Converting clips to a plug?

[MrNoodly]

I have a small air compressor that clips to the battery. But the clips are kind of poor and the exposed area of the battery terminals is rather small and awkwardly located. It's tricky keeping the compressor connected. But what if I replaced the clips with your basic 12V cigarette lighter plug and used the van's accessory ports? Any reason not to, from the volts/watts/amps/circuitry/heat/fuses point of view?

 

[jonyjoe303]

it depends what the compressors amps use is. When the compressor motor first starts it might use more then 15 amps for a few seconds and that will blow the fuse on the cigarette adapter. Since your compresser came with clips, it probably powerful enough to blow the fuse.
The cigarette plugs max out at 15 amps, but recommend use less then 10 amps, they get real hot at more then 10 amps, some even melt if use too long at high amps.
The compressor I have uses 30 amps, it also had the battery clips, I replaced them with the xt60 connectors.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah a compressor on a ciggy plug doesn't seem like the best idea. I know Jony likes those xt connectors I like Anderson power poles.

I like to keep the ciggy plugs around 5 amps for more I go with Anderson's. also we don't know the quality of you ciggy plug or the amp draw of your compressor. I only use Blue Sea for low voltage plugs.

highdesertranger

 

[Trebor English]

My Ford Windstar has a 20 amp fuse on the lighter circuit. The sockets are intended to have the lighter pop out so staying in can be problematic. When the center conductor makes bad contact the bottom of the socket gets hot. Some sockets have a fuse like device that blows requiring socket replacement. Some sockets deliberately short when they get hot blowing the fuse in the fuse panel. My Ford does that.

SAE connectors can be inexpensive.

 

[bullfrog]

I have seen a lot of warped male plugs that have done so because they got too hot. Small compressors tend to run for a while to fill a tire and therefore build up quiet a bit of heat. I to like the Anderson power poles.

 

[Tony's Dream]

It's always a gamble to switch such things, unless you really know what you are doing.

 

[DLTooley]

Typically the limit on the vehicle side is 300 watts, I’ve melted with less.

Anderson power poles are the best quality value, but you’ll need a bit of equipment, best to figure out what you want for your entire system.