With only 2 weeks to go thought it was about time I took a look at wiring in the cigarette socket so I could power my devices. Like most things in my life it didn’t go according to plan …
Earlier in my blog I wrote ‘… only complete wankers use iPads’. Well, I’ve decided that I need to use mine in Morocco. The change of heart came from a loud bang and bright flash followed by a shed full of smoke.
Let me take you back a few days. The bike was pretty much ready with the exception of the installation of a cigarette lighter socket to power various items including my tough old HP Elitebook laptop. So yesterday I decided to get it done. I wanted everything to be as tough as possible so used heavy gauge wire and high amp sockets. I actually wired in two sockets. The white one was fine, but the black one … See the photographs below.
Big 35 amp cables enclosed in tough plastic tubing.
All secured with a nice tough cable tie.
I then wrapped it all in tough Gorilla tape and cable tied it some more.
I then installed it directly onto the battery and plugged my laptop charger into the socket.. BANG! (followed by “Fuck!”). That wasn’t supposed to happen.
After taking it all apart and taking a look I found the following:
Red always goes to PLUS (except when I get involved!)
As you can see, I had attached the cables to the wrong terminals, doh!
So, with the smell of burning plastic still in the air I decided to throw it all in the bin and stick with just the one working socket. However, when I tested the laptop charger it started getting hot which worries me. If it’s getting hot here in the UK there’s a chance it might get bloody hot in the Sahara and perhaps start melting everything around it.
I looked over at my iPad which charges from a USB socket. Mr iPad, me and you are going to the Sahara!
I need power for the following devices:
Garmin Nuvi 3790t GPS
Sony Walkman
Blackberry Phone
iPad
Nikon D300
All the above devices with the exception of the Nikon camera can be charged from a USB socket with minimum draw so create little heat. I’ve now bought a device that converts one of the cigarette lighter sockets into a 4 port USB charging point. I’ve tested it and it works fine! Phew..
So, until the next disaster …