What do I do with a 12v plug that won't fit in the socket?

smkettner wrote:
RV 12v cigar connectors are a size smaller than what you see in the car.

Which means that some of the plugs will fit REALLY tight and some won't go all the way in at all.

First check the + contact on the end .....and see if it has some travel and a STIFF spring behind it. Sometimes you can make them work by wiggling and pushing REALLY hard.

But I have one socket in my unit that doesn't seem to want to accept ANY plug that I try to put in it. Thankfully it's in a spot that I never use.......otherwise it would have to be replaced.

I have a couple of these 12VDC Sockets from BLUE SEA (AMAZON) in my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer that has worked great for me... I never had much luck with what you find at the local auto parts stores... You can also purchase a matching 12VDC PLUG just made for these sockets and will handle the maximum rated DC Amps being demanded...



I like using the BLUE SEA Marine 12VDC products whenever I can... They are well known in the Industry for their high quality and durable products...

Roy Ken

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Different plugs can take a different plug in. A laptop charger at 12 volts takes quite a bit of amperage. Your plug may be set up to power a TV, quite small compared to a laptop. A better alternative is to run a medium duty inverter, then plug your laptop into 120 volts and charge that way.

12v Ciggy plugs are horribly inefficient connectors, but using an inverter to power the original power brick is simply wasting 20% more battery power than a DC to DC converter/ car adapter.

Cut off the Dang Ciggy plug on the DC to DC laptop 'car adapter'. Use Anderson powerpole connectors instead, Use 20% less energy to power the laptop, and consider 12v Ciggy plugs and receptacles as the horrible disgusting contemptible connectors that they truly are. Junk Junk absolutely contemptible Junk.


Smash them with a hammer. Instant failure is so much more satisfying than a long prolonged death by heat and increasing resistance.

Use the inverter to power a laptop only if you are using it for other things already and care not for minimizing electricity usage.

Depending on the task performed and the state of charge of the laptop's battery, My DC to DC car adapter uses a minimum of 12% and as much as 50% less juice compared to the original power brick on an inverter.

Far too often the inverter is seen as a solution. Perhaps it is, unless battery capacity conservation is also a consideration.

Ciggy plugs are Junk. Do not ask them to pass more than 60 watts continuously, and after much time passing 60 watts, don't pull the plug and put the spring loaded tip on your skin, unless you are a masochist and already have a forearm filled with cigarette burns and tattoos. If it is not hot enough to burn, give it a few more months passing 60 watts here and there. It is just a matter of time. Junk!!

Junk. Ubiquitous junk foisted on the public.

Take your hammer and smash the Ciggy plug whilst chanting colorful curses. When nothing but pieces remain, Collect them and repeat with a bigger hammer.

When these are too small to keep smashing with a hammer, bust out the WD-40 and a lighter. When the room's oxygen is depleted to such a low level and WD-40 fumes threaten your consciousness so much so that you get lightheaded, bust out the hammer again.

Only then, will the common 12v ciggy plug earn its value.

Junk.

Hammer time.
Seriously.

https://powerwerx.com/anderson-power-powerpole-sb-connectors

Hi Naio,

Yes, you can replace the plug but make certain to have the correct polarity. Otherwise you may let out the magic blue smoke.

RV 12v cigar connectors are a size smaller than what you see in the car.
I have modified the plugs but eventually just installed a small inverter to run off the regular outlets.

Different plugs can take a different plug in. A laptop charger at 12 volts takes quite a bit of amperage. Your plug may be set up to power a TV, quite small compared to a laptop. A better alternative is to run a medium duty inverter, then plug your laptop into 120 volts and charge that way.

You can take it apart and bend the springs. There should be a cap that comes off to get to the fuse. Then just pull the spring out.