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Car fag lighters

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Those sockets came in two 'internal' diameters --- hence the removable red plastic part on some of those shown in the link I provided. In the (unlikely) event the Volvo cigar lighter socket had such a narrower centre the adapter pictured would be unable to reach the centre conductor.

(Was it Japanese cars or German eg VW that used those smaller centres?? Waning powers, again).

Get info / clear pictures of Lighter Plug and the car socket if possible from your brother - that'll provide answers, possibly.

Tolerances on those sockets often mean things work then don't then do again. (Recall one where the plug would keep getting ejected from a socket due to the strong spring on the plug and a 'loose' sleeve.)

But of no use for a tyre inflator?
My hand held rechargeable battery operated job (Christmas pressie from son) has replaced the Woolies wired one from some 40 years earlier (Christmas pressie from my parents). Much easier, smaller and more accurate to use ;)
 
Those sockets came in two 'internal' diameters
As I said, new one on me, not that I've much occasion to study them!
Get info / clear pictures of Lighter Plug and the car socket if possible from your brother - that'll provide answers, possibly.
I will next time I'm there. Meanwhile this is one from the internet, it looks like the ones I've seen in the past, and I think his will be similar. I can't see any sign of that needing a centre contact.

1760008807677.jpeg
 
Tolerances on those sockets often mean things work then don't then do again. (Recall one where the plug would keep getting ejected from a socket due to the strong spring on the plug and a 'loose' sleeve.)
Yes, I remember that when using a plug-in satnav. Nowadays I use the in-built satnav or Android Auto, via the car USB port
 
As I said, new one on me, not that I've much occasion to study them!

I will next time I'm there. Meanwhile this is one from the internet, it looks like the ones I've seen in the past, and I think his will be similar. I can't see any sign of that needing a centre contact.

View attachment 395116
Yes that requires a centre contact activated when pushed in .
 
As I said, new one on me, not that I've much occasion to study them!

I will next time I'm there. Meanwhile this is one from the internet, it looks like the ones I've seen in the past, and I think his will be similar. I can't see any sign of that needing a centre contact.
We mostly seem to know what ones look like.

We need to see you brothers' plug and socket.

This is the 'plug' I meant: ISO 4165 and from German military WW2 vehicles originally... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4...ockets_(iso_4165)_and_cigarette-lighter_2.jpg
 
Thanks Harry, very interesting. It looks as if there is a centre contact for the one on a USB adaptor to reach. Perhaps I didn't push it in hard enough, as the bishop said to the actress. I'll try again next time I'm there, and take a pic of the socket.
 
Assuming you don't allow smoking in your car, you could throw away the lighter and fit an inert cap.

car plug caps.jpg
 
Some interesting developments from visit to bro yesterday.

I tried the adaptor in #6 (which I didn’t have with me on the previous occasion), and to my surprise, it worked. My first thought was this is embarrassing, I didn’t try hard enough earlier, but when I had another go with same adaptor as before it still didn’t work. And with a third one, the neon indicator came on for a couple of seconds, then went out. Pic of those 2 attached. All 3 worked fine in the Hyundai.

No doubt the explanation is the two that don’t work flare out, so don’t go in as far. My assumption that the Volvo socket is a different type was clearly wrong, but it would seem to be deeper, than Hyundai anyway. Pic attached, not great but the best I could do.

Thanks (to most posters) for comments and help on this.
 

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