Night Elf Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 In my car, my outlet where a cigarette lighter would normally go is empty. I bought it used and it didn't come with anything to plug that hole. Should I look for a cigarette lighter or is there just a plug I can get? I found a lighter that said it would fit my car but it shows a wire that comes with it. I don't know what that's about. Wouldn't this outlet just be standard for a cigarette lighter? or is it something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Our newer car has that hole & we have a usb plug to put in it to charge devices. I wonder if you could do that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarasue7272 Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Do you need/want a lighter in your car? I use mine for my cell phone car charger. But to answer your question, yes it is standard, 12 volt DC power outlet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Our newer car has that hole & we have a usb plug to put in it to charge devices. I wonder if you could do that? :iagree: that's where we put a USB plug. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 There is already an outlet for my phone charger separate from this other outlet. No, I don't need a lighter. I just don't like that lit up hole open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 (edited) There is already an outlet for my phone charger separate from this other outlet. No, I don't need a lighter. I just don't like that lit up hole open. Yeah, but you can buy another charger and just stick it in there. We're always needing to have multiple outlets for multiple devices - and then you wouldn't have an open hole. You can buy them at any drugstore. No one wants an actual cigarette lighter anymore - what else you going to put in there? Our car has (multiple) pretend lighter holes that are really just for lighter-shaped chargers that are covered by plastic covers when they don't have chargers in them. Like this. Edited February 10, 2016 by Matryoshka 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 Definitely just get another charger with USB port(s). You can never have too many! Search Car USB charger on Amazon for tons of choices under $10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 I was hoping for a plug of some kind. The outlet where I have my charger has a cap on it that is on a tab so it doesn't fall off when uncapped. The cigarette holder doesn't have that. I'm assuming the previous owner of the car used the outlet for a charger but why they didn't put the lighter or cap or whatever in the glove compartment is beyond me. They must have thrown it out. I just find that weird. Oh well. I'll just leave it open I guess. I don't want to spend $20 on something that might not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Okay, I ordered a plain USB charger from Amazon. It's a simple design and won't stick out too far. I'll never use it but at least the hole will be plugged! I don't know why it's bothering me so much but I've had the car for years and I've always been bothered by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredHSmom Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 my husband has a flashlight like this in that hole. It is very handy to have. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peach Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 We have one of those flashlights in ours too and it's really useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 The USB charger is not going to work unless it is wired into the car's electrical system. It will plug the hole, of course, but I would think you could find a stopper that would do that as well. Whether you can wire in the one you bought will depend on whether the original wiring is still there and you can reach it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 The USB charger is not going to work unless it is wired into the car's electrical system. It will plug the hole, of course, but I would think you could find a stopper that would do that as well. Whether you can wire in the one you bought will depend on whether the original wiring is still there and you can reach it. ??? That lighter socket is how you plug into the car's electrical system. That's why all the lighter shaped recharger plugs, USB ports that plug into the lighter, and that cool flashlight that recharges there. People used to plug stuff into the actual cigarette lighter hole, then as less people smoked, they kept the same-shaped receptacle for the lighter-shaped plugs even though there's no more lighter in most cars so they were interchangeable... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 search on amazon for 'lighter socket cover' or other variations of those terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.