Solar battery maintainer through cig lighter outlet?

I have a 2003 6-cylinder 4WD. I purchased a Renogy 10W solar battery maintainer that has the option of being plugged into the cigarette lighter. I know this is a stupid question for those of you versed in electrical functions, but it's not so obvious to me. I know the outlet is a switched outlet, i.e. it only receives power when the truck is in accessory mode or fully on. However, I'm wondering if electricity can flow the other direction when the truck is off - solar panel to battery. I assume not but I'm willing to risk a little humiliation to ask for a definitive answer.

If the maintainer won't work when plugged into the lighter outlet, I will connect it directly to the battery.

 

Very valid Question!!

Think Electric Needs a complete circuit the switch opens the circuit it will not allow flow in either direction.

I guess the lighter plug option might be if your in the truck working and can have the ignition switch on.

Not for long term.

Please let us know how this works long term!

Good luck!

 

You’re right, they are relayed and disconnected with the truck off. If you want to do it that way you’ll have to modify an outlet to be always on. I did that with one of mine, but I already had run wires there so it was easy.

 

What it might mean is that the Renogy system has the option to be plugged into a cigarette style plug (not necessarily the one under the radio).
It might mean that you could install a "Female Cigarette Lighter Socket, Y Type Terminal Plug" to your battery so that you could then easily plug in the Renogy maintainer into that to charge the battery and then unplug when not in use.

 

On the topic of solar panels, does anybody know what kind of wattage I would need on a panel to maintain the battery while playing the radio with the truck off. Sometimes when I'm working either on a job or on the truck itself I like to leave a door open and the radio playing some music but with the engine not running. I'm running an aftermarket head unit and speakers but no amp or sub. Not sure how much current it draws

 

find the amp rating for the recommended fuse, we will call it x for now. so for wattage plus 30%

x*12+((x*12)*.3)

 

Thank you for the link. I can't envision a way to pass this through the firewall but I could certainly wire up a similar setup, as previously suggested by Rucas.

 

Years ago a common mod was to make the cig lighter always hot by removing the relay and inserting a jumper wire in it's place. Not sure if that would facilitate the use of that charging panel or not.

 

Think about this you now created a complete circuit anytime a plug is inserted in the socket.

Plugging in your solar charger should work fine. As long as your lighter circuit has a relay my 2000 does not.

The power outlets do have a relay which should handle the charging voltage.

I still like going direct to the battery.

 

Thanks. I found a tutorial. I believe I have all the right-sized parts I need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Digj5EWf4u0

 

Another suggestion I found (that avoids the possibility of putting the jumper terminals in the wrong slots) is to insert something like a piece of credit-card plastic between the switch contacts, such as pictured by 12DblCab in another post. (The arrow is below and to the left of the contacts.)

 

I think you miss worded this!

The plastic would go under the contacts to keep them forced closed. Between the contacts would not allow the circuit to close defeating the purpose.

 

I agree it makes more sense that it needs to be closed but the poster said the switch in the relay needed to be forced open. Another responded that with his relay, it needed to be forced shut. Supposedly, it depends on the relay. Easy enough to test.

 

It would come down to if you wanted to energize the circuit.

If you wanted the circuit to not be complete for some reason. Like the starter or EFI relay as a anti theft measure ?