Bus Cigarette Lighter Installation

[misszora]

Helloooo!

I've perused some of the threads relating to the cigarette lighter and have found a lot of information about disconnecting it and why.

I'd like to install one in Miss Zora for my trip to Burning Man. I will be using it to charge my vehicle's battery through an on-dash solar panel; play & charge my iPod; charge my cell phone.

What I'd love to know is this:
What is the best type of replacement lighter and where is the best place to connect it (fuse box/wiring-wise) in a 1977 bus?

thanks!
paige

[dtrumbo]

I bought this...



from West Marine.

Installed it here (I abandoned the rectangular plate with the screw holes)...





using the existing hole in the metal dash that's hidden by the vinyl dash cover (you'll see what I'm talking about when you look under there). The hole is about 3/8" and needs to be enlarged to 7/8" for the receptacle to fit. An electrician's Greenlee chassis punch works perfectly for this, but they're kinda expensive for a one-time use. Maybe a co-worker in the engineering dept. might have one you could borrow.

I then hooked it to fuse #7 in the fuse box. This fuse was reserved for the optional ambulance fans (which you probably don't have so it's ready and waiting). Fuse #7 also is connected directly to the battery so it will work perfectly for solar charging and iPod playing without the key being on.

[misszora]

using the existing hole in the metal dash that's hidden by the vinyl dash cover (you'll see what I'm talking about when you look under there). The hole is about 3/8" and needs to be enlarged to 7/8" for the receptacle to fit. An electrician's Greenlee chassis punch works perfectly for this, but they're kinda expensive for a one-time use. Maybe a co-worker in the engineering dept. might have one you could borrow.

I then hooked it to fuse #7 in the fuse box. This fuse was reserved for the optional ambulance fans (which you probably don't have so it's ready and waiting). Fuse #7 also is connected directly to the battery so it will work perfectly for solar charging and iPod playing without the key being on.

That is so very, very incredibly helpful. Thank you so much! I've got a lot of little projects to tackle in the next couple of weeks - including (yes, FINALLY!!!) installing the seat cushions you sent me. =D>

[dtrumbo]

Upon further review... you might want to use fuse #9 instead, unless you've got something hooked to it already. It should be a red 16 amp fuse as opposed to the white 8 amp fuse that's in slot #7. The higher current fuse would be more appropriate for use with a power receptacle.