12V Outlet/Receptacle Rant!

They want to keep you down to 8 amps on the plug in item, which will have a smaller electrical draw, otherwise, you start blowing fuses due to inadequate wire gauge to the back of the female lighter receptacle.

Keep the current draw out of any of those 12 lighter plug ins under 8 amps. Check the current draw of the items you are going to plug in.

From Wikipedia:

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size A
Receptacle inside diameter: 20.93 - 21.01 mm (median 20.97 mm)
Plug body diameter: 20.73 - 20.88 mm (median 20.805 mm)
Most often used in American automobiles.

12-volt cigar lighter receptacle and plug, size B
Receptacle inside diameter: 21.41 - 21.51 mm (median 21.455 mm)
Plug body diameter: 21.13 - 21.33 mm (median 21.18 mm)
Most often used in European automobiles, and sometimes as a second socket in American automobiles expressly for DC power connections.

Plugs often include a pilot light to indicate a connection has been made.

Common problem. :(

There are two sizes. The winguard is the smaller 8 amp. Good luck.
This is part of the reason I wired in an inverter and just use the 120v outlets.

I've run into that with some plugs and had to grind them down slightly. Don't know if it's a plug issue or Winegard issue. Not hard to fix.

Whats the point if you can't use it... Get it together wineguard!

Nope, I have it also.
What I have done is insert an extension cable in each socket. Now plugging in accessories is a piece of cake.

judelaurenzo25g wrote:
I have two Wineguard receptacles like these. What is driving me crazy is that I can not insert a cell phone charger, inverter or anything of that sort. It just doesn't fit. To snug! I sanded down the inverter male side a little and with lots of force was able to get it to make contact. Am I the only one with this issue?

Nope, they are all just a tad too small for a regular cigarette lighter style power plug.
Welcome to the club!