How to power additional 12v devices in car?

hufnpuf · Senior Member

How to power additional 12v devices in car?

Nevd · Senior Member

Hi Hufinpuf,
I have a 2006 Falcon ute with one cigarette lighter socket. From that I run a dashcam, gps and phone charger/handsfree kit no worries using one of the adaptors you mention.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Look up your car's manual, it will have a list of fuse ratings for each circuit. My car has 3 12v outlets each with a 20 amp fuse.

I have actually measured my Garmin drivesmart 65 seven inch screen with my DC clamp meter & it uses 0.4 amp even though it has a 2 amp fuse.

My ARB TPMS is a small unit, I haven't measured it but I can't see why it would use more than 0.1 amp unless I plug something in to its USB outlet.

Companies invariably try to tack on extras charges here & there!

There will be spare power options on the car's circuit board. You will need to look at a forum for your particular car. It will not need to be the exact model.

The fuse box in my car is used across many Land Rover models so it is easy to identify extra alternatives.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

Thanks for the replies, if they are low draw, it looks like I might be able to get away with an adaptor. Fingers crossed.

Whenarewethere wrote:
Look up your car's manual, it will have a list of fuse ratings for each circuit. My car has 3 12v outlets each with a 20 amp fuse.

Here's where it gets very confusing to me. There's PWR OUTLET (20A), also ACC SOCK No.1(15A) and ACC SOCK No.2 (15A). I'm not sure what PWR OUTLET is, I'd guess the others are the 2 sockets. BUT despite the 15A fuses, it warns somewhere not to exceed 12V for all outlets. (I'd looked at this before when looking at the Waeco 12V kettle- which apparently draws 16V and needs a 20amp fuse to use, if it needs 16V, why do they call it 12V then????? I'd figured I can't use that kettle in my car)

Jaahn · Guru

Hi hufnpuf smile

Most of those small screens and cameras draw very little power. Charging a phone draws a bit more but not too much and just making it a hands free is OK too.

120Watts at 12V is about 10amps. Your socket fuse might be say 15amp for each one. Look at the power or current ratings for each item and add them up and see it is within the specs. So I say give the double adaptors a go and if the fuse blows just fix it then. hmm

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Friday 13th of November 2020 12:46:42 PM

Whenarewethere · Guru

Do as Jaahn said.

If a fuse blows replace it. That is what they are there for if you overload the circuit.

The power socket are designed for a cigar lighter, heavier duty & metal inside as the the lighter is a heating element. The accessory socket is plastic inside.

16v is probably the maximum voltage input of the kettle. The car will be putting our about 14.4 volts. Only use the kettle in the power socket as the wiring will most likely be a touch heavier, maybe.

dabbler · Guru

I installed additional four USB outlets that fit in existing factory blanks on the Hilux and another four in the back of the centre console plus two 12v outlets. Half are powered through cranking and ignition, the other half from aux battery under constant power. Places like Stedl, Air on Board Wish and eBay have blanks that match a range of modern vehicles as well as generic ones. It lets me use 12v for non USB gadgets and everything is less cluttered. Well worth the relatively small cost and be effort.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

I'll ask the autoelectrician about putting in additional outlets, I wouldn't be able to do it myself. It's just crazy how much "stuff" needs powering and powering from different powerpacks, usb cables, etc etc.

Radar · Guru

With our last tow vehicle and caravan we used a jump start battery pack. It was a 12 volt set up with 2 cigarette type sockets and 2 usb sockets.

It was handy to run a portable light around the camp fire, when the phone was a bit how you do, just plug into the usb socket.

We recharged it as we drove or plug into the solar on the caravan, was very handy.

Now with newer updated equipment it has been made redundant but gave us ideas for the new gear.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

ooh Radar, I could use my little battery backup thingummy if an adaptor doesn't do the trick. This thing www.jaycar.com.au/multi-function-42-000mah-portable-power-centre/p/MB3748 I can do my phone and other stuff that has usb charging, it also has an adaptor with a cigarette lighter socket on it. That'd give me the extra ports I'll need, if there's any problem using an adaptor.

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you have some battery tools all the manufacturers make a USB adaptor for the battery. You need to charge the battery via their 240v charger, but may be an option.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

Yes, I have Ryobi One. I actually have a car charger for the batteries, I'll have a look for that usb do-dad, thanks. As it turns out, there are lots of options, I never would have thought about my ryobi having power outlet options, I'll have a look.

dabbler · Guru

I still occassionally use the jump starter to power things when camped but i conscious if it's reak Mine actually has a useful light too. I briefly looked at a USB adaptor for my DeWalt batteries but the cost was prohibitive. When mobile, I charge some small powerbanks designed for phones. I used loyalty card points to obtain a couple at no cost to me and they are a great part of my power gadgets.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

Looked up the Ryobi USB do-dad, $35, not too bad, it says you'd get 6 charges out of a battery recharge, you'd need a pretty decent powerbank to do 6 charges (if there's even one with that much capacity). I've also got a couple of powerbanks I can use for my phone and tablet, so they don't necessarily have to be charged in the car (unless the phone runs down all of a sudden), and if I've got a powered site, I can recharge off 240v anyway. Getting these replies makes me realize that I don't really have to plug a whole heap of "stuff" into the car at all. The chargeable stuff can be recharged elsewhere, it's only the gps (and the new monitors? do they have batteries?) that needs to be powered from the car, because the battery in it is cactus.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

USB draws very little !! 12v is the volts or pressure . Its the amps to look out for when it comes to load . Tv phone , computer batteries etc would be fine through cig lighter ., Although I dont like some cigaret connections . Check the amperage of devices your charging .