Constant Power at Cigarette Lighter? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Omes986 · 07-11-2017, 07:57 AM

Purchased an FM Bluetooth dongle powered by the cigarette lighter - surprised to see that the dongle was powered long after the ignition keys were removed.

Took out the dongle as I didn't want to drain the battery when not driving - is this a normal thing on our cars?

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rick3000 · 07-11-2017, 08:20 AM

Yes, the cigarette lighter has constant power, it allows you to use a battery tender.

flouese · 07-11-2017, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick3000

Yes, the cigarette lighter has constant power, it allows you to use a battery tender.

I have no power to my cigarette lighter. Fuse good, tested with voltmeter still no power. Any way to tap into something to get power? I want to swap it out so I can at least charge my phone. Any help will be appreciated.

rick3000 · 07-11-2017, 06:09 PM

The phone connector under the center console provides 12V switched and constant power. Not sure why your lighter does not provide constant power.

JonD · 01-02-2018, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flouese

I have no power to my cigarette lighter. Fuse good, tested with voltmeter still no power. Any way to tap into something to get power? I want to swap it out so I can at least charge my phone. Any help will be appreciated.

Interesting??? My 986 Does not have constant power to the lighter, I only get power when Key is turned to ON position.

RobertKing · 01-04-2018, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonD

Interesting??? My 986 Does not have constant power to the lighter, I only get power when Key is turned to ON position.

On most cars, the cigarette lighter only has power when the key is switched on or
in ACC. The same is true of most Porsche's. If yours has power without the key, either
someone has rewired it, or your vehicle is old enough that the lighter was in fact
constantly powered. Mine, 2001 Boxster S, has no power until the key is turned on or
in ACC. My Dodge truck is the same way. Though it does have addition
"power ports" cigarette lighter type connections that do have constant power.

Luckyed · 01-05-2018, 03:30 AM

My 2001 has power to the lighter all the time.
I keep a battery tender hooked up through it.

Wallace River · 01-05-2018, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckyed

My 2001 has power to the lighter all the time.
I keep a battery tender hooked up through it.

Same with my 2000 base, battery tender is plugged in there all winter.

PaulE · 01-05-2018, 08:00 AM

My 2003 S has power at the lighter without the key. I plug my battery tender into it too. I bought my car brand new and the lighter wiring has never been modified in any way. I believe Porsche does this as they know a lot of their cars aren't daily drivers and want owners to have an easy way to use a battery tender.

mikefocke · 01-05-2018, 11:40 AM

I've heard of non-US Boxsters not having the constant on feature of the lighter socket.

Anker · 01-05-2018, 12:34 PM

I believe all 2003 and 2004 Boxsters have power to the lighter all the time. I also believe this was done to specifically allow you to maintain the battery by plugging a battery maintainer into it.

Lapister · 01-06-2018, 12:59 PM

On a budget the HF floating charger works pretty well on my fleet. I clipped the alligator clips off and attached to a cig lighter plug and keep my vehicles constantly @12Vdc. These are not meant to charge low batteries but just maintain healthy batteries at 12v.

mikefocke · 01-06-2018, 03:59 PM

Full charge is 12.6v or 12.8v on an AGM battery. Not 12v.

My '99 and my '01S both were maintained during hibernation through an always on lighter socket.

nieuwhzn · 01-06-2018, 10:01 PM

Yep. 2002 Base Boxster with continuously powered cig lighter. Beautiful feature. My other cars I always have to pop the hood to connect the tender directly to the battery.

Starter986 · 01-07-2018, 04:25 AM

Just throw a fracking 12V battery in the passenger footwell with a couple wires and be done with it already.

lkchris · 01-08-2018, 11:34 AM

On my 2001 I can come home, shut ignition off and open front trunk and the light will illuminate.

If I wait until the next day to open the front trunk, the light will not illuminate.

I suggest the cigar lighter may be on the same sort of timer.

JFP in PA · 01-08-2018, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

On my 2001 I can come home, shut ignition off and open front trunk and the light will illuminate.

If I wait until the next day to open the front trunk, the light will not illuminate.

I suggest the cigar lighter may be on the same sort of timer.

It isn't..............

BirdDog · 01-08-2018, 03:30 PM

My 2001 S has constant power at the cigarette lighter.

I upgraded the socket to the later (narrower) version and use a Porsche (Porsche branded CTEK) battery charger/conditioner to keep it topped off in the winter.

My battery is 4.5 years old now, and still going strong. No idea what brand it is - made the (non-Porsche) dealer put a new one in before I would take it. Physically, it's the largest size that fits in the battery tray.

Froggo · 01-09-2018, 12:14 AM

Im with JonD , my boxster only has power at the lighter socket when the key is on . It works for me because the Samsung tablet I have fitted for music and navigation turns on and off with the ignition switch.

Luckyed · 01-09-2018, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

On my 2001 I can come home, shut ignition off and open front trunk and the light will illuminate.

If I wait until the next day to open the front trunk, the light will not illuminate.

I suggest the cigar lighter may be on the same sort of timer.

Negative Ghost Rider