Bugeye electrical question

[longbridgehealey]

So when it comes to electronics I'm the equivalent of the village idiot. Here's my question. I have converted my Bugeye to negative ground (or earth). It now has an alternator. So I just purchased a power source adapter (for phone, garmin, etc) that I am going to mount under the dash. Since I have changed the ground does that mean that my hot wires are now ground and my.... No, that can't be right. How do I wire it in? I was going to go to the cigarette lighter wiring. Is this ok?

thanks in advance
Larry

 

[Keith_M]

Hi Larry,
I'm only one step above the village idiot in this area, but I'm pretty sure you can just wire the hot wire of the power adapter to the hot wire from the car (and ground to ground). Your hot wires are still hot and ground wires are still ground, the electricity is just moving the opposite direction than when it was a positive ground car, and most new electronics stuff needs the electricity to flow that way.

 

[drooartz]

Yes, you wire device ground to ground, device hot to hot.

Ground is still ground, hot is still hot. As long as everything you attach is now negative ground, you're all good to go.

 

[longbridgehealey]

Thanks guys! I was turning my brain inside out with it

 

[59diamond]

You have a cigarette lighter in your Bugeye. I didn't know they came with cigarette lighters.

 

[longbridgehealey]

Yep, from all appearances it's original. I'm thinking I'll just tie in to the positive and ground behind the lighter.

 

[59diamond]

I went through the Terry Horler book and there is no mention of a cigarette lighter in the Bugeye. There is mention of a cigarette lighter and ash tray in later Spridgets.

 

[David_Doan]

Yep, from all appearances it's original. I'm thinking I'll just tie in to the positive and ground behind the lighter.

If the original windshield washer pump is gone, a cigarette lighter fits perfectly in that hole.

Empty hole below starter and to the right of the heater switch.

 

[59diamond]

All I am saying is that it is not original. You could drill a hole anywhere and install anything you want in the hole.

 

[jlaird]

Although lighters were not a factory authorized item it is my understanding they were provided by dealers. Lot of smokers in them days. My 60 Bugeye in 1962 had one and the push handle even matched the other stuff on the dash but no words on it.