Cigarette lighter linked to ignition

[Brett Miller 0]

Hi All

I have a 540i Motorsport (2000) and am using a external Sat Nav. The problem I have is that the charger in the cigarette lighter continues to work after the car is switched off therefore so does the satnav. Is there a way to get this linked to the ignition? Cheers Br3tt

[*Glenn* 855]

You need to hard wire it to an AC sourse (violet switched wire) you can buy extra leads from d*ck Smith to do it.

Might also pay to add your location in your profile. I'm sure someone might be able to help you do this.

Edited August 22, 2011 by *Glenn*

[Brett Miller 0]

You need to hard wire it to an AC sourse (violet switched wire) you can buy extra leads from d*ck Smith to do it.

Might also pay to add your location in your profile. I'm sure someone might be able to help you do this.

Thanks for that Glenn

[jochen 4]

You need to hard wire it to an AC sourse (violet switched wire) you can buy extra leads from d*ck Smith to do it.

Might also pay to add your location in your profile. I'm sure someone might be able to help you do this.

I would insert a relay in the existing lead, with the relay controlled by the Ign switched wire

Reason: the violet ign switched wires are often not designed to handle the current draw of the cig lighter socket.

And inserting a relay ensures that the fuse designations and descriptions remain correct

[*Glenn* 855]

Jochen... I meant hard wiring a nav cord into the violet... not the cig lighter. The Nav unit shouldn't draw very much current. I've done this in all my cars without a problem.

[antil33t 90]

Looks nicer not having the GPS plugged into the ciggy lighter too.

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2136]

Jochen... I meant hard wiring a nav cord into the violet... not the cig lighter. The Nav unit shouldn't draw very much current. I've done this in all my cars without a problem.

Pays to check specs though. i melted the AC switch doing the same thing

using the relay would be the better option overall. Thats actually designed to put out the current required. if i did it again, i would splice into just behind the cigarette lighter, and then for the switch use a relay. you might want to do it to the ON postition though, so you can sit with the stereo on in ACC without having the whole works lit up

[*Glenn* 855]

Pays to check specs though. i melted the AC switch doing the same thing

Wiring has never been one of the skills you have excelled in though Andrew

When I wrote AC I was meaning Accessory. Not AC as in Air Con. Violet wires in the BMW are switched in the AC/ACC (accessory position)

Edited August 24, 2011 by *Glenn*

[Neal 546]

Hi All

I have a 540i Motorsport (2000) and am using a external Sat Nav. The problem I have is that the charger in the cigarette lighter continues to work after the car is switched off therefore so does the satnav. Is there a way to get this linked to the ignition? Cheers Br3tt

Get a glove box torch to sig socket converter cable (ebay $5 usd ) and connect your satnav to that outlet . I'm reasonably sure it is ignition switched(mulitmeter to check) and should have enough current to run a satnav

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Auxilia...=item51976d0379

Edited August 25, 2011 by Neal