Add-on accessories for your car will make your ride more enjoyable. A power cord from your cell phone to the cigarette lighter socket will keep your phone running without draining its battery. An iceless cooler will favorably keep a drink cold. A heated mug will keep coffee hot as long as the car is running. Add-on accessories add enjoyment to your ride. Below is information and comments about five types of accessories. To search the items online, use the link to leisure ideas at the end of this article.
12-volt heated mug - A mug with a plug for getting power from the cigarette lighter socket. It keeps a liquid such as coffee hot for as long as the vehicle is running. Some models have a thermostat to set the temperature.
Example models:
- Wagan Tech Heated tour Mug, removeable cord plugs into cigarette lighter socket, 16-ounce capacity, duplicate wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks hot up to an hour after you unplug, mug fits cup holders, ready for about .
- New Vr3 Stainless Steel Heated Insulated tour Mug Cup, plugs into cigarette lighter socket, 14-ounce capacity, base sized to fit cup holder, about plus shipping.
- Bell & Howell Hot N' Go Heated Car Mug, heats to 145 degrees F in 30 minutes, 16-ounce capacity, priced about .
- Jlr Gear Smart Mug, set the climatic characteristic you want, has ready light, 16-ounces, plugs into lighter socket, ready online for about plus shipping.
Cooler/warmer - These give the selection of retention food hot or cold. Can warm food and can cool. Some are sized to hold a can of soda or a mug of coffee, larger units might hold a six pack or more.
Example models:
- Coleman 12-Volt 9-Can Console Cooler/Warmer, cools to 40° F and warms to 120° F, 9-can capacity. ready online for about .
- Vector® Thermoelectric movable Food Cooler/Warmer Chests, cool to 40° below surface temperature, warm to almost 130° F, 9-foot cord plugs into lighter plug. Two available, 6- and 12-can capacity, priced and .
- Koolatron 18-quart Food Cooler/Warmer, cools to 40° F below ambient climatic characteristic or warms to 125° F, removable 10-ft. Cord, 3-amp draw, holds 23 12-ounce cans. ready for about 0.
- Roadpro 12-Volt Mini Cooler / Warmer, holds 9 12-ounce cans, about .
- 12-Volt 7-Liter Cooler/Warmer 12-Volt 7-Liter Cooler/Warmer, holds 9 12-ounce cans, about .
- Pyle - Automotive tour Cooler/Warmer - Plcool6, holds two 12-ounce bottles, 9-foot removable cord, 12 volt/120 volt/220-volt, about online.
- Rubbermaid® Cooler/Warmer 289377 1.1-gallon capacity, holds 6 12-ounce cans, plugs into cigarette lighter socket, in warming mode, warms to 120-degrees F., tie-down strap and buckle strap for fastening to seat back. 7' long 12v cord. ready online for plus shipping.
Cell phone charger - Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket to power or fee your cell phone.
Example models:
- Virgin movable Silver Dolphin Car Charger, for Kyocera phones, plugs into car's power outlet and charges phone in 2.5- to 3.5-hours, http://www.radioshack.com can search the shop nearest you where you can get this charger, about .
- Phoenix Wireless vehicle Power Adapter for Samsung M300/M510, has coiled cord that plugs into cigarette lighter socket, about .
- Quick Cell 3900 Car Charger Nokia, web site lists shop nearest you that stock this charger, about .
- Phoenix vehicle Power Adapter for Samsung Phones, has coiled cord that plugs into cigarette lighter socket, 3.5-mm plug, for many Samsung phones, for about .
- Generic Car Charger for Nokia N91, N90, N80, 770, 7370, 6282, 6265i, 6165i, 6155i, 6126, 6103, 6102i, 6102, 6101, 3155i. ready for about .
Power inverter - Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, clips to battery, or wire it in. The vehicle's 12-volts dc is changed to 120-volts ac to power things like laptop computers, coffee makers, cell phones, camcorder battery chargers and other small appliances. Don't go bigger than 400 watts unless you want to go directly to the battery with heavy wire. Even then, high power devices will drain your battery fast and could fry the alternator if the motor is running.
example models:
- Xantrex X Power movable Plug 75, only 75 watts, very light duty, for about online.
- Whistler 400-watt Power Inverter with Circuit Pro, will run Tv/Dvd combos, laptops, cooling fans, plus shipping.
- Xantrex Technologies Xpower Plus 400-Watt Inverter #851-0400, 400 watts for 5-minutes, 600-watts surge for easy startups, and 300-watts continuous power, plugs into car cigarette lighter, automated shutdown mechanism protects against overload, over-temperature and low battery conditions, two 3-prong grounded Ac outlets, and a Dc outlet. ready online for about .
mp3 player - Down load music or other audio article onto whether the player's memory or a detach flash drive. Hours of audio can be stored in a single memory device. Some article can be downloaded for free. Listen to the agenda any time you choose.
example models:
- Vr3 Mp3/Wma Fm Modulator w/Usb Port and Audio, Vrfm8Bln, plug a flash drive into its Usb port and use Play, Pause, Volume, Shuffle, and Track selection controls to play Mp3 and Wma files, has a mini jack to use a mp3 player or other audio source, has cigarette lighter plug, priced about .
- Dlo TransCast Fm Transmiter for Mp3 Players, 0092007, use to play audio from an Mp3 player straight through a car's radio. Gets power from cigarette lighter jack or batteries, 3-foot cord for connecting an audio source, compatible with Mp3 players, Psp, and iPod. ready from radioshack.com for about plus shipping. Radio shack will ship free to the store nearest you.
- Usb Car Mp3/Wma Fm Modulator Player W/Audio Input, will accept a approved Usb drive to play Mp3 files with car's Fm radio, plugs in cigarette lighter jack, input jack for audio from Cd, Dvd or Mp3 player. ready online for about .
- Belkin TuneCast Ii movable Fm Transmitter, will except audio from a Mp3 player's headphone jack and send it to a car's radio to be played straight through the car's existing speaker system, powered by batteries or straight through car's cigarette lighter jack, ready for about .
Other accessories that can be used to improve your car consist of seat covers, floor mats, steering wheel covers, sun shades, head rest covers, litter bags, can and cup holders, inside/outside thermometer, gps/map device, extra loud or novelty sound horns.
Items to keep in your car for repair, emergency, security and miscellaneous - Jack, lug wrench, problem light, flares, jumper cables, maps, cell phone and phone numbers, coolant for radiator, drinking water, long storehouse food, empty holder for gasoline, various hand tools, gloves, coat, hat, blanket, rain poncho, and a first aid kit.
Add-on Accessories To heighten Your Car - Where To Get Them Online