Hello all!

Hubby has a 2015 Mk3 Fabia. The permanent live in the cigarette lighter socket is causing problems as he sometimes forgets to unplug things. He's a long distance lorry driver so his car can sit at work for several days, quietly draining the battery which frankly is a PITA.

I realise the easy solution is to always remember to unplug it but as we all know, sometimes you've just got other stuff on your mind.

 

I've seen a few posts regarding how to change this to a switched live but could really do with a layman's guide if anybody has managed to get this to work.

We have a 63 plate Citigo also that doesn't have this feature thankfully so I can't understand why they decided to change it. Out of our three vehicles, the Fabia, annoyingly, is the only one that does this.

 

Any info much appreciated.

Citigo is the only Skoda model that has it ignition switched, as far as I am aware; all the others have it permanently live.

 

I don't think there's an easy way to make it ignition switched on a mk3 Fabia, but hopefully some mk3 owners reading this will be able to help.  

 

I bought a switched multi-way adaptor recently that may do the job, but would require him to remember to switch it off. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CSS7DVJF

Haven't actually checked that current drawn goes to zero when the red rocker switch is off, I should do so.  Thought I might be able to get into it and look at the wiring, but it's well sealed.

 

 

 

If the likes of Breezy_Pete can't think of an easy electrical solution other than a switched multi-socket then there probably isn't one.

 

Things I can think of quickly

• put something on the socket end of the plug lead, perhaps a keyring with something on it he needs to be able to start work so can't leave it in the car and needs to unplug from the socket to take the necessary item(s) with him (I hope that makes sense)
• keep the battery in good state of charge by using a battery charger maintainer there if possible (a plug-in as I'm not sure a solar would keep up) or use one at other times
• replace the battery with a new one (very wasteful to me)
• a good quality reliable jump starter (though I'm not too sure you want to use it too often)
• you're married so give him a good verbal b*ll*cking 🙂
• let him learn from his mistakes. 🙂

Edited 24 February, 20251 yr by nta16

That Amazon item I linked above really does go to zero current when the red switch is off.

13mA when it's on and doing nothing other than displaying the voltage though.

More current still as each pushbutton switch for the outlets is enabled (blue LED on each), even with nothing connected to them.

I wouldn't leave it with voltage display left on, unless I was actively monitoring the voltage in the short term.

3 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

That Amazon item I linked above really does go to zero current when the red switch is off.

13mA when it's on and doing nothing other than displaying the voltage though.

More current still as each pushbutton switch for the outlets is enabled (blue LED on each), even with nothing connected to them.

I wouldn't leave it with voltage display left on, unless I was actively monitoring the voltage in the short term.

Personally I think that the best overall option is to unplug the lead that feeds it, from the cars socket each time you exit the car. I have seen a phone charging lead that my son left plugged in become comprised due to either faulty wiring or the cable becoming mechanically damaged and start to smoulder with thick smoke pouring off it. Luckily, I was in the car at the time, and was able to isolate the lead. The length of lead was glowing red-hot and if it had been in contact with say the carpet, it could have started a fire before the fuse would blow, which might have burnt the car out.

 

This type of thing is one of the biggest causes of car fires, so it is best to never leave any extra wiring live, and if it has to be left live, then run the cable, with plenty of mechanical protection within the cars structure where cables are meant to be and always protected by the smallest fuse possible.