Apologies if this is often asked but I can't find much about it. The cigar lighter 12v power doesn't switch off with the ignition. I really want a 12v switched output as most stuff you plug in these days needs USB power adapters that reduce the 12v down to 5v and they have lights on which will flatten the battery. I know I'm going to leave the adapter plugged into the socket and return to a flat battery at some point.

Can you make the cigar lighter socket switched live easily? or can you fit another 12 switched feed easily. This is such a pain for all those mp3 players, dab receivers, sat nav, phone chargers.

What do you do? Are there any good guides for a mod?

I left things plugged into mine all the time and never had any problems. The one in my Golf switches off with the ignition and I find it a bit annoying actually.

You can get a switched 12V supply from the fuse box, either by fitting a piggback thingy or you can buy a repair wire which actually fits into the fuse box in one of the empty spaces - I had about 5 in my car.

One repair wire gives two supplies as you can cut it in two. I used this to fit my Parrot car kit and Brodit phone holder.

I would then be tempted to fit a USB socket into the dash, probably on one of the blanks beneath the air con controls.

Thanks for both helpful replies!

These things have decent battery capacity. I leave stuff plugged in all the time and haven't had a flat battery yet.

The little LED on a phone charger uses so little power that it doesn't matter.

The remote central locking probably uses a lot more. When someone blips their remote, all cars within range wake from slumber and checks if it's their key or someone elses.

Decided to put some more power sockets in using a piggyback add-a-circuit adapter from the fuse box to the cubby hole on the drivers side. Handy the fuse box is so close by! Found a spare switched fuse outlet. All sorted!

Don't be misled - it isn't necessarily the LED which drains the power. They vary, but some 12v > 5v adaptors are very inefficient and draw a relatively high current even when there is nothing connected to them.

Don't be misled - it isn't necessarily the LED which drains the power. They vary, but some 12v > 5v adaptors are very inefficient and draw a relatively high current even when there is nothing connected to them.

Yes but they do a nice job of warming the car slightly with what they loose to heat

Don't be misled - it isn't necessarily the LED which drains the power. They vary, but some 12v > 5v adaptors are very inefficient and draw a relatively high current even when there is nothing connected to them.

Yes, I felt a bit daft after reading the post back, of course the led will draw next to nothing, but if I left a sat nav/phone plugged in I guess battery drain would be fairly significant. Anyway new switched sockets in now so no problem!

Thanks for the replies everyone.