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Has anyone plugged anything extra into the car

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by darwin100, Nov 30, 2006.

  1. darwin100

    darwin100 New Member

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    Has anyone used the voltage plug (where the cig lighter used to be in old days) for anything like recharging cell phone or heated seat covers?
    I need reassurance before I try using it...I have a coffee pot that plugs in as well as computer, cellphone etc
    thanks
     
  2. Beryl Octet

    Beryl Octet New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darwin100 @ Nov 30 2006, 10:11 PM) [snapback]356067[/snapback]</div>
    I use it for an AC inverter for recharging phones, laptops etc. on trips. No problems so far, but it's one of the smaller ones though, 300 watts AC or somesuch.
     
  3. miwaku

    miwaku New Member

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    I use the one under the dash to run my radar detector and an inverter for my laptop. I use the one in the console to charge my cell phone.
     
  4. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    The 12 volt utility sockets are limited by fuse to 10 amps. This may not accomodate the coffee pot or other high current accesories.

    Prius' electrical system is very good at producing low voltage DC (up to 100 amps total), but if you want to tap into it on a large scale, a little bit of rewiring would be necessary.
     
  5. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    Yes, i've used it for plenty of things - cell phones, iPods, and computers (through a 115W inverter). I also put in a 350W inverter in the trunk, so i have a nice plug back there for running several laptops or whatever (used it before for a TV and Xbox!)
     
  6. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    I recently plugged in a portable DVD player and an AC inverter to power a GameCube for my daughter on our Thanksgiving trip.

    It works fine when the car is in the Ready Mode, but couldn't get enough power when it was in ACC mode. When the car was in ACC mode (which doesn't supplement the 12V power with the hybrid batteries), the GameCube wouldn't boot. It's power light would come on for about a second and then it would turn off. It just kept cycling on and off like this.

    So, if you are going to plug in any more power hungry than a cell phone, then don't turn them on unless the car is in Ready Mode.
     
  7. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Sigma Automotive sells an OEM A/C power source for about $149.

    My portable XM radio is what's plugged in the most. On a rare occasion, my cell phone is plugged in as well.
     
  8. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i have a 3 prong splitter that runs two ipods, my cellphone, my GPS receiver (no screen so very low powered) and my BT headset. my laptop runs on the plug in the center console. btw, the 3 prong spliter is almost always full
     
  9. dreichla

    dreichla New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Dec 1 2006, 09:16 AM) [snapback]356159[/snapback]</div>
    We've done the same thing with our DVD player and a Game Cube. No problems at all.
     
  10. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dreichla @ Dec 1 2006, 01:57 PM) [snapback]356237[/snapback]</div>
    Well, as I said, mine worked fine in Ready Mode, just not in ACC mode.
     
  11. skruse

    skruse Senior Member

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    Sirius satellite radio permanently plugged into a port on the rear of the radio. Cell phone 12V charger and iPod plugged in the center console.
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Dec 1 2006, 06:16 AM) [snapback]356159[/snapback]</div>
    Where DO you find the AC inverter? I've asked about it when I talk to the Sony Store guys back then when I was inquiring about plugging in the PS2 in the car. THey couldn't give me an answer. <_<
     
  13. jburns

    jburns Senior Senior Member

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  14. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Dec 1 2006, 10:56 PM) [snapback]356512[/snapback]</div>
    You don't need anything fancy. Just go to an electronics store and look in the Notebook Accessories for a power inverter. I used something similar to this:

    [​IMG]
    Just make sure it supports the wattage of what you plan to plug into it.

    I had a Y adapter pluged into the power socket in the console. My inverter was plugged in one branch of the Y to power the GameCube and the portable DVD player was plugged into the other branch of the Y.
     
  15. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I've used the plug in the center console for both an iPod charger/FM transmitter (always being powered) and cell phone charger at the same time using a splitter. The other outlet is always powering my radar detector.

    I haven't tried any 12V DC to 120V inverters yet although I do have one.
     
  16. panda

    panda Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darwin100 @ Nov 30 2006, 10:11 PM) [snapback]356067[/snapback]</div>
    I plug my gps (Lowrance iway 500c) in to the dash outlet, with the AUDIO LINE OUT plugged in to the AUX input plug in the armrest. Great music!

    No problems at all, but I've only owned my Prius since 11/5/06.

    I want one of these for the back.

    B)