In a message dated 31/08/2006 6:03:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

I've  used a double adapter in the past, but have since stopped using
it.   My best friend's wife has a 2000-something Nissan Altima.   She
literally melted the lighter jack in there because she had a  3-way
adapter with all her electronic goodies plugged into.  I  was
surprised to hear this, but was wondering just how much one jack  can
take.  In vanagons especially, the jacks were designed for  lighting
cigarette lighter, not powering laptops, GPS units,  ipods,
cellphones, and the refrigerator all simultaneously.  I've  toyed with
the idea of adding a second jack on a separate circuit to  address
this issue, or beefing up the wiring to the jack.  I'm not  an
electrician, however, and haven't done the research.

Does anyone  know anything more definitive on this?

Jarret, I just made a point about this in a recent  previous post !  The
wires leading to that Vanagon cig lighter are too  small a gauge to handle much.
I think they are 14 ~ 16 gauge and fused  with a 10 amp fuse.  To have more
power you must make a 15 amp fused  connection to the battery with larger 12
gauge wire and a good modern North  American style outlet plug.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007