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| Cigarette Lighter |
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Author: Archives Views: 11313 Votes: 0 |
Cigarette LighterBy Theedge on Friday, October 22, 1999 - 07:50 am:For all of you smokers out there (shame, shame), there is an easy way to install a cigarette lighter on your bike. I found an aftermarket lighter for a Goldwing at the Honda shop, and decided to give it a try ($15, not a big deal). I had previously torn apart the fairing to replace the blown spotlight fuse, and didn't want to get into another 3-hour job to install the lighter where the front 12V accessory plug is located. Someone on the board identified a neat pre-drilled hole on the left side of the bike, under the driver's seat. This hole is located in the same position that the rear air shock valve is positioned on the right side of the bike, with a rubber stopper in place to cover the hole on the left side. It happens to be the perfect size for a standard cigarette lighter. I simply pulled the plug, removed the screw holding the passenger footplate backing on, and moved the plastic piece (footplate backing) a little for more visibility while installing. For cosmetic reasons, I wrapped the two wires coming off the lighter with black electrical tape. I then ran the "pigtail" up through the drain hole (after pulling the drain plug) which is located close to the seat frame. The rubber battery strap was used to secure the in-line fuse, and the wires were attached directly to the battery. I cut the drain plug to fit around the wires, and re-installed for a secure fit. Presto! The lighter actually works! It's located in an awkward position, but it can be reached if you have decent dexterity in your left hand. Personally, I have about 70% use of my left hand, and I was able to get it out and light up at 10 mph in heavy traffic this morning. I'd expect at constant speeds in light traffic, it would be easier to retrieve and put back the lighter. There are other places to wire into than a hard-wire to the battery posts, but most of them are fused with 5-25 amp fuses. The lighter used an in-line fuse of 30 amps, so it's protected, and having a direct-connect to the battery works fine for me. On another note, if the purpose of the front 12V accessory plug is use some type of accessory like a heated suit, the extra lighter plug makes sense for the passenger's electric suit. I know that there is an extra plug (white plastic, 2 prong connector) under the seat, and it is already wired and fused (5 or 10 amps, I believe), but it would be just as simple to have a normal accessory plug back there for those of you that don't need a cigarette lighter. By the way, my lighter cost $15, and is designed for a motorcycle or other outdoor application. I could also have gotten a weatherproof dash lighter from the boat supply store, or from the Harley Davidson store, each of which quoted me $15 over the phone for their versions. I'm sure there are different styles of waterproof lighters out there, but the chrome one I got works well for me. Tim Egger
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