Battery Charger

[Ray Esboldt]

Does anyone know of a 12 volt, 1 amp or 2 amp battery charger that can be plugged into your car's power outlet? It would be handy for charging flasher batteries while on the go. I have to to think one exists, but I have yet to find one.

[Lusid]

Just buy a DC -> AC converter and then plug in your regular charger to that. OR just buy 1-2 more 12v spare batteries.

[Ray Esboldt]

Those were my options B and C.

[bobbymalone]

Seems dumb to convert to AC then back to DC.

I'm surprised there isn't something that plugs into a cigarette lighter specifically for this purpose. I've looked fairly extensively and the best I can find is internet forums with electrical nerds talking about wiring up components from radio shack while other nerds say it won't work.

[Lusid]

http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen-2-4Amps-c...12v+usb+charger

You could use this.. hopefully link loads, otherwise seach on amazon 12v usb charger. Most are rated for 500mA or 1amp, this one has 2.4 amps..but you could take a usb cord do some Frankenstein cannibalism and build your own charger with some alligator clips or quick disconnect blades

[bobbymalone]

The problem with those things or any USB thing is that they supply 500 mA - 2.1A at 5V, not 12 volts.

[Lusid]

Another solution is... buy a 12v solar panel (northern tools / harbor freight) and leave it on the dash

[bobbymalone]

Unless you coat the roof of your car with solar panels, you are probably only going to supply a trickle charge.

[djt311]

You could use an item like this

http://www.amazon.com/Roadpro-Fused-Repl...lighter+adapter

http://www.amazon.com/12V-Cigarette-Ligh...lighter+adapter

They don't list all the specs but it will charge your batteries

[JamieD]

I picked up a clam flasher battery car charger at fleet for around 4 bucks

[BassFisherman]

X2 with the charger at fleet.

[Ray Esboldt]

That will work! I knew I would get the answer here. Thanks.

[aanderud]

I think there's at least a couple problems with you hooking up your marcum/vex directly to the cigarette lighter port using things like the amazon links above.

First, those devices won't regulate the amount of current used to charge your batteries. It'll basically be like a jump-start -- high current but not necessarily the best for your battery. Most actual 12 volt chargers will supply like 500 milli-amps, or 800 milli-amps, or at most 1 amp to charge the small battery like a vex/marcum battery.

Second, you won't have any 'intelligent' charging. Some wall outlet chargers will supply at least 2 (and sometimes up to 4) modes (initial, bulk, absorbtion, float) where they deliver differing amounts of current at different voltages. I think the initial charge is applied at something like 14.5 volts, maybe? I can't see you getting any of this 'intelligent' charging if you just hook the 12 volt car battery to your 12 volt marcum battery -- you'll just get somewhere in the 12-13 volt range probably at whatever amperage the smaller battery happens to suck.

That being said, it'll probably 'work', and given that these batteries are only 15 to 25 bucks, if the life is shortened due to the occasional car-charger-jump-start, it's probably not the end of the world.

On the other hand, I've seen plenty of cheap power inverters for under 20 bucks that will allow you to plug in the same charger you use at home. In fact, a couple years ago Menards had little 140 watt ones on sale for 15 bucks and a 15 buck rebate. So, minus the hassle of a stamp and envelope, it was free. I got 3 of them and just leave one in every car. They're small and fit right in the glove box.

Used them for everything from breastmilk pumps to bait tank aerators to tablet chargers to laptop charging. Pretty flexible.