i was wondering if a cigarette lighter can be turned into a switch? i have a 2000 chevy silverado and i have 3 cig lighter/power points. i want to see if i can turn two of them into switches. will i have probelms with the coils heating up or it being a momentary switch instead of a full on or off switch? thanks!

 

for the cigarette lighter, cut one of the two leads on it. connect each of the cut leads to terminals 85 and 86 of a bosch-type relay. terminals 30 and 87 will end up being your switch contacts. since the resistance of the lighter element is much less than the relay coil, the relay coil will activate when the element is pressed in.
if you compare the power socket to the lighter socket, the lighter socket has the metal clip that grabs/holds the lighter element. the power socket usually does not.

 

Yes it can, cut the power lead to the lighter, connect the the end from the lighter to 85 of a relay, connect the power side of cut wire to 86 of the relay, the lighter will not heat up as there is no power going to it, plugging the lighter in will close the ground circuit energizing the relay.

Keep in mind the power lead must be hot at all times, [lighter must have worked with ign. switch off] or switch will only work if ign. is on. 94