How to Install a Portable Power Outlet in Your Car
If you need a standard power outlet in your car, to charge devices such as cell phones and laptops or whatever else is along for the ride, there is a simple solution to your problem. Only high-end car models tend to come with power outlet equipment pre-installed, but there is an add-on device that can plug right into your car.
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Things You'll Need
- Car with active cigarette lighter plug
- Portable AC/DC power inverter
- Electric plug with appropriate wattage
Instructions
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Make sure your car is equipped with a cigarette lighter in-dash, or if the cigarette lighter has been removed or not included as a factory option, make sure the power plug remains. It is a difficult set of tricks to install a DC power source (the type of power stored by your car's battery) in a car that is not equipped with a cigarette lighter plug or other power source.
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Know the difference between the type of electrical current your car produces and the type used by standard electronic devices that normally plug into a wall outlet. Cars run on direct current (commonly called DC), while the type of power outlets you find in your home run off of alternating current (AC) power. AC power is the type of power you need to end up with in your portable power outlet for your car.
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Check how much power your laptop, smartphone or other device "draws" at any given time. This is something that can be found in your user's manual, or with a quick search online. The power draw will be measured in watts, and you need to have an AC/DC power inverter and portable electrical plug with a sufficient wattage output for your device. Portable power outlets for use in your car generally output between 80 and 200 watts.
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Select a portable AC/DC power inverter and car electrical outlet device based on your needs and budget. Some makers of such devices are Targus, Xpower, and Xantrek and Jensen. Added features to look for are multiple power outlets in the same device, a sufficiently high wattage rating, a USB plug with bus power and a usage indicator. Don't worry about too many fancy features; it is more important to spend your money on a device that meets your basic needs.
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Plug the device into the your cigarette lighter port and you now have a portable power source for your car.
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Tips & Warnings
You needn't waste your money on a portable car charger for your cell phone. Using a power inverter with a standard outlet instead allows you to plug in your standard cell phone charger and any number of other devices.
Make sure the device you purchase is specifically designed to be used as a power inverter in cars. Electrical current is finicky, and using the wrong device could cause a dangerous short.
