[jkmann]

I will be installing a few 12V "cigarette lighter" style sockets for utility use. For example, laptop chargers and CPAP machines that use 12V car adapters. In the past I've had trouble with these sockets being too loose. Please reply if you know a brand or model that seems better than the rest. Ideally with quick connect tabs on the back.

A Powerwerx plut with a Powerwerx adapter is also a possibility Powerwerx to cigarette lighter female adapter It's another cable to keep handy, but with that adapter if the connection gets loose it's possible to just tape the two cigarette lighter components together.

I'll also have some USB-A sockets. In case you are interested, the Blue Sea System one are a bit pricey, but only have a 1 mA parasitic draw, so I'm planning to just leave them switched on most of the time 4.8 amp Blue Sea System charging port

I'm sure that others have had this question before, but I was not able to locate a post specifically on this.

 

[Transit Authority]

I will be installing a few 12V "cigarette lighter" style sockets for utility use. For example, laptop chargers and CPAP machines that use 12V car adapters. In the past I've had trouble with these sockets being too loose. Please reply if you know a brand or model that seems better than the rest. Ideally with quick connect tabs on the back.

A Powerwerx plut with a Powerwerx adapter is also a possibility Powerwerx to cigarette lighter female adapter It's another cable to keep handy, but with that adapter if the connection gets loose it's possible to just tape the two cigarette lighter components together.

I'll also have some USB-A sockets. In case you are interested, the Blue Sea System one are a bit pricey, but only have a 1 mA parasitic draw, so I'm planning to just leave them switched on most of the time 4.8 amp Blue Sea System charging port

I'm sure that others have had this question before, but I was not able to locate a post specifically on this.

We used these cheapies.

Amazon.com: 3-Pack Cigarette Lighter Socket, 12V Power Outlet Receptacle for Car Marine Motorcycle ATV RV, with Wire Fuse DIY Kit by Riseuvo : Automotive

Buy 3-Pack Cigarette Lighter Socket, 12V Power Outlet Receptacle for Car Marine Motorcycle ATV RV, with Wire Fuse DIY Kit by Riseuvo: Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Didn't really put too much thought into them really. I did want to avoid the parasitic draw, so no fancy lights in these. For the past 18 months, they've worked without issue.

 

[klp]

I bought four of the factory ones so everything matches and it looks nice but install was a little tricky.

 

[RustBeltRefugee]

We used these cheapies.

Amazon.com: 3-Pack Cigarette Lighter Socket, 12V Power Outlet Receptacle for Car Marine Motorcycle ATV RV, with Wire Fuse DIY Kit by Riseuvo : Automotive

Buy 3-Pack Cigarette Lighter Socket, 12V Power Outlet Receptacle for Car Marine Motorcycle ATV RV, with Wire Fuse DIY Kit by Riseuvo: Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

How well does the locking function work? Hate when I find that the refrigerator plug has jiggled loose after 1.5hrs of driving.

 

[njvagabond]

Blue Sea makes a locking one. I have no experience with it. They also have little panels that would incorporate a 12V along with USB like the one you posted
Amazon link

 

[Xprmntl]

Why go Powerwerx (Anderson Powerpole style) to cigarette lighter? Even the so-called "good" cigarette lighter plugs are terrible, and bulky, and generally cheaply made (fall apart). It's a standard that wasn't ever meant to be one. I got sick of them and just converted all my cigarette-style, male plugs to Anderson and put in this style outlets in the van: Amazon.com

 

[Sparky961]

Seconding the Anderson Powerpole style.

Various sizes exist for wire gauge and current requirements. These things will NOT work loose! They can be a challenge to undo sometimes, but unless you go with some expensive locking connector, that's the trade-off.

 

[jkmann]

I'm building a family-trip oriented van. I have to plan for some of those crappy cigarette lighter style connectors. I do appreciate that they tend to work loose and are otherwise pretty irritating.

 

[njvagabond]

I'm building a family-trip oriented van. I have to plan for some of those crappy cigarette lighter style connectors. I do appreciate that they tend to work loose and are otherwise pretty irritating.

I think the pulling out problem may be as much a problem with the plug as it is with the socket.
Serious comment, which required a great deal restraint to avoid double entendre wording.
You know seeing it is for family trips.

 

[gregoryx]

I will be installing a few 12V "cigarette lighter" style sockets for utility use. For example, laptop chargers and CPAP machines that use 12V car adapters. In the past I've had trouble with these sockets being too loose. Please reply if you know a brand or model that seems better than the rest. Ideally with quick connect tabs on the back.

A Powerwerx plut with a Powerwerx adapter is also a possibility Powerwerx to cigarette lighter female adapter It's another cable to keep handy, but with that adapter if the connection gets loose it's possible to just tape the two cigarette lighter components together.

I'll also have some USB-A sockets. In case you are interested, the Blue Sea System one are a bit pricey, but only have a 1 mA parasitic draw, so I'm planning to just leave them switched on most of the time 4.8 amp Blue Sea System charging port

I'm sure that others have had this question before, but I was not able to locate a post specifically on this.

We've used the cheap-o and the less cheap-o units. The Blue Sea units are pretty nice. But these units are nearly as good. different mount plates. We had USB adapters but realized that they're rarely as good as the various inserts available for the 12V sockets - can get high-power / fast-charge units that work with whatever phone or device much better than the basic USBs. FTR, even stuff like this one don't charge as fast as stuff like this.

With that said, still used these outlets with USB in them for all the 120VAC stuff. Not fast charging, but not wasted space, either.

Also have this 12-volt to 4-port USB that's powering the WiFi/internet router and a couple other full-time USB devices.

And... also have cut off the 12V plug things and replaced them with Andersons and used this outlet setup for those.

 

[njvagabond]

But these units

Do these (and the Blue Sea) actually have some sort of locking mechanism ...like a twist lock or something?

 

[Xprmntl]

I'm building a family-trip oriented van. I have to plan for some of those crappy cigarette lighter style connectors. I do appreciate that they tend to work loose and are otherwise pretty irritating.

Why not just keep a couple of the cigarette to Anderson converters that you linked to, above, on hand and do everything else you have control over in Anderson?

 

[gregoryx]

Do these (and the Blue Sea) actually have some sort of locking mechanism ...like a twist lock or something?

... "-ISH" yes. 😄

Basically, you turn them once inserted and the side-springs on the male 12V plug snug into a slot. They fall out much, much less.

 

[Vanaroo]

This thread gave me a nostalgia burst. A good friend of mine many years ago hated the cigarette lighter standard (with good reason) and was determined to cut it out of his life and boat. But of course that ended up not working out because there are just so darned many things you get (or someone brings over) that use that standard. It's aggravating because they are so bad but so ubiquitous.

How well does the locking function work? Hate when I find that the refrigerator plug has jiggled loose after 1.5hrs of driving.

Just as another option here is what I did for my refrigerator (Dometic CF40). I bought a second cord and then cut off the cigarette lighter end and hardwired it to my house battery (via a fuse block). So it's stock plug on the refrigerator end; ring terminal on the other end. Now it's rock solid in the car.

If I want to use it somwhere else, I've got the original cord that still has the cigarette lighter plug on the other end.

 

[Sparky961]

It is truly a wonder that these stupid things haven't been replaced by something that makes even slightly more sense.

Though considering the equally bad "design" of North American 120V plug/receptacle pairs, I suppose it's less surprising.

USB plugs are in this arena too. I think USB-C does a lot of stuff right, but the damm things still loosen up quickly and fall out.

 

[Sparky961]

On many devices, my fridge included, I cut the original power cord and insert mating M/F connectors in the cut. Now I can use the cord as originally intended, or I can plug directly (with a locking tab) into my house battery system.

Warranty voided? Pffft. 🖕

 

[njvagabond]

On many devices, my fridge included, I cut the original power cord and insert mating M/F connectors in the cut. Now I can use the cord as originally intended, or I can plug directly (with a locking tab) into my house battery system.

Warranty voided? Pffft. 🖕

Gotta link or technical name? I have something like that on an old thermo-electric cooler so it can be run in reverse to heat, but no lock on the connector.

 

[Sparky961]

Gotta link or technical name? I have something like that on an old thermo-electric cooler so it can be run in reverse to heat, but no lock on the connector.

Technical name: Amazon 😉

580 Pcs 2.8mm Pitch 2 3 4 6 9 Pin Automotive Electrical Wire Connector Male Female Cable Terminal Plug Kits for Motorcycle Bike Car : Amazon.ca: Automotive

580 Pcs 2.8mm Pitch 2 3 4 6 9 Pin Automotive Electrical Wire Connector Male Female Cable Terminal Plug Kits for Motorcycle Bike Car : Amazon.ca: Automotive

www.amazon.ca

Alas, I bought an el-cheapo connector shell and terminal kit waaaay back, and I've been repurposing and repopulating many of them as things have evolved. I have yet to run out of terminals. I haven't had as much use for the nine pin ones. Two, three and four I could use more.

These guys have worked out fairly well. I don't use them for high current applications! My biggest complaint is that the connector shells have room to still slide a few mm after the lock has engaged. Oh, and you need to be careful when connecting because the pin alignment isn't maintained very well. But ya, all in all they've done what I've expected. There have been so many times that I've been grateful to myself for having used a connector rather than a fixed connection.

 

[Vanaroo]

I see we overlapped but I'll leave this here in case it's helpful. Sparky might mean these? I know them as "quick disconnects." Just guessing though. They have "humps" that tend to keep them together. They also come in both one or two humps. And some have insulation over the metal section, like these do; some don't. I find .25" size to be more common.

FTZ Industries

www.ftzind.com

I got around the warrantly issue by just keeping my original cord intact and buying a second one to cut up (not that I ever expected big warranty help from Dometic).

 

[Sparky961]

I see we overlapped but I'll leave this here in case it's helpful. Sparky might mean these? I know them as "quick disconnects." Just guessing though. They have "humps" that tend to keep them together. They also come in both one or two humps. And some have insulation over the metal section, like these do; some don't. I find .25" size to be more common.

FTZ Industries

www.ftzind.com

I got around the warrantly issue by just keeping my original cord intact and buying a second one to cut up (not that I ever expected big warranty help from Dometic).

I used to use spade and bullet terminals, but they've largely dropped out of my favour.

Using shells with multiple terminals is by far my preference now, even for only two wires. It helps keep things neat, organized, and often more compact.

But I digress from the original question... A lot. 😛

Carry on...