"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail. com> wrote in message news:<bDRdd.5111$TU5.4108@trndny06>...
> E. Meyer coughed up:
> > On 10/20/04 4:56 PM, in article 7aBdd.3675$EL5.389@trndny09, "Thomas
> > G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail. com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> I want to switch over my CRV's cigarette lighter, or perhaps that
> >> front auxiliary power thing in the footwell, to run from the battery
> >> directly, bypassing the ignition relay.
> >>
> >> I want the CRV to behave like my /other/ cars, and allow cell-phone
> >> charging even when ignition is off.
> >>
> >> Is this best done just before the fuse box?
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >
> > Before you start running wires, check the layout of the fuse block.
> > On my '00 TL, there is an always-hot fuse of the same rating right
> > next to the one that controls the socket. All it takes is moving a
> > wire about 1/2 inch on the back of the block. You might have
> > something similar.
>
> Excellent.
>
> I'll go look asap, thanks, but doesn't this seem like something a car
> manufacturer should just allow at the turn of a switch or the like? It
> seems like more than one person would need something "always on",
> particularly from the auxiliary power things.

As a ham radio oerator I always add my own "always on" power port.
It might help to remember that the manufacturer has a vested interest
in reducing "mission creep". That little switch would require
retooling,
addtional parts to be stocked, additional warrenty work.
And for the 20 or so of us end users it just isn't worth while from
a corperate perspective.
As a side note, "cigarette lighter outlets" are a very poor choice for
most electronic devices. The electrical contacts are very noisy, the
power
can cycle on and off rapidly. The low value lighter won't care, but I
have
had a computer, GPS and tranceivers "lock up" due to that noise.
While I use a more exotic connector today, for years I used 2-pin
Cinch-Jones
style connectors with no problems. And if you run a new wire to the
battery, please be sure to use a fuse for fire protection. If you
manage to get the wire shorted to ground, it will get very hot, very
fast anmd you will have more smoke then you can deal with. If you are
really unlucky you can even have a nice hot fire. A friend lost his
Chevy conversion van when an unfused wire shorted and
set the carpet on fire. The most powerfull radio I use draws 6 amps,
so I use
a 7.5A fuse. Sometimes start up current will require a 10A fuse to be
used in
with a nominal 6 Amp load. Fuses are cheap. Cars aren't!
Terry