Lighter socket stays on - How to control w/ ignition switch

[joeygirl69]

I have a 2002 chevy avalanche. The power to the lighter socket stays on constantly. Is there any way to have it shut off with the ignition, when ignition is shut down?

 

[ygmn]

Re-wire it to a relay that is powered on by ignition

 

[joeygirl69]

Re-wire it to a relay that is powered on by ignition

Haha I was crossing my fingers it was going to be a fuse related thing. Im hoping this is something I can have my mechanic do? At 16 yrs old I'm NOT mechanically inclined. Quite the opposite actually. And my parents are worse, so no help there .

 

[dcn427]

Haha I was crossing my fingers it was going to be a fuse related thing. Im hoping this is something I can have my mechanic do? At 16 yrs old I'm NOT mechanically inclined. Quite the opposite actually. And my parents are worse, so no help there .

majority of mechanics should not have an issue doing it. But alter wiring you might get some say that they are not responsible for anything that may happen.

Can i ask is there a reason you need power taken away when engine is not running?

 

[joeygirl69]

I will never remember to turn off the many things I keep plugged in. I do have a 2 year old baby (no judgement please as i was assaulted by my moms boyfriend ) and her baby camera and her dvd player would just continue on forever, or until my battery gets drained.

 

[EXT4ME]

There are ways to power those devices from an already existing fuse that is for key on only power.

I power my dash cam in that manner since I do not want my dash cam powered up when the key is off.

I chose to not have my dash cam plugged into a cigar lighter, but wired directly into the fuse that has power only when the key is on.

You could power your devices in the same manner or someone versed in wiring could disconnect your lighter from it's normal power source and reconnect to a tap-a-fuse at the key on power fuse.

It shouldn't be too difficult to go either way.

 

[joeygirl69]

I think disconnecting the lighter from the normal power source sounds like the least confusing thing to do.

 

[Flapjacket]

If you have a usb plug in your truck, it should power off with the radio. I power my dash cam directly from the usb outlet in a 2013 Av. Not sure if every year of production has this option.

 

[joeygirl69]

The 2002 model has nothing fancy.

 

[EXT4ME]

I think disconnecting the lighter from the normal power source sounds like the least confusing thing to do.

More than one way to skin a cat, as they say.

Best of luck with your project.

I'm sure it will turn out just fine.

 

[joendoodle]

You are 16, it is time to learn:
I add a (dual) USB port in all my vehicles, that way my wife can charge her phone in any car..
That said, In the Avalanche I found a hot in run (only) fuse in the fuse box (left side of console). I replace the fuse with this "tap a fuse" I use that to power the coil of a relay (relay closes it's contacts when in run). I tap into the "always on" cigar lighter for power to the USB port.=> thus the USB port is only on (hot) in run. You could do the same to the cigar lighter.
I use the same circuit to power my foot well (LED) lighting.

85 is the (hot in run) power on (white) (small 18 gauge wire)
86 goes to ground (black) (small 18 gauge wire)
30 is the power that "used" to go to the cigar lighter (red) (larger 12 gauge wire)
87 is the new connection to the cigar lighter (blue) (larger 12 gauge wire)

 

[joeygirl69]

I've read this multiple times and it makes sense when I read it. I get the concept of what your saying. But what I don't understand is ALL the instructions. I don't know what ANY of those things are or mean. I don't know how to do this. I for excited at the pictures I was like" I can follow visual instructions" . I guess I DIDN'T pass in English class doing word problems. I'm sorry but I'm very confused.