Astarte asked:
I don't usually take electronics with me camping, but this time we'll need to bring an Aerobed. Is there such a thing as an adapter where I can take its plug and plug it into the lighter in my car to power it up?
Where would I get the best price on a used camping trailor?
Ty Cobb
January 14th, 2009
Smoky Eye
If not an adapter, you can buy a portable generator that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter. Depending on the voltage you need, which blowing up an air bed shouldn’t be much, they aren’t very expensive.
atexx2
January 17th, 2009
Free Shipping
yes they have them at wal mart, they are converters, and they are in the automotive section
T-Mac
January 20th, 2009
Makeup-Discounters Content
You can get adapters that run through your cigarette lighterthat allow you to use most simple appliances without totally draining the battery. I have used them for tvs and laptops so i am sure an aerobed would be ok. You can find them any place like walmart or target. Look at the link to see what they look like.
Schnurrbart
January 20th, 2009
car camping
It’s called an AC/DC inverter and plugs into your cigarette lighter or clamps directly to your battery and converts the 12 volt DC current from the battery to 120 volts AC current to power common household appliances and power tools. Here’s a listing of several models, with a wide price range depending on the wattage you will need, from one of the top 4WD stores online:
Be sure you have the ability to jump start your vehicle in case you accidentally drain your battery, or carry a spare.
papag7222000
January 21st, 2009
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You can either spend 50 to 100 bucks on an inverter that changes the 12 volt dc of your vehicle into 110 volt ac like your house, or you can spend about ten bucks on an air pump that plugs into your cigarette lighter and blow your bed up with that.
anne c
January 24th, 2009
Discontinued Stila
Yep. We used to plug our boom box into the car radio. And some cars have an actual place you can hook up an inflatable bed to be inflated by air from the engine. My old Chevy Venture mini-van did. Check out Radio Shack or Walmart or Kmart, or such places. Online would be a good resource, too.
lcthulou
January 27th, 2009
Discontinued Stila
Yes. Use a power inverter. They’re available all over the place.
Always use them with the car running, however. they will run the battery down pretty quick. We use one to recharge a video camera while on vacation.
James
January 29th, 2009
car camping
I know its been said, but yes they are called inverters and you can get them at most hardware stores, and maybe even walmart. You need a simple one: around 300 watts. Don’t pay more than 35 bucks (USD) unless you’re got money to burn on a higher quality unit or if you need a better one for other reasons IE. more things to plug in simultaneously. If you are so inclined, you can buy fancy units that are hard wired to your vehicle via fuse panel or directly to the battery for higher power consumption applications. Good Luck.
jamesobriant
January 31st, 2009
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The respondents who called this device an “adapter,” a “converter” or a “generator” are all incorrect. Those who recommended an “inverter” are correct.
The respondent who suggested saving money by purchasing a 12v Air Pump is correct in the short run. However, if you go this route, you’ll have a device that’s good for only one thing: pumping air.
On the other hand, if you purchase an Inverter, you’ll be able to operate many other electrical devices with it as well. I use one regularly in my motor home to run my laptop computer and printer, or to re-charge the laptop.
To select the proper inverter, look at the maximum wattage of the device or devices that you’ll plug in to it. Then purchase an Inverter whose wattage rating is higher than the maximum demand you’ll place on it at any one time. The higher the wattage, the higher the price.
Also, the higher the wattage you draw, the faster it will drain your car battery if the engine isn’t running to re-charge the car battery. You don’t want to be camped in the middle of nowhere and then strand yourself there by draining the car battery.
jw
February 3rd, 2009
Makeup-Discounters Content
yes, go to bass por shops and look for an power inverter…i think home depot has them too
uscrodeu
February 6th, 2009
car camping
you’re not camping if you can see your car.
torry_stiles
February 6th, 2009
car camping
… WalMart, Target, KMart, truck stops, Pep Boys, AutoZone … very common. Range in price from light weight items for less than $20 that plug into the cigarette lighter to fancier more reliable units for a few hundred that have to be wired in professionally.
some warnings –
– if the device pulls a lot of amps you’ll fry the inverter and/or your power point
– pack extra fuses for the car
– check regularly to see if the inverter is hot to the touch, if so it may be pulling too much juice and you need to give it a break.
– use only with the car running
zeph88
February 8th, 2009
Free Shipping
yes. in many computer electronics stores they sell a small adapter in their power cords area, it makes the 12vdc in your cigarette lighter plug to 120vac so you can plug in normal stuff. they generally run about 20-35$. They’re designed for laptops and the sort.
Electronics Stores:
Comp USA
Best Buy
Fry’s Electronics
Mircocenter