Is it possible to leave the charger in the cigarette lighter?

Both theory and experience show that it is possible to leave the charger in the cigarette lighter of most modern cars. Still, some risk remains. In older car models, it is not recommended to leave the power supply on.

Factors: what matters

What determines the degree of danger? From several conditions:

1. Does the electricity go out and when? In more modern cars, the supply of voltage to the cigarette lighter, radio, etc. is stopped immediately as soon as the engine is turned off, after an allotted time (usually within 15 minutes) or after the driver opens the door to get out.
2. Is there moisture nearby? a damp napkin, an open cup of coffee, a puddle of mineral water, etc. is enough. Often, especially in the summer, car enthusiasts leave a bottle of water “in reserve” on the floor or in the cup holder. Sometimes there is a leak in the ceiling hatch. A large volume of water is not required for trouble or threat.
3. The quality of both the cigarette lighter and the adapter and the wire itself. The cheaper the components, the greater the likelihood of failure.

What's the risk?

The main thing that car enthusiasts fear, if you read the forums, is the car’s battery draining. Indeed, if the electricity inside the cabin is not turned off (for example, in many Zhiguli models), then the charger will absorb energy all the time. The fact that there is power, although the phone is disconnected from the wire, is indicated by the signal diode: it does not go out.

Another danger is fire.If a bare wire contact gets into water, a short circuit is almost inevitable, and this can lead to a fire.

Short circuits also easily lead to breakdowns. At best, the cigarette lighter will burn out.

Correction for practice

As practice shows, it is impossible to discharge a battery with a forgotten power supply. As soon as the gadget is disconnected from the wire, the unit goes into standby mode and consumes a negligible amount of electricity.

But breakdowns and fire are a very real danger. Any random puddle, wet clothes or an umbrella after rain will easily close the contact and cause overheating of the electrical circuit. It’s good if a passenger saved from a downpour gets away with a slight electric shock. What if the wire, hanging like a vine, falls into a puddle of mineral water in the cup holder?..

And it’s also worth remembering about car robbers. Any foreign objects, especially a light-colored wire on the black plastic trim, attract the eye and seem to invite: I’m here, just open the door and take it. And at the same time, more valuable things like a radio, a set of tools in the glove compartment, etc. will disappear.

The magazine purity-en.htgetrid.com recommends charging your phone only while in the car, and not leaving wires, especially live ones, unattended. Removing the adapter and throwing it into the box under the dashboard takes three seconds, but it can save you from serious troubles.

The power supply in the cigarette lighter is not dangerous for the battery, but the voltage and exposed contact are a hidden snake that will easily attack, and any foreign objects that can be seen through the glass are a provoking factor for robbers. Therefore, it is preferable to remove the adapter and charger as soon as they are no longer needed.