Cigarette Front Power Outlet

[okk9]

Have had our Nitro almost a year and happy with it. Came up with an issue that to me that is strange. The front cigarette power outlet only powers up when the vehicle is on. The rear cargo area outlet is on constantly. In the day of cell phones and car chargers is weird that if you need to charge your phone while out of the vehicle you will have to plug it into the cargo area plug. My jeep commander has 2 plugs up front, one is constant one is powered with key on. This was an issue when my wife was at work and her cell phone started to go dead, she ran out to the nitro and plugged it in, after a few hours she went out and the phone was still not charged, thus I found that she will have to open the rear hatch and charge from the back if she is not driving the nitro, in order to charge the phone. I understand the issue of running the battery down, but come on, if other DC vehicles have a constant plug up front, why not the nitro? Just food for thought.

[fcsallan]

I thought this was odd too, but remember the Nitro is anything but a top end vehicle. I think Dodge has skimped just about as much as they can on this thing. No Ashtray, yes, they have the smokers group but all they do is take away a cup holder and give you an insert? WTF. My Hyundai had an ashtray. It also had an auxiliary outlet up front besides the cigarette lighter. The cig lighter was switched with the key but the aux was full time power. Maybe that is it, maybe this really is a cig lighter outlet and there is some rule about being switched. That I don't know.

Very annoying.

[F45]

The M7 fuse can be changed around so the outlet is switched or unswitched with the ignition key. Look for it in the TIPM, under the hood.

[fcsallan]

what else runs off of this circuit?

[dhh3]

Originally Posted by F45

The M7 fuse can be changed around so the outlet is switched or unswitched with the ignition key. Look for it in the TIPM, under the hood.

This is why I love these forums. I can learn something new every day. I was ticked off when my phone needed to be charged on a recent trip to Indy, and I had to leave the car unlocked with the key on ACC to charge the phone. I switched this fuse, and the power outlet is now hot all of the time. There is nothing else on this circuit, so if nothing is plugged in, the main battery can't be drained. Bravo for this tip.

[rickaren]

Originally Posted by dhh3

This is why I love these forums. I can learn something new every day. I was ticked off when my phone needed to be charged on a recent trip to Indy, and I had to leave the car unlocked with the key on ACC to charge the phone. I switched this fuse, and the power outlet is now hot all of the time. There is nothing else on this circuit, so if nothing is plugged in, the main battery can't be drained. Bravo for this tip.

You also don't have to worry about running the battery completely down on the NITRO (or many new cars these days) since it has a built in disconnect that keeps that from taking place.

Battery — 600-amp maintenance-free with Battery-Saver Feature

LINK: 2007/2011 Nitro features and options

[dhh3]

Originally Posted by rickaren

You also don't have to worry about running the battery completely down on the NITRO (or many new cars these days) since it has a built in disconnect that keeps that from taking place.




LINK: 2007/2011 Nitro features and options

Thank you for the tip. I knew this worked for the interior lights and headlights, but did not realize that it worked for everything. One time with my Commander, I left the key on ACC all night. The heater fan was on the lowest setting, and in the AM the battery was dead as a door nail. I guess this feature only works when the key is in the OFF position, at least on the Commander. I do make it a point to take my keys out at night now!

[eandras]

Now I really know why I read this and other forums. I wanted mmy poer outlet live with key off. I read this thread and went to my Nitro popped the hoood and changed M7 over to the other side and now have a hot power outlet.

I saved a trip to the dealer to ask to find out if this is programmable.

[dhh3]

Originally Posted by dhh3

There is nothing else on this circuit, so if nothing is plugged in, the main battery can't be drained. Bravo for this tip.

I added a Navus 2. It came with a wire harness that runs to the fuse block and runs off of this circuit, also. If I put the fuse always "hot", I have to turn the Navus off and on with its power switch. This way, it is always charged so I can use it as a portable unit. Also, I added a Gentex auto dim mirror. For ease of installation, I wired it into the Navus harness. I have to turn it on at night - otherwise it is on all of the time, but I doubt that it draws enough power to drain the battery.

[rickaren]

Remember you can't drain the battery on a Nitro, it will automatically disconnect, but in this case I doubt it may, because of the low voltage drain. Lots of neat work on your part adding Navus 2!