Hi all,

As I'm relatively new to my V8 Vantage I wanted to check to see if this is normal or not?

I'm not having much luck getting meaningful current out of the two traditional cigarette lighter sockets in the cabin, using two different and known good cigarette lighter to USB adapters neither the cigarette lighter socket in the center armrest/console or the one in the ashtray seem you deliver sufficient current to charge my phone, or power up my Bluetooth transmitter?

The adapters light up suggesting there is some power there and they work fine in my other car, but the only way I can actually charge my cell phone or power up my Bluetooth transmitter in the Aston is to use the USB port in the center armrest/console, this is odd as I thought that USB port was just for a thumb drive to hold MP3 files?

It's like the Aston's cigarette lighter sockets are very low amp, which makes no sense as a traditional cigarette lighter typically needs lots of current. Is what I'm experiencing here normal in a V8 Vantage, perhaps these two cigarette lighter sockets only push out the full current with the engine running which I must admit I haven't tried yet?

Thanks in advance,

Dave.

 

The one in the ashtray is fine for me. I have a 2007 V8 Vantage. Can you measure the current you are getting?

 

They are fused at 20A although the arm rest one does go to sleep without ignition on and possibly even asleep then in battery low mode. (not 100% sure but think this is the case)
Are you making good contact with your adaptor.
Is the adaptor a good one.
The charge one in the boot right side used for trickle charging is constantly live.
The main thing affecting these chargers is voltage control and increase to suit attached item and not really current.
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• They are fused at 20A although the arm rest one does go to sleep without ignition on and possibly even asleep then in battery low mode. (not 100% sure but think this is the case) - Interesting
• Are you making good contact with your adaptor - Yes, good connection and enough current to illuminate the adapter's LED
• Is the adaptor a good one - Yes two known good adapters that work just fine in my Audi so no issues there
• The charge one in the boot right side used for trickle charging is constantly live - I use this to float charge my battery and it works just fine
• The main thing affecting these chargers is voltage control and increase to suit attached item and not really current - I'll drop my multimeter on the suspect sockets and see what the voltages and currents are

Perhaps I just need to fire the engine up

 

Try it. It might not work but you'll feel better anyhow.

 

Oh for sure

 

this is how I feel with the "turbo" emblem on my Yugo!

 

If it heats up the lighter it's got to be putting out sufficient voltage. Although I've only used mine to light a couple blunts

The USB in the console is all I plug my phone into and it's definitely not a fast charger, more like a trickle charger!

 

Just to close this off, it seems the issue is actually 'largely' down to my phone

The phone's battery is clearly on the way out as it only charges on certain chargers, my guess is the phone needs to see a certain initial inrush of current before the Samsung software allows the charging process to start, a combination of the Aston's ciggy socket low initial current output and the rather tired battery combining to cause the 'no charge' issue.

Interestingly the low current USB socket triggers the charging process to start where the two ciggy sockets do not, the USB socket is a very slow low amp charge but it's inrush current must be greater!

New phone on the way