Thinking of using this fuse for a ignition switched live feed for a USB charger.

 

What's this fuse used for and is it OK to use?

When you take your key out and it clicks, turning everything off, that's the s contact switch.

Edited 23 May, 201412 yr by matt1chelski

so is it ok to use for a switched live feed?

It's a bit hard to see the little a) after 'S-contact' in our Fuse Layout Post, but it is there (and to be found in the owner's manual).

 

As it says at the end of the fuse definitions:

 

a) For power consumers, e.g. the radio, which can be operated with the ignition switched

off as long as the ignition key is not withdrawn.

 

So anything connected to that fuse will get 12V any time the key is in the ignition. As long as what you're connecting doesn't use much power it should be OK.

Personally I used one from the radio when I was getting the blackvue camera installed, but if the charger isn't a big drain of power, I doubt you'd push the S contact circuit beyond its current amp rating (worth seeing what fuse it has - really you would want to tap in to a bigger circuit, perhaps one with a 15A or 20A fuse)

Personally I used one from the radio when I was getting the blackvue camera installed, but if the charger isn't a big drain of power, I doubt you'd push the S contact circuit beyond its current amp rating (worth seeing what fuse it has - really you would want to tap in to a bigger circuit, perhaps one with a 15A or 20A fuse)

 

Thanks and cheers for the reply. Most usb chargers use a 5v stepdown and pull 3A max so I don't think it's going to be major issue although I see it is only a 5A rated fuse.

 

I take it when you said take it from the radio to simply use a feed off the radio loom - I guess you mean the other side of the loom connector not the radio side?

Yeah, I think the red wire is switched live, but for a USB charger something more beefy might be better

 

Is there an LED on the charger?  If can be turned off even when wired in, why not tap off the fag lighter wiring?

No LED light. Don't want to use the fag lighter cos it's permanent live and a fag (no pun intended) to wire back to the dash blank

 

Is fuse 45 switched?

Would suggest having an auto electrician with a probe tell you that.  It powers the radio so I suspect would be permanent live (which remembers where on the CD you are whilst car is turned off)

Thanks again for the info

I piggybacked the rear heated screen fuse with no issues.

Adam

 

Was thinking about that too - Thanks!