Maximum Amperage Through Cigarette Lighter

I've searched, but have been unsuccessful. What's the maximum amperage draw you can have using the cigarette lighter port? Can it handle something that will draw 20-25 AMPS?

 

do you plan on cooking a chicken in your truck

 

at most i think it can only handel 12 volts 10 amps but i think you can change the fuse to 20 amp not certin is this for your audio ?
try one of these

 

No. Actually, I want to use it for a small 100-watt linear amplifier for my CB. Although the specs of the amp are unclear to me at this point, I do know that it has a 12-amp fuse. Yes, I know the "normal/recommended" method is to come straight from the battery, however I was hoping this was small enough to run it right from the cigarette plug.

 

I don't think so. I ran a seperate circuit using 8ga wire for my 250 watt amp, That was a bit of overkill though.

 

Naw. Just do it the right way. Run a dedicated power wire.

 

OK, thanks. I figured it would come down to that, but thought I'd ask. Now I have to find a way to get the wire (I'm going to use 10-gauge) thru the firewall.

 

Thanks. That's a good point that I had forgotten about. I already have my antenna coax coming up under my rear passenger side floor gromet, so I'll look for one on the other rear side. I know it not good to have the amp power too close to the coax, otherwise I'd use the same hole.

 

I'll check it out. If that's the case, I'd probably just leave the amp under the seat and reach under when I wanted to turn it on.

 

your best bet is run two wires(black and red 12 or 10 gauge) thru the firewall (existing holes work) run them to the battery. Where you put a fuse on each post connection as accessories attach the wires and wa la you have a ground fused ground and a fused hot wire. I went further and bought a MFJ power port which has 3 posts that are regulated and 3 post that are unregulated power going to them. I have it under the drivers seat and it is also grounded the the frame and seat. I'm going to upgrade to a larger one in the future. I have a Vertex Low Band Mobile, Motorola Maxtrac High Band, Radio Shack Mobile Scanner installed. Also I installed my Streamlight Rechargable Flashlight next to the drivers seat. More items to follow. Oh yeah I also have a three way lighted accesory outlet w/on/off switch for my Blue Strobe Light. and everything is on this circut no power is drawn due to the installation of a power distrubution switch. I'll get pics of everytnig latter on. Have a fun weekend

 

Why would you not run power directly from a powerblock or from your battery?

JW

 

The cigarette lighter can't be used as a power port in that manor. You need to run your CB amp off the power port instead. You can put up to a 120W inverter in that port (with the engine running) without any problems. Anything more than that you risk draining your battery really quickly as well as possible heat meltdown of the plug and or wires connecting to the plug.