On Fri, 27 Sep 2002, patrice b wrote:

> I bought a replacement cigarette lighter for the van from a place
> specializing in VWs and Audis, and the same thing.
>
> So-- is this some special sort of cigarette lighter that I need to get an
> adapter for?

My experience with Volkswagen has been that for no apparent reason, the
cigarette lighter sockets don't hold jack (except, of course, the cigarette
lighter.)  All manner of DC adapters, inverters, fans, and the like have a
tendency to slip around and lose connection, before just falling out onto
the floor.  So to switch topics, sorta:

The solution for me: a center console with power points.  I'll have to see
when I get home exactly what model it is, but it's a relatively common grey
and black one sold at Meijer (a regional Wal-Mart sort of chain) for $30.
It's easily modified to work well in the Vanagon -- it can be shortened so
that it can be climbed over (and so drinks don't interfere with a manual
gearshift).  There's a large, lit compartment inside, with one power point
(for a cell phone recharger, or the like), and two power points under the
center row's drink holders.  Out of the box, all the electrics are just
supplied by a little cigarette lighter adapter.  This thankfully fits very
snugly into a VW socket, but I intend to run fused power straight from the
battery to free up the main lighter socket.  I don't smoke, but an external
plugin for a permanent console is, shall we say, ghetto. :)

I'll take pictures of the installation soon, I think; I'm impressed with how
well it works, and how well it stays out of the way.  It's not as easy to
climb between the front seats, but it's not a huge acrobatic maneuver
either.  And I must have someplace for my Super Ultra Mega Gulp!

ian Butler / ian@hplx.net