How to connect towable air pump to battery?

[randyo]

Currently, my air pump for the inflatable towables has aligator clips so that it can be connected directly to the battery. This is a *huge* hassle since access to the battery is pretty limited. Any suggestions on where else to hook it up to?<br /><br />I tried plugging into the cigarette adapater after purchasing a cigarette adapater male part, but blew the fuse since it requires 14Anps initially and 8Amps under load.<br /><br />Should I just pull wires from the pos/neg (fused, of course) to someplace more accessible and hook up there? If so, what gauge wire and what should I use for the final connection between battery and airpump wires? Any other suggestions?

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

.. but blew the fuse since it requires 14Anps initially and 8Amps under load.<br /><br />What size fuse was in the lighter wiring? I'd think it should at least be 30 amps, which should take care of the pump easily.

 

[randyo]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

Well, the highest rating "DC Power Plug" the local radioshack had was 7.5Amps. Couldnt find anything higher... I can always put a higher amp fuse in there (as it takes standard auto fuses), but Im not sure thats such a hot idea...

 

[joblo33]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

As long as the lighter circuit has a fuse in the boat you can even bypass the fuse on the plug or just put in a higher amperage one.<br />Eric

 

[trog100]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

some of those after-market cigar lighter plugs/sockets have totally crap cabling.. the coily ones being the worse.. <br /><br />before u up the fuse rating check out the cabling feeding the thing..<br /><br />i always use things called banana plugs and sockets for heavy amperage connections.. they are a lot better than those cr-ppy cigar lighter things..<br /><br />they are cheap and u can buy em from the likes of radio shack..<br /><br />real cigar lighter sockets (before smoking became anti-social) used to carry a heavy fuse.. but mostly the things u buy now never see a cigar and are only intended for low amperage accessories.. hence the 10 amp fuse max..<br /><br />its a shame the manufacturers dont get together and come up with a decent type socket universal socket for plugging things into.. <br /><br />trog100

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

There are two types of 12V power (cigarette lighter style) sockets. One type is just that - its a 12V outlet that looks like a cigarette lighter socket. Agreed that these are junk and have limited capacity. Genuine cigarette lighter sockets can take much more current. Any salvage yard would probably give you one. wire it with 12gauge wire and fuse it for 20 amps.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How to connect towable air pump to battery?

Hey Trog -- Where ya been?? Welcome back.