Polarity of cigarette plug.

[xelasnave]

I should have checked earlier but I think my wiring of the cigarette plug has a stuff up some where.
Lucky I checked as I am getting a negative reading for the center pin in the female plug..it showed up when I checked the plug to the mount the center was negative and I am sure the center should be positive.
Could anyone help please.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Here is the female socket the little dot in the middle shows negative and I was sure it should be positive
Alex

[rrussell1962]

Centre positive for almost anything I can think of these days.

[xelasnave]

Thats what I thought.
I have made center positive but may wait for another confirmation.
I cant understand it unless the cig sockets were around so negative was in center...I just cant see where I could have slipped up.
Any more votes for center being positive?
Here is the plug that goes into the mount..I am sure the center of this should be positive...
I have had a 10 hours drive and been setting up since 7-30 so I need to be careful as maybe fatigue is causing me to mess up.

[raymo]

All modern day cigarette lighter plugs and sockets,[ in Australia, at least],
are centre positive Alex.
raymo

[Startrek]

Hi Alex,

I have two 2m 12volt leads ( different brands ) with male cigarette plugs on one end and a small female socket on the other end which plugs into the mount

I pulled apart the male plug on both leads and yes the centre spring loaded pin is positive as it has the inline glass fuse and the wire is colour coded red (+)

Negative is the outside of the plug on opposite sides

General rule of thumb - Centre positive on all extra low voltage plugs and connectors

Martin

[darrellx]

Yep. Centre is positive. I am positive.

Darrell

[LewisM]

You sure you're sure? Roger, Roger?

[xelasnave]

Thank you gentlemen.
So lucky I checked..I wonder if the mount has something built in to prevent damage if I forgot to fix it.
Anyways beautiful night clouds may roll in ut I am getting polar dialex in now but you can bet by the time I am ready to fire the sky will disappear.
Thanks again.
Alex

[LewisM]

Yes, it's called the MCB (Motor Control Board) - it'll fry itself ($150) to save the $0.20 fuse.

No, seriously. Ask me how I know.

[xelasnave]

I am affraid to ask.
I had to drop the fuze but top priority will be a fuze if thats all it takes.
Alex

[AndyG]

As confirmed by others, centre positive. I guess comfort can be found in the "why"... The socket frame should be Ground (negative), lest it brush up against the car body/frame/dash mount etc, if pushed too hard, leading to shorts/blown fuses/worse...

[rrussell1962]

Worth checking though - which is why all my power leads have labels on them to remind me that the Vixen Sky Sensor 2000 units are centre negative. Don't assume, check, test and label. It takes a minute and can help avoid a very costly mistake.

[xelasnave]

I was so careful.
Red tape on positive wires...
Anyways its a work in progress.
Nearly found CSP...so clouds should be here any moment.
But getting real tired but I am up until the clouds stop me...it is a magical night.
Thanks again to everyone...I felt tired and confused and it was most helpful to bounce my concerns off you guys.
Thanks.