Adding another cigarette lighter

[Immelman]

Has anyone added a cigarette lighter port to power portable devices? What did you use and what would you suggest running that to, avionics bus, aux bus, or?

Aircraft spruce has these which I was thinking of installing, with my A&P/IA's blessing, on the left hand side of the interior next to the left rear passenger seat:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/cigrecept.php

 

[N601RX]

Quote: Immelman

Has anyone added a cigarette lighter port to power portable devices? What did you use and what would you suggest running that to, avionics bus, aux bus, or?

Aircraft spruce has these which I was thinking of installing, with my A&P/IA's blessing, on the left hand side of the interior next to the left rear passenger seat:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/cigrecept.php

 

[Steve65E-NC]

Look at the wiring diagram for a 66E it is in both your parts manual and your service manual.  Mine shows the cigarette lighter coming off a 10 amp circuit breaker at one end of the bus.  It also shows a separate fuse next to  and in series with the lighter.  Someone found a nice place high in the foot well tubing next to the pilots knee.    They fabricated a little sheet metal bracket to clamp in place.  It is rectangular running fore and aft.  It has three receptacles and a 1.5 amp fuse holder next to each.  Check for interference with controls or pilot knee, mine has none.  As near as I can tell, it is installed per the service manual. 

[201er]

If you're powering low current devices and the wiring is sufficient, you can get a splitter for multiple devices:

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Way-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Splitter/dp/tags-on-product/B0018NB3OK

Some even have direct USB charge ports on them and you can use USB cables directly. I bought one but haven't had to use it yet cause I try to just charge my devices ahead of time at home.

[JaredDavis]

For what it is worth the original socket was a standard automotive cigar lighter on a 65 C.

I believe, but have not verified, the fuse on the back of the socket provides thermal protection as well as current limiting.

If you replace/use an automative socket, be careful about the thermal protection circuit. The parts I saw had a bimetalic strip which creates a direct short when the socket gets too hot.

 

 

[jetdriven]

To revisit this topic, I asked my A&P IA about installing a 12v cigaratte lighter plug in the rear hatrack for my ADS-B and he said I had to have an STC.  I thought it would be a minor alteration with a logbook entry. Am I missing something?

 

he suggested rrunning a splitter from the panel receptacle and cords across the floor to the rear shelf. Aside from looking ghetto and something else to trip on, sliding the seat back can jam on the cord and short it out.

[Immelman]

Quote: jetdriven

To revisit this topic, I asked my A&P IA about installing a 12v cigaratte lighter plug in the rear hatrack for my ADS-B and he said I had to have an STC.  I thought it would be a minor alteration with a logbook entry. Am I missing something?

 

he suggested rrunning a splitter from the panel receptacle and cords across the floor to the rear shelf. Aside from looking ghetto and something else to trip on, sliding the seat back can jam on the cord and short it out.

[jetdriven]

:

14 CFR Part 1.1

Major alteration means an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications -

(1) That might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness; or

(2) That is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations.

Minor alteration means an alteration other than a major alteration.

[smccray]

Quote: jetdriven

:

14 CFR Part 1.1

Major alteration means an alteration not listed in the aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller specifications -

(1) That might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, powerplant operation, flight characteristics, or other qualities affecting airworthiness; or

(2) That is not done according to accepted practices or cannot be done by elementary operations.

Minor alteration means an alteration other than a major alteration.

[danb35]

You don't need a breaker at all; you can use an inline fuse.  Pilots really shouldn't be resetting breakers in flight anyway.

[1964-M20E]

When my buddy had his Arrow painted he had them install a receptacle in the rear of the plane.  As far as I know it was not a major alteration. 

Like said above opinions vary.  Depending on what you are trying to accomplish I’d consider most interior modifications a minor change no STC required.  The word appreciably is vague and subjective and if you are inside you are not affecting the aerodynamics or the power plant of the plane.  However, others may disagree.

[Cruiser]

In today's FAA the approval would probably require an aeronautical electrical engineer to do an power/load study on the electrical circuits to determine the theoretical total loads on the electrical system, the current draw and proper wording on the caution label they would require displayed next to the outlet.

On the other hand, if it were connected to an existing circuit breaker already installed in the plane but not used, a local A&P should be able to attach a wire and run the plug as a minor alteration.

just sayin'.........

[1964-M20E]

Well I am a licensed electrical engineer in 6 states so I have that one covered and could bury them in paper to support just about anything.  :-)) 

While there are some jack legs out there my opinion is that the FAA and regulations impose too much bureaucracy and red tape on the small GA plane market.  I fully understand the tighter regulations when it comes to commercial airlines, business jets and other charter or rental operations.  But when it comes down to small twins and singles with 6 places or less owned and flown privately I think they should get out of our hair when it comes to anything not part of the airframe or power plant.  Do your homework and do quality work or work with someone who will.  Bottom line is it is your butt out there and no one will want to do it right more than you and while we are off subject lets get rid of 2/3 of the lawyers out there. :-))

 

 

 

[RJBrown]

Quote: JaredDavis

For what it is worth the original socket was a standard automotive cigar lighter on a 65 C.

I believe, but have not verified, the fuse on the back of the socket provides thermal protection as well as current limiting.

If you replace/use an automative socket, be careful about the thermal protection circuit. The parts I saw had a bimetalic strip which creates a direct short when the socket gets too hot.

 

 

[JaredDavis]

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6051814/description.html

ref: "Various safety measures were proposed to insure against malfunction and possible fire in such lighters. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,849 a second bimetallic member was for the first time introduced and arranged in the circuit so as to intentionally short-circuit the lighter and cause a line fuse at another location to blow out, usually such other location being a fuse block for the various car circuits."

[triple8s]

While on this subject I have to throw this out there. WHY on earth has the aviation, heck even the automotive industry for that matter, why have they settled on a cigarette lighter socket for a power supply connection. It's huge, the socket is big and could hold many things that could cause a short circuit. Why cant industry come up with something better than a cigarette lighter socket? It's ridiculous!