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RE: [oletrucks] 6V or 12V lighter

To: "'Jon Kunkel'" <jonkunkel@home.com>, old-chevy-truck@egroups.com,
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] 6V or 12V lighter
From: "Hanlon, Bill" <Bill.Hanlon@COMPAQ.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 08:48:14 -0600
A 12v lighter would probably not get hot enough 
in a 6v system to do the job it was designed for.  

A 6v lighter would get hot REAL FAST (and maybe 
burn out after not very many uses) in a 12v system.
If the 12v system were protected by a fuse the 
fuse may blow because the 6v lighter draws more 
current (amps).  Also, if the wiring in the 12v 
system may be undersized to use with the load 
placed on it by the 6v lighter.

The "heater element" in a 6v lighter system has 
less resistance (ohms) and therefore draws more 
current (amps) to produce the same amount of 
heat (watts) than a 12v lighter system. 

Putting a 6v lighter in a 12v system maintains 
the same resistance but doubles the voltage.
The formula for power (heat of the element) in 
watts is    watts = voltage X voltage / resistance
I don't know what the resistance of the lighter 
element, but I do know it is probably less than 
one ohm.  For the sake of the argument let's 
say that it is one ohm.  Then using the formula 
above the power consumed by the lighter element 
and turned into heat on this 6v system would 
be 6*6/1 or 36 watts.  Putting the same lighter 
in a 12v system would cause it to consume 
12*12/1 or 144 watts and probably have a very 
short life.  

LOOK OUT!  PRESS THE DELETE KEY NOW IF YOU ARE OFFENDED 
BY OFF TOPIC COMMENTS.

A better solution to your problem would be to 
leave the power disconnected from the lighter 
socket and quit smoking.


-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Kunkel [mailto:jonkunkel@home.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 6:33 PM
To: old-chevy-truck@egroups.com; oletrucks posting
Subject: [oletrucks] 6V or 12V lighter


Does anyone know the difference between a 6V and 12V lighter element?  I am
working on getting ready to put in the wiring harness and was wondering if a
6V lighter would work with 12V power or a 12V lighter element work in 6V
environment.

I looked at both elements and cannot see a physical difference.  They both
appear identical.  Any good electricians out there that can identify the
difference in the 2 lighter elements.

Jon 50 3104
Chicago burbs
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959

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