Hi guys.. I will update ye later on my 2017 L&K Combi estate... Purchased new.. Jan 17.. 115klm on it so far.. Generally happy. 

 

I recently purchased a 2 channel dash cam.. (front and rear cameras) 

 

Its my intention to hardwire it with the power magic Pro... I am awaiting it to be delivered. 

 

However.. I was testing out the camera and plugged it into the front cigerette lighter power socket.. Nothing happened.. I then tried a dual USB power adapter in the same cigerette lighter power socket.. Nothing happened. 

 

I plugged them both into the rear passenger cigerette power socket and all worked fine. 

 

I phoned the dealer and he said that that's correct. There is not enough power in the front socket to do anything else other than the lighter tú function.. 

 

They said.. Haven't you a USB connector there... They said because of the USB power outlet.. There is not enough power in the front cigerette power socket.. And putting anything into it other than the lighter could blow the fuse. 

 

Is this correct or is the dealer just fobbing me off.??

Edited 9 March, 20197 yr by SuperbIRL142

seems like they're fobbing you off 

i had an inverter running off the front cigarette lighter charging my 18v drill between jobs yesterday 

I wonder how much power a cigarette lighter draws?  A heck of a lot more than a dash cam, for sure. 

 

I have a 3-way adapter plus USB power plugged into mine, running camera, satnav, phone charger and sometimes use the USB for charging another phone. 

 

I think the dealer is somewhat mistaken. 

The front 12v socket will be rated at near 20A and the USB socket around 2A.  Lighter sockets are usually run on their own separate power cables because of the current drawn.  Your dealer is fobbing you off.  I ran a front camera (Nextbase) on my S3 for a few days until I put the hard wire kit in, and it ran just fine.

Edited 9 March, 20197 yr by FelisBengalensis

Hi,

I'm also interested in finding a clear /true explanation.

I have the same problem on both front & rear cigarette lighters. They both work (both verified by my dealer during an overhaul inspection) and do make cigarette lighters hot.

But once I plug a simple phone charger (would be useful for long trip for my wife's or my one smartphone in parallel to USB socket) or a small LED lamp accessory, they both don't deliver any ouput voltage. I don't undestand why...

Any idea or suggestion of something to check?

Thank you guys!

 

Your dealer is clueless.

 

Check to see if any foreign bodies are inside the socket preventing the positive (centre) terminal coming into contact with the accessory.

 

Failing that check the fuse has not blown (cannot remember if the front socket is fused separately to the rear one).

42 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

If the fuse is blown... The cigarette lighter wouldn't get hot!?????  

 

42 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

 

 

Edited 9 March, 20197 yr by SuperbIRL142

@Gizmo OK, I'll check for Foreign Object even if it looks quite odd to me that BOTH socket have the same behavior (especially knowing that I am a non-smoker and cigarette lighters are always let in the sockets.) But why not...  

 

@SuperbIRL142 You should be right about the fuse...  

Hmm, so the dealer feedback in the opening post might have been correct?

 

Since the introduction of USB ports have Skoda changed the way in which the regular 12V power outputs operate?

 

I hope not, since we use the one in the boot to occasionally power our cool box and air bed inflator,

7 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

Hmm, so the dealer feedback in the opening post might have been correct?

 

Since the introduction of USB ports have Skoda changed the way in which the regular 12V power outputs operate?

 

I hope not, since we use the one in the boot to occasionally power our cool box and air bed inflator,

 

You would be ok for a cool box because that will draw at least 5 or 6 amps, and probably an inflator, but if @Bap33 is correct then it appears smaller currents or possibly switch mode power supplies are not enough to 'activate' the 12v supply and so dash-cams and phone/tablet chargers are a no go

 

Seems very strange to me, hopefully its just a connection issue and Skoda haven't ruined the 12v sockets by trying to make them 'Simply Clever'

Edited 10 March, 20197 yr by SuperbTWM

Make sure that your cables are in good order.

I have had a couple of phone cables intermittently fail.

I always have problems with the 12v socket with plugs not staying in but popping back up and the end bit disconnecting. Try pushing the device plug in and holding it firmly in to see if it works.

Think the Dealer is getting confused between the front USB and front 12v socket, my dealer told me be careful of what I plug into the USB, I cannot remember his exact words but along the lines of its quite easy to blow the circuit board itself. Plus the USB and 12v socket are powered separately, afaik separate fuses and the USB is not constantly on where the 12v socket is (even with ignition off).

 

As others have said, a cig lighter would draw significantly more current than a dash cam so the most likely cause of your adaptors not working in the front 12v socket is mechanical and not electrical.

The dash socket and the rear socket both charge phones and have used at least 2 different 12v to usb converters in them.

 

The  rear seat socket and boot socket have both been used to power cold boxes.

 

Most USB outlets are 5v 1A.  A lighter will use far more than that.

 

On ‎09‎/‎03‎/‎2019 at 09:14, daveo138 said:

I wonder how much power a cigarette lighter draws?  A heck of a lot more than a dash cam, for sure. 

 

I have a 3-way adapter plus USB power plugged into mine, running camera, satnav, phone charger and sometimes use the USB for charging another phone. 

 

I think the dealer is somewhat mistaken. 

 

I went to the garage yesterday. Coincidentally, the front windows switch cluster decided to not work last sunday. I could not open either front door windows, The passenger front window would work from its own switch.

 

I was then talking to the head mechanic and asked him about the cigarette lighter power, he started to say the same thing. I had the dual USB charger in my hand and asked can we try this in another car. He agreed and it worked OK. When they are replacing the window switch cluster tomorrow , they will have a look at the cigarette lighter too.

 

  

I have the same issue. Power feed is very poor indeed from the Cigarette socket and the usb port which is powered fine defaults to connecting Andriod or Apple apps which I don't use

22 hours ago, CSNick said:

I have the same issue. Power feed is very poor indeed from the Cigarette socket and the usb port which is powered fine defaults to connecting Andriod or Apple apps which I don't use

For apple: 

If you go to your settings: Settings > General > Restrictions you’ll see CarPlay. Turn that off. 

 

Then you can charge the phone with the built in usb without connecting carplay.