Cigarette lighter
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 861
Likes: 136
From: Wisconsin
I've only plugged in my GPS. but when I remove the plug the lighter doesn't fit very good and I have to go into the female end and bend the clips inside so the lighter will fit tight in there again.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: b.c.
1) No, I'm not a reality TV celebrity!
2) Harley tells you not to use it, probably because they know the factory pays little attention to which wire is hot. There is no functional difference between any 12V accessory plug and a cigarette lighter...are none of you old enough to remember plugging in radar detectors and other goodies into your car's cigarette lighter back when there was no such thing as a "12v accessory plug"? LOL!
Dave
2) Harley tells you not to use it, probably because they know the factory pays little attention to which wire is hot. There is no functional difference between any 12V accessory plug and a cigarette lighter...are none of you old enough to remember plugging in radar detectors and other goodies into your car's cigarette lighter back when there was no such thing as a "12v accessory plug"? LOL!
Dave
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,074
Likes: 12
From:
just change it to a 12v outlet unless you use the lighter You can get them at Autoparts store radio shack etc etc they are cheap and yes there is a differance
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: b.c.
and what would that difference be, exactly?
Switch it out if you like, but as I said in the beginning, myself and everyone I know uses the cigarette lighter to power their GPS....this isn't rocket science.
Dave
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 940
Likes: 3
There's a 15 amp fuse on the lighter circuit. If you're plugging in anything that draws more than that, then you should probably be running new wires for it.
Chances are:
The fuse will blow when the tank hits whatever is in the lighter socket.
This is the reason I became very adept at replacing that 15 amp fuse, and still have a package on my bike. Once I realized what was happening, I didn't stick anything in the socket that would contact the tank at full left lock, and haven't had an issue since (2 years and counting).
There is a VERY small chance that the socket is incorrectly wired, at least on the newer bikes. If you pull the fairing off, you'll notice that the wiring harness has a different length of wire going to the pos/neg respectively, so it's very hard to have them switched (someone would have to do it on purpose). This is what I have noted on my 2011 Ultra, your experience may be different (but I doubt it).
Chances are:
This is the reason I became very adept at replacing that 15 amp fuse, and still have a package on my bike. Once I realized what was happening, I didn't stick anything in the socket that would contact the tank at full left lock, and haven't had an issue since (2 years and counting).
There is a VERY small chance that the socket is incorrectly wired, at least on the newer bikes. If you pull the fairing off, you'll notice that the wiring harness has a different length of wire going to the pos/neg respectively, so it's very hard to have them switched (someone would have to do it on purpose). This is what I have noted on my 2011 Ultra, your experience may be different (but I doubt it).
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
[quote=Mike_M;11296319]
Chances are:
The fuse will blow when the tank hits whatever is in the lighter socket.
This is the reason I became very adept at replacing that 15 amp fuse, and still have a package on my bike.
Mike, is the fuse your replace the P&A fuse? I got a new GPS and took it on my most recent trip and I think the power cable bumped the tank when I parked.
Chances are:
The fuse will blow when the tank hits whatever is in the lighter socket.
This is the reason I became very adept at replacing that 15 amp fuse, and still have a package on my bike.
Mike, is the fuse your replace the P&A fuse? I got a new GPS and took it on my most recent trip and I think the power cable bumped the tank when I parked.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 940
Likes: 3
Keep a pair of forceps on the bike to make removal easier.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 809
Likes: 45
From: WA
When I examined the inside of my FLTRU lighter socket, it appears to be a bit non-standard, in that there are "ears" attached to the center that extend up each side a little. I have found that as long as I make sure that the side contacts of any plug I put in there doesn't touch those parts connected to the middle, it will work OK.
I can't help but wonder how many people have the same set up, and (wrongly) assume that if they blow a fuse their socket is wired backward.
I can't help but wonder how many people have the same set up, and (wrongly) assume that if they blow a fuse their socket is wired backward.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
A 12 volt power port is slightly smaller than the Cigarette lighter plug is.
I always hard wire my GPS power.
If you have some age on it then I suggest to check the power leads to make sure it is correct and inspect the plug in the fairing. I started having some problems and it was rusted pretty bad. I replaced it and hot glued a piece of plastic to cover it.
I always hard wire my GPS power.
If you have some age on it then I suggest to check the power leads to make sure it is correct and inspect the plug in the fairing. I started having some problems and it was rusted pretty bad. I replaced it and hot glued a piece of plastic to cover it.