cig lighter polarity

[prkaye]

Does polarity matter for wiring the cigarette lighter? Could any devices that plug into the cig lighter for power expect a particular polarity?

[bullojm1]

Phil,

The "shell" is ground, and the center conductor at the end of the barrel is the power.

[morlino]

Doesn't matter if you are lighting cigarettes but every electronic device adapter that I've seen expects the center pin connector to be positive and the outer ring to be negative.

[Webb]

Originally Posted by morlino

Doesn't matter if you are lighting cigarettes but every electronic device adapter that I've seen expects the center pin connector to be positive and the outer ring to be negative.

Just think of it this way......reversal of positive and negative is the equivalent of putting batteries in backwards in your most expensive portable electronics. It matters.

Also, if your shell is wired to be hot and is connected to a metal panel, the instant you flip the buss on that has the lighter wired into it, you will find out if your circuit breaker is working. You may even get to see smoke without lighting a cigarette.