[SadbutTrue]

I got a cool (well, if it works) car/cigarette lighter charger that i can plug usb devices into. I plug it in yesterday (car off, i believe the stereo was playing and key was in 'acc' though) and it immediately shorts and burns the fuse. Lights throughout the car flash, see sparks. Check the fuse and its gone.

I replace the fuse (wiht a 25A, the original was 20A) and try again... that fuse is gone too.

Now, I've had a standard cell phone charger in this port for a long time and never had an issue.

I haven't tried to the new charger in another car to see if it causes problems there too. Plan to tonight.

Is it probably just something wrong with the new charger? Or something more serious?

Seems like its probably just a junk charger but want to make sure.

 

[Submariner409]

First, NEVER substitute a fuse of higher amperage in a circuit. Guaranteed to really mess something up, if not burn up a wiring harness.

The new "charger" is either toast or junk. Use a VOM to check the resistance across the charger's cigarette lighter plug attachment. If the reading is anywhere near 0 Ohms, there's an internal short.

 

[iowasevillests]

Agree with Sub, if its blowing fuse's as soon as you plug it in there is an internal short in it somewhere, if it had been blowing them after you've been using it for a couple minutes it would mean you're just pulling too much juice. Put a volt meter on it and dig around to find the receipt and factory packaging so you can exchange it.

 

[SadbutTrue]

actually... think i found the issue. a dime had fallen into the charge port at some point and pretty neatly covered the bottom and both terminals.

hope that charger isn't fried when I find a replacement fuse. the fuse did burn out immediately so it wasn't shorted long...

d'oh lol