myriad of twinkling Christmas tree lights.
 

MC_Bob

Member
Messages
133
Just to be clear, its not one of the chargers that charge the car through the lighter socket?
 

keith.willey1

Junior Member
Messages
41
Yes it's a charger that slots into the cigarette lighter socket. The fuse is behind the coin drawer next to the steering wheel. It's a yellow 20A fuse...
I've used two different chargers in there. Wonder if there is such a thing as a lower rated charger or am I failing my Physics GCSE here??

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keith.willey1

Junior Member
Messages
41
Yes it's a charger that slots into the cigarette lighter socket. The fuse is behind the coin drawer next to the steering wheel. It's a yellow 20A fuse...
I've used two different chargers in there. Wonder if there is such a thing as a lower rated charger or am I failing my Physics GCSE here??

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Oh I mean it's a USB phone charger, in case people thought I meant a battery charger.

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CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Yes it's a charger that slots into the cigarette lighter socket. The fuse is behind the coin drawer next to the steering wheel. It's a yellow 20A fuse...
I've used two different chargers in there. Wonder if there is such a thing as a lower rated charger or am I failing my Physics GCSE here??

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

It's blowing a 20A fuse?!

So that's the correct rating of fuse, but as far as I can tell from a rapid google there's no USB chargers that should be drawing anything like that. More like 4 or 5A. Call it 10 if they are very high power and 50% efficient.

They don't have, like, 6 sockets on them or something daft?

Personally I wouldn't put a higher rated fuse but I might start looking at measuring the current draw. Also making sure that there socket is clean, nothing causing a short in there. Other than that. I'm at a bit of a loss than try a 3rd charger.

Or an auto-electrician

C
 

keith.willey1

Junior Member
Messages
41
It's blowing a 20A fuse?!

So that's the correct rating of fuse, but as far as I can tell from a rapid google there's no USB chargers that should be drawing anything like that. More like 4 or 5A. Call it 10 if they are very high power and 50% efficient.

They don't have, like, 6 sockets on them or something daft?

Personally I wouldn't put a higher rated fuse but I might start looking at measuring the current draw. Also making sure that there socket is clean, nothing causing a short in there. Other than that. I'm at a bit of a loss than try a 3rd charger.

Or an auto-electrician

C
Thanks. I'm not going mad then! Maybe I need to extract the socket and see if there's some kind of short... Any idea if the fuse is dedicated to that socket or serving other things at same time??

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Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,698
There is normally a glass fuse in the cigarette USB charger/plug also so sound like a short.. Plug the USB in the boot socket. If it blows the fuse on there it must be the charger. If not could be cigarette lighter
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,547
Thanks. I'm not going mad then! Maybe I need to extract the socket and see if there's some kind of short... Any idea if the fuse is dedicated to that socket or serving other things at same time??

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According to the manual, yes, it's just for that.

Odd and no mistake

C
 

MC_Bob

Member
Messages
133
Not some **** shorting the terminals out when you push the lighter in? If you have an ammeter Id swap out the fuse for that and monitor if there is any consumption before plugging in, and if it really jumps up to 20A once plugged in. Thats a huge amount of power so looking for a short imo.
 

keith.willey1

Junior Member
Messages
41
Not some **** shorting the terminals out when you push the lighter in? If you have an ammeter Id swap out the fuse for that and monitor if there is any consumption before plugging in, and if it really jumps up to 20A once plugged in. Thats a huge amount of power so looking for a short imo.
At last a chance to use my ammeter! Will report back after weekend...

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