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Just remembered that the port I am complaining about is actually the USB port. I am pretty sure the cigarette/power port is probably wired the same. It was keyed on my Dodge Dakota. I have to check if even putting the ignition in accessory mode makes a difference on the Lexus, but it is 10pm and I am in bed.
The car has to be powered up (as in running) in my Prius for the lighter sockets or USB ports to be hot. I hate that, as I need to constantly be charging my iPhone to keep its batteries up while I work. I shoot 1000-1500 pictures each day with it in addition to working on a complex app whenever I'm not driving. Keeping the engine running for 10 minutes while I work on the app takes a fair amount of fuel. In my old F250 that I used before getting the Prius, the cigarette lighter was always hot, so I could work on the app (actually, then a program on my laptop) before starting the truck.
Somehow, the Prius still gets about 3x the fuel mileage, but it could be better!
The car has to be powered up (as in running) in my Prius for the lighter sockets or USB ports to be hot. I hate that, as I need to constantly be charging my iPhone to keep its batteries up while I work. I shoot 1000-1500 pictures each day with it in addition to working on a complex app whenever I'm not driving. Keeping the engine running for 10 minutes while I work on the app takes a fair amount of fuel. In my old F250 that I used before getting the Prius, the cigarette lighter was always hot, so I could work on the app (actually, then a program on my laptop) before starting the truck.
Somehow, the Prius still gets about 3x the fuel mileage, but it could be better!
You could keep charged battery packs on hand during the day. I have one pack that when fully charged can recharge my phone and tablet several times before needing to recharge. Just make sure to get a reputable brand. Cheap models are not safe.
My Tundra has three sockets up front. I know one is switched, one will turn off after an hour or so, something like that. The third I forget now. I plug my GPS into the switched one, and use the other for charging things. I like this kind of setup, best of both worlds.
It's not that hard to wire up an always-live socket. For running a charger I don't think it has to be "clean" power either.
Those are high current outlet. Last time I checked, it's a 30A fuse. Having something plugped in all the time unattended will drain the battery and it would not be safe.
On my '16 GMC, the ones on the dash are powered at all times, the one in the console is not. (The AC plug is only on when the ign. is turned On.)
From my owner's manual.
"The power outlets on the center
stack and in front of the cupholders
are powered at all times. The power
outlets inside the storage area and
on the rear of the console are
powered when the ignition is in ON/
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY,
or when RAP is active."
This is true for both the old and the new cars. You've parked somewhere and want to charge your phone. Nope. Can't do. Why? Because for no reason the cigarette lighter is not hot wired. You have to switch to "Accessory" for that. Well, I don't want to do that and light up the entire dash. When I set up something similar on my motorcycle, I made sure there was a direction connection to the battery.
On my '05 Nissan, there is one lighter port that is always hot and two that require inserting the key and turning to Accessory position.
I guess this is to keep the battery from running down faster. The various other electronic functions that are always on already draw a fair bit of power even with engine off and no key in the ignition.
Those are high current outlet. Last time I checked, it's a 30A fuse. Having something plugped in all the time unattended will drain the battery and it would not be safe.
That's a stretch. Sure, I could be running AC powered appliances through a DC power inverter and drain the battery or overheat the circuit. But the vast majority of the time people are just charging their cellphones. You could recharge every iphone in the apple store on a car battery charge. And when your phone is charged it stops pulling current.
The car manufacturers that switch it off might claim safety as the reason but there is no mandate and plenty of car manufacturers leave some outlets hot. I've yet to hear about a safety issue with them.
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