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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / April 2005

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Solar Battery Charger

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Kevin Kennedy - 14 Mar 2005 15:46 GMT
I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery charger,
preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.  And, does plugging an
s.b.c. into the lighter work when the car is switched off?
XS11E - 14 Mar 2005 16:05 GMT
> I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery
> charger, preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
> And, does plugging an s.b.c. into the lighter work when the car is
> switched off?

Does the lighter work with the car switched off?  If so, the solar
charger will work BUT.... Solar battery chargers that I've seen don't
work very well, they don't usually put out sufficient current.  Maybe
on a Miata that has very little current draw when shut off, but I doubt
it.
Grant Edwards - 14 Mar 2005 16:35 GMT
>> I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery
>> charger, preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
>> And, does plugging an s.b.c. into the lighter work when the car is
>> switched off?
>
> Does the lighter work with the car switched off?

No.  The lighter socket is dead when the key is in the off
position.

> If so, the solar charger will work BUT.... Solar battery
> chargers that I've seen don't work very well, they don't
> usually put out sufficient current.  Maybe on a Miata that has
> very little current draw when shut off, but I doubt it.

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XS11E - 14 Mar 2005 20:34 GMT
>>> I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery
>>> charger, preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> No.  The lighter socket is dead when the key is in the off
> position.

Same as my Jeep, that means that the solar charger will require a
different wiring connection and it still probably won't be much good.

Sorry you had to answer this, the reason is simple, I was WAAAAAY to
lazy to walk out to my Miata and check.. :-(
Grant Edwards - 14 Mar 2005 20:56 GMT
>>>> I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery
>>>> charger, preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Same as my Jeep, that means that the solar charger will require a
> different wiring connection and it still probably won't be much good.

I've never understood the reasoning behind the decision to
allow the headlights to be on when the ignition is off and yet
shut down the cigarette lighter socket.

That's exactly opposite of what I (or anybody I've ever talked
to) wants.  I have _never_ needed to have my headlights on with
the key off, yet I often wish I could power a cell phone or map
light or whatever with the key off.

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XS11E - 14 Mar 2005 22:14 GMT

> That's exactly opposite of what I (or anybody I've ever talked
> to) wants.  I have _never_ needed to have my headlights on with
> the key off, yet I often wish I could power a cell phone or map
> light or whatever with the key off.

I see your point but I think having the headlights on with the key off
is some kind of safety thing that might be required by law?  I know in
England you had to have the parking lights on when parked on the
street, maybe still do?
Grant Edwards - 14 Mar 2005 22:35 GMT
>> That's exactly opposite of what I (or anybody I've ever talked
>> to) wants.  I have _never_ needed to have my headlights on
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> key off is some kind of safety thing that might be required by
> law?

I don't think so.  I've run across a few models that shut the
headlights off when the key was in the off position (VW I
think?).

> I know in England you had to have the parking lights on when
> parked on the street, maybe still do?

I don't remember ever seing cars parked on the street sitting
with their parking lights on in England, but I can see allowing
parking lights to be on without the key.

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Kumo '96M - 15 Mar 2005 17:46 GMT
> I've run across a few models that shut the
> headlights off when the key was in the off position (VW I
> think?).

My OTM is a VW, and the headlights do infact turn off when the key is
off.  The headlights also go off when the parking/hand brake is
engaged.

I'm not sure about parking lights, I'll have to check when I get home
form work.
Alex Rodriguez - 01 Apr 2005 21:43 GMT
>> I've run across a few models that shut the
>> headlights off when the key was in the off position (VW I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>off.  The headlights also go off when the parking/hand brake is
>engaged.

It sounds like you are talking about the DRL's going off with the key,
not the regular head lights.  
-------------
Alex
 
Kumo '96M - 04 Apr 2005 17:44 GMT
> It sounds like you are talking about the DRL's going off with the key,
> not the regular head lights.

The DRL's do go off with the key.  But the headlights go off when the
parking brake is engaged [but the parking lights remain on].  When the
door is opened, the reminder 'bings' until I remember to turn off the
headlight switch, which turns off the parking lights of course.
Chuck - 27 Mar 2005 00:48 GMT
The cigarette lighter off with ignition off is a safety thing. Some years
ago, I had to rewire the under dash area on a 55 Chevy. The lighter had
stuck in the on position, and was not drawing enough current to blow the
fuse. The plastic insulation just fell off the wires when moved, and various
wires were stuck together by melted insulation.

>>>> I am looking for specific recommendations for a solar battery
>>>> charger, preferably one that plugs into the cigarette lighter.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> Sorry you had to answer this, the reason is simple, I was WAAAAAY to
> lazy to walk out to my Miata and check.. :-(
 
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