Discovering that your car battery is drained is a very stressful situation when you have to rush somewhere. Perhaps your battery is old, or you forgot to run off the interior lights. At this moment, you’re likely to wonder: can I charge my car battery using the cigarette lighter?
A cigarette lighter is very effective at charging a car battery. You just have to plug into the 12VDC and wait for about 20 minutes, and you’re good to go. Doing this will lead to the diffusion of reaction products from the battery plates, making it seem like it charged itself.
Signs that your battery is drained include:
- Dim headlights that show that the battery can’t power electrical components appropriately
- Spark plugs make sporadic sparks leading to backfiring
- Slow crank when you start the engine, and it starts slowly
- The engine fails to crank or start, but the headlights fail
When having a drained battery, charging it through the car battery will see that you get back on the road shortly. However, you have to understand how the process goes. Let’s dig deeper into what you must do to charge your car battery using the cigarette lighter.
How Does A Cigarette Lighter Charge A Car Battery?
A car cigarette lighter has a metal or plastic cylinder with a nichrome metal strip. The lighter activates when pushed into a power outlet. Current passes through the device, making the heating element glow instantly.
Some vehicles have a wired cigarette lighter that only works when moving. However, those with the cigarette lighter wired to the battery are always active, and you can use it to charge your car battery. The lighter gives the battery a weak surface charge to start the engine.
Solar Charging A Car Battery Through The Cigarette Lighter
A solar panel is a common way to charge your car battery when it is drained because of parking the vehicle for a long time. Charging your car battery using a panel is slow since the lighter is for low-voltage applications.
You have to use the correct battery for your car to charge the battery sufficiently. Using a charge controller is necessary to regulate current from the panel to the battery to 10amps. This process is effective but takes some time.
Things to put in mind:
- The solar panel should be appropriate to charge the car battery
- Cigarette lighter should have the capacity to handle the power generated by the panel
- The solar panel needs positioning where there’s enough sunlight
- Correct connection of the panel to the battery is necessary
Solar charging a car battery through the cigarette lighter is renewable, easy, and a relatively simple procedure. You don’t need any special equipment or wiring to charge your battery. The process is environmentally friendly and cheaper to charge your car battery.
Trickle Charging A Car Battery Through The Cigarette Lighter
Have you ever wondered whether you can trickle charge your car battery through the cigarette lighter? It is possible, but you must consider a few things. A trickle charge uses low amps and will take a bit longer to charge the battery.
However, don’t leave it plugged in to avoid overcharging and shortening the battery’s lifespan. Ensure that the charger doesn’t come loose and short-circuit. You can tell whether your battery will recover from the reading on the charger. A zero reading means the battery is dead.
How To Jumpstart A Car Through The Cigarette Lighter?
Jumpstarting a car using regular jumper cables is a nerve-wracking experience. Fortunately, you can jumpstart your car with the cigarette lighter. You need a jumper device that plugs directly into your car’s cigarette lighter.
After about five to ten minutes, the green light on the device will turn on as proof of activation. Then you plug it into your car. However, the keys should be in the ignition to avoid automatically shutting off the cigarette lighter. Using a device with the correct voltage is essential to jumpstart the car.
The second option to jumpstart your car through the cigarette lighter is using a battery charger. You plug this into the cigarette lighter. The process may take about two to six hours, depending on the size and condition of your battery.
Steps to jumpstart your car through the cigarette lighter
- Check that the cigarette port is powered on, including when the keys are not in the ignition.
- Turn the key to the accessories point or on the first click.
- Ensure that the radio, headlights, and lights are off
- Plug the jumper into the cigarette port and wait for about 20 minutes
- Unplug the jumper before turning the ignition on.
Using A Cigarette Lighter Car Battery Conditioner
A cigarette lighter battery conditioner comes in handy when your battery dies. The device ensures you return to the road as soon as possible. You need a good location to condition your battery. A good spot is away from sunlight to avoid shortening your battery life.
The area should be well-ventilated for quick dissipation of fumes from the conditioner. You must clean the terminals using a cloth or brush. This allows the conditioner to penetrate the battery properly to perform its function.
Afterward, open the battery and attach the corresponding battery terminals. Attach the leads firmly to ensure they don’t come loose or short-circuit. Turn on the conditioner and let it run for about 12 hours. After the cycle, remove the leads and close the conditioner. Now the battery is conditioned to run for a more extended period.
Why Use A Cigarette Lighter To Charge My Car Battery?
Charging your car battery through the cigarette lighter is a convenient way to prolong its lifespan. There’s also the benefit of using the same accessory to charge your smartphone or tablet when stranded.
You don’t have to start looking around for where to find a mains power supply outlet to charge your devices. You need an appropriate device to give you enough juice to complete your journey. The method allows starting your car without opening the hood.
What Else Can You Power Using A Cigarette Lighter In Your Car?
Apart from your car battery, you can use the cigarette lighter to power other devices in your car. Devices that use DC power can run from your cigarette lighter through the 12V adapter plug, metal contacts on the sides, and a male-style plug.
Some devices you can power through the cigarette lighter include:
- CB radio
- DVD player
- GPS unit
Devices that come with a hard-wired DC plug designed for use in your car can be powered through the cigarette lighter. You may also use a splitter adapter for different power devices from the same outlet.
Getting stranded because your car won’t start because the battery has drained a bad situation. Fortunately, you can charge the car battery using a solar panel or trickle charger through the cigarette lighter. It’s environmentally friendly, and we will see you back on the road shortly.
