[Healeys] Power Source Issue - with cell charger

[Bob]

Sounds like...

The leads or terminals on the cigar lighter are reversed.   In the 
charger, and other devices,
there is sometimes a diode placed that if the input is reversed  it 
conducts and  acts like the
short  you are describing.  This is to protect the device.   The fuse 
protects only the wiring
and not the device. 

The input to the other items might not care.  They could be using diodes 
as "steering" devices
to make sure the electrons head in the right direction and the item 
sees  the correct polarity if the
terminal are wired either way.  

If you have a voltmeter check the polarity right at the lighter.  

Bob


Steve Gerow wrote:
> The power source I described in the last post works fine for my vac and my
> dual K&N exhaust gas gauges, but when I plug in my cell charger, for some
> reason it has a direct short built into it which instantly blows the inline
> fuse. 
>
> I have 2 identical chargers and both will blow the fuse - both work in my
> Saturn.
>
>  
>
> Does anyone have any idea what is going on here or how to troubleshoot it.
>
>  
>
> --
>
>  
>
> Steve Gerow
>
> Pasadena, CA, USA
>
> BN6