I'm looking to wire something into the dash that draws up to 15 or 16 amps. To make my life easier I'm going to just disconnect the wires from the cigarette lighter and use them since I don't use the cigarette lighter anyway. I'm just curious if it will be able to support 15 or 16 amps, it's probably on a 20 amp fuse I just want to make sure before I go ahead with my plans.

Thanks,
Josh

 

The cigar lighter is 18 gauge wire and the power outlet is 16 gauge. I'd go with the power outlet. Here's a chart I found online so it's gotta be true.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/12-vo...gauge-amps.htm

 

Does the power outlet always have power to it and the cigarette lighter only has power when the key is turned on or is it vice versa? I need a power source that will only be on when the key is on. Another reason is I sometimes use the power outlet so I would like to keep that functioning if possible.

 

outlet always has power, cig lighter is only when accessories are on.

 

You could go to the back of the junction block and switch the wire to a larger gauge. I would think 18 is a little small for that kind of amp draw. The lighter wire is connector C8, pin 1.

 

Thanks, I'll probably end up doing that, 16 gauge wire would work or should I use 14?

 

Bigger the better I always say

 

So some 2 gauge wire?

 

Now your talking, Monster cable it is!

 

On my Ram the lighter circut has a 15 amp fuse and switched with the key. The power outlet circut is a 20 amp fuse and "hot" all the time.