I have several 12 volt cigarette type plugs in my camper & I am wondering how many amps I can draw through these plugs. I don't remember reading anywhere what their amperage limitations are.
Anyone have any ideas??
Thanks,
Big Rig
04.5 Dodge Quad,3500,CTD,DRW,4X2,48RE
04 Lance 920, air,solar,gen,no front window,cabover struts
It depends on the wire size and then the fuse size. I'm assuming the plugs in your rig were wired with #12 strand and probably have a 10 or 15 amp fuse. Although #12 normally is safe up to 20 amps, you'll already get a voltage drop due to distance from the battery. With a draw at the maximum the wires could get warm/hot. If the builder went cheap and used size #14, then you could be limited to 10 amps.
Also, voltage times amps equals wattage. Or, wattage divided by voltage will give you the amperage draw. Good luck. JMHO
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Mustang Convertible, and Honda VT1100C Shadow.
12 volt receptacles will vary. Some may be able to supply the 10 ampers as 2oldman stated, some won't even give you that much. Some marine grade will supply close to 20 amperes.
Biggest limitation is the size of wire feeding them.
A TC as you have will have some limitations. Is you camper battery in the camper or under the hood? How big of wire is feeding camper from battery?
If you are thinking medium to large inverter, forget it!
If you are thinking TV size small inverter, less than 200 watts, give it a try.
There are several different grades of plugs, and I understand the ones used in most RV's are the 20 amp rated types, usually with a smaller (10 or 15 amp) fuses in the circuit. Most automobile types are 8 amp rated or close to that, so these are better than what you ordinarily find in cars.
One of the limiting factors is how good the contact is when you plug something in. I've seen cig liter plugs get warm when a 8 AMP load was connected, due to a crappy connection at the tip end. I vote thumbs down on using a cig liter socket for anything serious. Radar detectors....OK.
Joe
The basic outlets are as follows:
1/4" mono type plug such as found on ceiling light fixtures 4 amps maximum.
Plastic bodied cigarette lighter types 8 amps and should be fused as 7.5 amps
Metal bodied cigarette lighter automotive type 20 amps and fused at 20 amps.
Wire size is based on the draw and LENGTH of the wire run.
As an aside we've scrapped a lot of melted plastic off of ceiling fixtures and plastic bodied plugs just being tapped into an existing 12 volt wire. Where the wire was too small or more often the circuit was protected by a 15 or 20 amp fuse and no fuse was added just for the outlet's rating.
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