Zapp Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 (edited) After finally buying and wiring up a new lamp for the truck, I took it out for a spot of rabbit bashing. No sooner had I started, when the male plug of the coiled cigarette lighter extension broke on me! The problem is, the extension came with the old lamp, so I can take it back to the shop to get a new one (the old lamp came with the truck). Does anyone know where I can get a new one? I have looked at loads of Lightforce dealer's sites and seen that whilst they sell the part as part of a kit, but I cant find anywhere that does just the plug and coiled lead. The alternative is to try to fix it, but I have no skill whatsoever with electrics and have no idea how to reattach the wires in the male part of the plug. Any ideas? ZB Edited April 19, 2009 by Zapp Brannigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Do you have a male plug from an old incar phone charger or the like, a quick strip of the wires, solder (or wrap them) insulate one wire with tape then wrap the join. What has happened to the male plug exactly.? i would say you could hardwire it in with an inline switch but chances are you cant be ***** with that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 You'll have to assemble your own. I ripped my Lightforce lamps apart when I bought them, stripping out the coiled cable and replacing it with a long length of straight 20-amp hifi cable. Maplin sells the cable, plus the replacement cigar-lighter plugs, heat-shrink insulation and soldering stuff you'll need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Good point Baldrick i completely forgot about Maplins...... chances are if you ask them they would even put it together for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 All mine are upgraded to truck / DIN fittings. Burnt out too many cigar fittings (they stay put better too) Cheers AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Andy, I am tempted to hard-wire a Lightforce 170 into the dash of my own Disco, and fit all the other trucks with DIN connectors. I too get cheesed off with cigar plugs burning out. Has anyone upgraded fuses or entire electrical circuits on their wagons to allow for constant use of 2 or 3 100w lamps at any one time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted April 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Brilliant, thanks chaps. ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Could you not tap a feed off your Main Beams or fogs and either just uprate the fuse or not use both lamp and main or fogs at the same time. or an inline fused feed direct from the +Ve to a switched circuit with the switch mounted on the dash as this would create an independent circuit, just an idea so you dont have to mess around with the vehicle electrics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 (edited) Good thinking, Batman. I like the latter suggestion about independent circuits. I'd never really given the practicalities of it much thought previously. Edited April 19, 2009 by Baldrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 (edited) I personally would have a direct fused feed from the battery, a lot simpler and can easily be removed if you were selling the disco, and easier to fault find on as its an isolated circuit. Just remember to switch off the lamps!! If it did happen to blow and it was on a vehicle circuit whatever is attached will also stop working (lights and the like) and i suppose at a worse case the wiring loom could melt. Shouldnt take to long to wire in if you are handy with electrics. Edited April 19, 2009 by ph5172 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 Thanks, ph5172, I'll give it some thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted April 19, 2009 Report Share Posted April 19, 2009 For in-vehicle stuff I'd use a panel mounted circuit breaker - current protection with resettable thermal fuse and on / off switch all in one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted April 20, 2009 Report Share Posted April 20, 2009 Just go to Halford a new cigar jack is under £5 has to wires already attached to and connect it to your lamp wires job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted April 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Righto, wires now resoldered and taped and lamp working perfectly. Thanks all ZB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 FWIW I got wind of a great tip last night from Maple... He's replaced the crappy fag lighter sockets on his Lightforce's with Lawnmower connectors... you know the rubber inline male / female sort that clip together to power your flymo round the estate No more sticky tape or disconnected lamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 Baldrick do any of your vehicles have cab demountable flashing beacons? as that may give a clue how best to wire it. My L200 came wired for one so i've got a switch on the dash to switch it on and a nice power feed to right where you want it on the rear of the truck cab. I've just used the two eisting bullet connectors cut the cord on the lightforce and put on the appropriate connectors you just plug it in and go. It copes fine certainly with the one lightforce and obviously is on a separate circuit and when not in use is isolated in the cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 All of the trucks bar my Disco have permanent orange beacons, fitted in our workshop. I rarely use those trucks for shooting though. I am going to have a tinker this weekend (got to fit new discs and pads) and see what wiring set-up would be best suited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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