Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Charger with two 12 volt outlets and two 2 USB ports
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
climberjohn
Samba Member


Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1840
Location: Portland Orygun
climberjohn is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:45 am    Post subject: Charger with two 12 volt outlets and two 2 USB ports Reply with quote

Computer using, Ipod toting Samba folks, check this out:

12 volt charger with two 12 volt outlets and two 2 USB ports. I just heard of this, and I think I''ll be getting one.

- Can mount either with double sided tape or permanently wired to the van
- Solidly built (from an online review I read, I do not own one yet)
- Charger can handle 20 amps,and has a 20 amp fuse
- Price is right at $16

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PB8CQI

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah, I've seen those around. Could be pretty useful, even though the iPod is the only thing I have that charges by USB, and I only have one of those. I'll tell you, though, you cannot put 20A thru a cig lighter plug. Very briefly, like a few seconds, sure, but a minute at that current and the thing will be nearing meltdown. 10A max sustained draw on one of those. If you want to use more, cut off the male plug and hardwire the box. I doubt you could find 4 things that charge that way that would total 20A anyway, but just so you know.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
climberjohn
Samba Member


Joined: January 11, 2005
Posts: 1840
Location: Portland Orygun
climberjohn is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

10 cent,

From the review I read, the guy did in fact hard wire the unit in his VW van so it had the option to draw more amps if needed, which would be rarely. I will post a link to the full review once it's fully up, I read a draft version.

(Who would have thought a few years back anyone would want/need USB ports in a car?)
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Volksaholic
Samba Member


Joined: December 26, 2005
Posts: 1771
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Volksaholic is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So lets see if I get this; that thing would plug into my cigarette lighter and allow me to plug in my two 1000 watt inverters so I can run my laptop, blender (camping margaritas... mmm), television, and Sawzall (for cutting firewood) while I charge my cell phone and iPod? Very cool! Wink

That would be handy in the back of the van. When I travel with the kids they each have iPods and MP3 players they want to charge, we're usually running chargers for AA and camera batteries, the cell phones always need charging, and sometimes the kids want to plug in a portable DVD player. It's pretty scary how many small rechargeable devices we travel with, but I guess it's better than burning through Alkaline batteries. I plan on adding a couple cigarette lighter sockets in the back (fused and cabled to the battery, of course) and I've got the inverter hardwired with a power strip on the floor under the passenger side jump seat.
_________________
1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Volksaholic wrote:
So lets see if I get this; that thing would plug into my cigarette lighter and allow me to plug in my two 1000 watt inverters so I can run my laptop, blender (camping margaritas... mmm), television, and Sawzall (for cutting firewood) while I charge my cell phone and iPod? Very cool! Wink

.......


I know you know better and you're just kidding, because we've talked about this stuff plenty in the past, but someone reading this may not, so if I may:

1000w (inverter) / .94 (it's best conversion efficiency) = 1064w

1064w / 12V = 88.66A.

That's how many amps a single 1000w inverter will pull out of a battery at peak load. At surge, it could be twice as much. It takes a 6AWG THHN copper wire to safely carry 90A steadily, under best conditions of cable in free air and ambient temp of 86F. Lower grade insulation, higher temps and/or enclosed cable will all increase the required wire size.

So, let's see, that's only 4 1/2 times the nominal ampacity rating of that jack-box. Since there aren't any real standards for rating that type of equipment for the auto aftermarket, you can bet that the real-life sustained ampacity of a unit like that is in reality not even the full 20A. The wire to the male lighter plug is probably only 14AWG, which is already undersize for safely using that many amps.

Hot wires burn! Many threads here lately on vehicle fires, focused justifiably but somewhat obsessively on the fuel lines. Over-amped electrics start fires too, and for y'all with little keikies, hot wires burn little hands. So consider these things when shopping for accessories for your ride, everybody. If you aren't sure if something you'd like to use is safe, then ask. These things are easy to figure out for the several of us who hang out here who have experience with electrics. And don't trust labelled current ratings on automotive aftermarket equipment; it is almost universally over-optimistic, and they can do that because that market isn't policed the way the building trades are. When dealing with power, the safe approach is the conservative approach.

Safety first.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Volksaholic
Samba Member


Joined: December 26, 2005
Posts: 1771
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Volksaholic is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

TenCent... you're correct that I was joking... and trying to make it ridiculously absurd at that... but I hope nobody took me seriously enough to create a unsatisfactory or dangerous situation. I don't think you can even run one 400 watt inverter at capacity off the cigarette lighter... it would pull about 30 amps. My 300 watt inverter hangs off a 25 amp fused pigtail connected to the battery and then I've got a little 100 watt inverter that will run a laptop or charge a cell phone or camera that can plug into the cigarette lighter. I also have pigtails I made for the 300 watt inverter so I can alligator clip it to a battery or plug into the lighter socket, but it mostly lives under the front passenger seat with a power strip in the passenger compartment for easy access.

I do think that device would be handy cabled directly to the battery or the hot lead to the starter* (with an appropriate fuse!) for moderate current applications, but please don't try what I was suggesting in yesterday's post! I could even see using it to charge a couple iPods and cell phones off the stock cigarette lighter, but not much more than that.

*EDIT: For those of us with single battery setups... the ideal is obviously to run stuff like this from a second battery.
_________________
1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
cheekoman
Samba Member


Joined: July 29, 2006
Posts: 346
Location: Burlington, VT
cheekoman is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow, that is very cool. Great for the ipod etc.

I may get this and replace the 3 socket setup I have now if it doesn't constantly draw.. the one I have now, doesn't draw at all unless the switch is on.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail AIM Address Gallery Classifieds Feedback
hiram6
Samba Member


Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 1880
Location: Beautiful South
hiram6 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheekoman, I've got that exact 3 port 12V thing mounted in exactly the same spot as you!!!!

Too funny.
_________________
1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've got the same one screwed to the end of a workbench near the door of my shop. I have a spare PV panel I put outside, an old car battery and a car stereo I took out of my rarely-used pickup. That 3-holer is wired to the battery, the radio and PV plug into it, and there's extra jacks if I need to charge something else 12V. That's the shop tunage setup.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
hiram6
Samba Member


Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 1880
Location: Beautiful South
hiram6 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

tencentlife wrote:
I've got the same one screwed to the end of a workbench near the door of my shop. I have a spare PV panel I put outside, an old car battery and a car stereo I took out of my rarely-used pickup. That 3-holer is wired to the battery, the radio and PV plug into it, and there's extra jacks if I need to charge something else 12V. That's the shop tunage setup.


Hmm. You've given me an idea.

I've got an odd sized Pioneer headunit that came out of a Jeep, just sitting in a cabinet . I've also got a 12V converter with enough juice to drive it. And a pair of 4 ohm speakers in a different cabinet. I've got the makings of a garage tunage system right there. All I need is a cheapie antenna.

Might even flush mount it into the drywall for that extra touch. Razz
_________________
1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
McVanagon
Samba Member


Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1684
Location: Northern part of the Virginia
McVanagon is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love having 12v in the garage. Makes testing things sooooo much easier.
_________________
'69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Twitter Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Absolutely. It's always great to have an isolated 12V supply in the shop. I just wish the old battery I have was better. It's just the wasted core from a friend's car that I put a new one in. It won't hold a charge for more than a day without the PV on it. It does hold the station presets, though, which is nice. Sometimes the PV gets taken away for other duties, like putting some charge on one of my parked vehicles.

My radio is also a Pioneer Supertuner cassette deck I put in the truck may years ago. I built it into an MDF cabinet with 4" speakers built in on either side, and a rubber car antenna mounted on top. I looks neat, is portable, and there's room on top to put other things like my coffee cup full of of pens, etc.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Lanval
Samba Member


Joined: June 09, 2007
Posts: 905

Lanval is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Personally, I like to have these things a little more integrated. You can see my answer here; it's a dual 12v outlet from a marine supply shop (Thank You, Dogpilot!) hard-wired to the aux battery through a fuse box. I didn't set it up for large current, so the wires are a bit small for some apps, but I certainly could have used something bigger.

I wired them separately so i could fuse them separately. That way I can have a draw and a power supply (solar) at the same time.

Outlets:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lanval.de.logres/WestyStuff/photo#5106906157069057762

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lanval.de.logres/WestyStuff/photo#5106906157069057778

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lanval.de.logres/WestyStuff/photo#5106906165658992418

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lanval.de.logres/WestyStuff/photo#5106906174248927026

And the fuse box is here, under the sink:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lanval.de.logres/WestyStuff/photo#5106906165658992402


Best,

Lanval
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
pnwkayaker
Samba Member


Joined: April 01, 2008
Posts: 918
Location: Sammamish, WA
pnwkayaker is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheekoman, Hiram6,

could you please post aditional information on the 3-port 12-volt outlet that you mounted on the dash (like the one on the picture that Cheekoman posted)? I'd love to mount something similar like that !
_________________
87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")

Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
mightyart
Samba Member


Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
mightyart is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just bought one of those at Wal-mart, was like $11.00, Works fine, really it's just an extension cord with a switch.

As far as using 12 volt stuff in the house, I've made a few " garage stereo systems" and a good 12 volt power supply is great when you have to test twelve volt stuff alot, I have a nice one, and various others that are not as nice.
There are also alot of 12 volt power supplys in your home that nobody really thinks about.
I used to use HO train transformers alot, you could even regulate the output buy using the "train Speed" controller.
If you look at all the AC power adapters you have laying around.
They say what the output is on them, just make sure you check the amp output, as well as the volt output.
Another good one is an old computer power supply.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
vanaru
Samba Member


Joined: November 02, 2005
Posts: 169
Location: Sykesville, Maryland
vanaru is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:31 am    Post subject: whoa, scroll back a bit... Reply with quote

was that a small coffee table on the dash...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
pnwkayaker
Samba Member


Joined: April 01, 2008
Posts: 918
Location: Sammamish, WA
pnwkayaker is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the tip mightyart. Went yesterday to Wal-Mart but couldn't find the 12-volt extension. Was it on a specific section ? It might be that this Wal-Mart didn't carry it, will try another.
_________________
87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")

Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
mightyart
Samba Member


Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
mightyart is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pnwkayaker wrote:
Thanks for the tip mightyart. Went yesterday to Wal-Mart but couldn't find the 12-volt extension. Was it on a specific section ? It might be that this Wal-Mart didn't carry it, will try another.


It was in the automotive section, I tried to remember who it was by cause I thought it was strange. Then I remembered it was by Bell, The helmet company.
Here is what you are looking for:
http://www.bellautomotive.com/asp/product_details.asp?id=24666
http://www.bellautomotive.com/asp/thumbnails.asp?cat=2209
If you can't find one at Suck-mart, there are quite a few on Ebay.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
hiram6
Samba Member


Joined: September 29, 2006
Posts: 1880
Location: Beautiful South
hiram6 is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

pnwkayaker wrote:
Cheekoman, Hiram6,

could you please post aditional information on the 3-port 12-volt outlet that you mounted on the dash (like the one on the picture that Cheekoman posted)? I'd love to mount something similar like that !


Sorry I missed you question earlier.

It was about $10 at PepBoys, had a cigarette lighter conection of the original wiring, but I snipped that off and just hard wired it. It worked fine, BUT the little swing-out mounting pegs proved brittle after a while, and failed. They were just like the ones on ClimberJohn's photo at the top of this page. So, my dash no longer sports one of these.
_________________
1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Dogpilot
Samba Member


Joined: October 03, 2005
Posts: 4205
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Dogpilot is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The small extension is cool, but this one has so many more options. Now I can finally use that USB toaster I got for Xmas in the van:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.