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Why do car makers not install a regular power outlet in cars and trucks to power things like cell phone chargers and various other things (Laptops, other devices)?
It seems pretty useless to stick with "cigarette lighter" style power outlets when the car maker could just as well install a regular power outlet and do away with the need for any "adapter".
Maybe they already have started doing this but why even mess with installing a cigarette lighter adapter?
Some cars do have 115 volt plugs, such as the MDX, Sienna, Odyssey, etc. It facilitates use of a game system, and charging devices, whereas some vehicles have a USB connection that also has the ability to power/charge a device. To use a regular plug, the vehicle has to have a built-in power inverter since 12 volt DC current is in the vehicle; and, wattage would be limited, since the alternator's power generation capability does have a limit.
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Actauly the cigarette outlet was for cigarette lighters originally. Its was the elcetronic makers who adpted their devices to it ;not car makers.Car makers actaully did not even set capacity with elctroics use in mind origianlly. Mnay actauly now put warious plugs i palce but still see many needing cigarette outlkets still for many devices.
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Those 115AC inverters do cause drag on the alternator and thus the engine,
which will affect gas mileage. Even a drop of 1 MPG means everything when trying to meet federal standards and sell cars. The draw on the lighter socket chargers is much less. USB is only 5 volts and draws the least but is sloooow.
Besides the reasons mentioned, AC kills. DC does not. I'd be willing to bet that this is a part of why AC outlets aren't more common.
I doubt USB will replace the DC accessory port as a standard, because that would preclude the use of every AC powered device. As a minor example, I've used an inverter to show a prospective buyer that their craigslist purchase works fine, when meeting away from home. I use a laptop for work when on the road, and that won't work from a USB port. USB can't pass enough current to operate air compressors and other tools/chargers.
It's not more common because it's not needed for the vast majority of people. Plus idiots would try to use a blow dryer or something that requires to many amps and would blow the breaker or worse cause the wires to overheat.
What else would you need to charge that uses AC power that you need on the road? For a laptop you can buy an invertor for under 50 bucks to charge a laptop and other things that require little amperage.
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