Power at lighter plug....
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Westminster, Colorado
Power at lighter plug....
In my 1967 F-250, I have a "lighter plug" on the dash covered with a small plastic cap....it has power, but......it seems incapable of charging my Blackberry.
A recent rental car I had was able to charge the phone via the charger in about an hour with the car off, yet....I can drive for an hour in the truck and the phone will barely get on bar of extra power.
Is this an "amperage" issue? Can I increase the power output of that plug by routing a larger gauge wire to carry the power?
A recent rental car I had was able to charge the phone via the charger in about an hour with the car off, yet....I can drive for an hour in the truck and the phone will barely get on bar of extra power.
Is this an "amperage" issue? Can I increase the power output of that plug by routing a larger gauge wire to carry the power?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 4
From: Cupertino
The wire to the lighter is certainly capable of providing the current to supply a small hand-held device. You probably have an issue with the connection. Scuff up the connections with emery cloth and try again.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
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I'd almost guarantee that if you stuck your finger in the lighter socket & swirled it around you'd have a rust colored finger. Grab a piece of emery cloth, wrap around your finger & do it again. See if that helps. If you get any crazy ideas of using steel wool, disconnect the battery first! Steel wool + 12v = fire starter! Great for survival purposes - not so nice inside your cab!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 198
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From: Burbank, CA
Another good thing for cleaning it out is a wad of Scotchbrite, green, maroon, or grey. It's abrasive, non-conductive, and will leave less mess inside.
Maybe it's just me, but there's something very amusing about using a '67 Ford pickup to charge a Blackberry. A clash of civilizations....
Maybe it's just me, but there's something very amusing about using a '67 Ford pickup to charge a Blackberry. A clash of civilizations....
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 384
Likes: 1
Too funny. I'm doing all I can to hide all tech stuff in my truck. I hate seeing 2010 tech in a 1970! Can't live withought it though. I love my Iphone
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Burbank, CA
I was thinking about a window sticker that says No Computers On Board.
That's a big part of the joy of owning one of these old trucks. It's simpler, older technology. I was demonstrating to a friend the other day the beautiful sound that you get when you slam the door on my '67 F100. It goes BWAAANGGG with sweet harmonic overtones. His stupid Beemer makes a boring little "thump". Yawn.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 920
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From: Westminster, Colorado
I'd almost guarantee that if you stuck your finger in the lighter socket & swirled it around you'd have a rust colored finger. Grab a piece of emery cloth, wrap around your finger & do it again. See if that helps. If you get any crazy ideas of using steel wool, disconnect the battery first! Steel wool + 12v = fire starter! Great for survival purposes - not so nice inside your cab!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 4
From: Cupertino
It's not an amperage problem. That hand-held draws practically nothing in the charging circuit compared to a lighter draw.
Are you sure you have 12.6v at the socket? Like, no blown fuse? Are you sure the hand-held will charge off 12.6v and that the charging plug us compatible?
This one is a head scratcher.
Are you sure you have 12.6v at the socket? Like, no blown fuse? Are you sure the hand-held will charge off 12.6v and that the charging plug us compatible?
This one is a head scratcher.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 920
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From: Westminster, Colorado
It's not an amperage problem. That hand-held draws practically nothing in the charging circuit compared to a lighter draw.
Are you sure you have 12.6v at the socket? Like, no blown fuse? Are you sure the hand-held will charge off 12.6v and that the charging plug us compatible?
This one is a head scratcher.
Are you sure you have 12.6v at the socket? Like, no blown fuse? Are you sure the hand-held will charge off 12.6v and that the charging plug us compatible?
This one is a head scratcher.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Likes: 3
From: Burbank, CA
Yes, your problem is most likely voltage, not current. I'm pretty sure that insufficient voltage would make the Blackberry's charger work slower like that. So, somewhere in the circuit there's too much resistance, which is causing the voltage at the input terminals of the charger to be too low. This could be as simple as corroded contacts at the fuze or in one of the crimped wire terminals. It could also be tricky to identify. For example, when you poke your meter probes into the terminals of the receptacle, you might read 12.6V, but the terminal might not be making full contact with the terminal on the chargers' plug.
Or, your truck might be subtly trying to discourage you from using your Blackberry. They're wise old trucks....
Or, your truck might be subtly trying to discourage you from using your Blackberry. They're wise old trucks....
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
And...since it's not original, who knows how it was wired in?
The original lighter socket used in these trucks has a barrel shaped fuse that threads onto the backside of it.
Most people (especially in today's world) have never heard of this fuse, are totally unaware that it's there.
The fuse has one male, one female end. The female end threads onto the stud that is part of the lighter socket, then the wire plugs onto the male end.
FEW14429A .. Lighter Fuse / Obsolete
Fits all: 1956/72 FoMoCo Passenger Cars, Trucks, Bronco's and Econolines.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has EIGHT = 800-543-4959.
KLIMESH MOTOR SALES in Calmar IA has EIGHT = 563-562-3241.
TISON MOTOR CO. in Estill SC has TEN = 803-625-2551.
MILLER OBSOLETE PARTS in Binghamton NY has ELEVEN = 800-546-7278.
The factory installed fuse has a hole in it. By using a paper clip (or similar), the fuse can be reset. The replacement fuse has no reset hole.
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