Do our cigarette lighters still work when the ignition is off. Like is it always on, or is it switched? Im trying to find a 12v switched and I wasnt sure if anyone knows about our cigarette lighter.

 

put in a phone charger and check?

my phone charger light stays on in the 2 outlets, i have never checked in the cig lighter.

 

Always on..

 

you can use a relay to make a switched wire out of it. you could kick the relay with your HVAC or the radio.
What are you trying to run?
If its not big you can use the radio. your other choice is to use your acc wire off of your ignition.

 

im putting in a truckputer. I have it currently hooked up to the remote wire from my head unit but thats not enough for it to turn on evidently! The power supply is a m2-atx which max output is 160 watts!

I think im gonna need to find the acc wire from the ignition. That should be plenty! I have a relay but I honestly dont wanna have to go out there and run a bunch of new wires!

 

I think you should probably use a relay if you want to pull that much power... why take the chance on frying your ignition system if something shorts or blowing an ignition fuse and getting stranded somewhere?

Here is my post on how I wired a switched source for my GPS. It was off the radio though so it won't work for your high-power needs.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ow-w-pics.html

But more importantly... here is a posting I referenced when doing my hookup. Adfisher did a nice write-up on how to run the power with a relay
https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...cessories.html

I'd use his method if I were you.

good luck!

 

my cb is wired into my head unit power accessory wire so it turns on and off with the truck.

 

I edited this because I was way way off. That makes sense and seems incredibly easy! haha! Ill post back here in a bit and ;let yall see what I have done (hopefully not start a fire)

mkosu04: Thank you for posting that. I forgot all about that source, and I will never ever used a powered brake thingy!

 

Nevermind, ill post my results here in a bit!