In-car charger presents four USB ports alongside cigarette socket

In all honesty, USBfever almost nailed this one. The $22.99 in-car charger plugs right into your cigarette socket and gives motorists their cigarette outlet back along with 4 charging USB ports. The one (admittedly massive) tweak we wish it would've made? Replace that cig adapter with a traditional AC outlet. Yeah, yeah -- that would make the whole thing a lot bigger, but you can't deny that it would be way more useful. Version 2, anyone?

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

[javaholic @ Aug 12th 2008 9:31PM]

etchshop...heres your answer;

Output Current:

[andres @ Aug 12th 2008 9:40PM]

2000ma

[loosely_coupled @ Aug 12th 2008 9:51PM]

There are many AC power inverters for vehicles that have USB ports for charging included.. I just picked one up from Staples the other day.

[THRILLHO @ Aug 12th 2008 10:22PM]

not bad, but the dollar store by me still has these instock, and you cant beat that price, even though its only one USB.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.688

[Wolfticket @ Aug 12th 2008 10:39PM]

Using Power inverters to power laptops in cars always struck me as slightly ridiculous. Convert 12v DC into 100-240v AC only to have the laptop adaptor convert it back to low voltage DC. Surely this is massively wasteful, there must be a better way of dealing with the cigarette lighter output.
BTW: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/12878.htm?referer=FR_PROD-PR-P-12878 is pretty much exactly what you describe.

[Ellis D. @ Aug 12th 2008 10:58PM]

This charger is nice - I like those 4USBs - but I prefer this one I saw in a store earlier this week:

http://us.kensington.com/html/13884.html

USB and a standard US power socket...

[Rogan josh @ Aug 13th 2008 12:11AM]

Oh, right, and I suppose you want to ruin Christmas too?

Way to go, Cynic Man

[abonstu @ Aug 13th 2008 1:08AM]

AC outlet? bah... thats not a 'tweak' thats an entirely different device and there are already plenty of inverters on the market.

this seems like a pretty useful device in its own right, most of the stuff you want to charge on the go can be charged from USB, the only change i would make is to see it in black - ive never seen a car dashboard in white plastic.

as an aside, i reakon we are overdue for redesign on the car DC power outlet, the connection is just crap, hefty devices move around and lose contact - we need something smaller and more sturdy.

[JC @ Aug 13th 2008 1:17AM]

Well, I smoke in my car - but I don't use the cig lighter. However, there are devices which still use it for power (such as my inverter)

My inverter is plugged in all the time, and I have never had a flat battery from it - I think the cigarette lighter in my car (and most others) only works when the car is running or in ACC on the ignition....therefore no flat battery.

[Ayman @ Aug 13th 2008 1:28AM]

yes you will see a lot of these devices in hospitals around the world,... after being removed from patients %^$ for "accidentally" sitting on it

[happy_penguin @ Aug 13th 2008 6:53AM]

Yes you are correct Alex. Also as I stated earlier, plenty of cars already offer household current. As far as running down the battery, many cars have built in power management to prevent this. It isn't that difficult.

[Dan @ Aug 13th 2008 3:18PM]

Personally, the story written by Engadget doesn't come close to the hard-hitting, grammatically correct masterpiece on this device's website:

"Of course, you may buy a Cigar Socket Splitter, but in doing so, you need to put some stickers somewhere inside your car or even put some nails into your car. It has no problems if your car just cost you some hundreds, if you car cost you some ten thousands, will you still consider to put stick, nails to your car?"

BTW, abonstu, you have your wish. They're current out of stock, but replacements will come in black.

[Dan @ Aug 13th 2008 3:19PM]

+ly

[Alex C. @ Aug 14th 2008 12:09AM]

Batteries will always be DC, so there will have to be an inverter to make an AC 110V outlet.

[dbez @ Aug 15th 2008 12:15PM]

Just curious. How many of you drive cars with ice-white interiors?

Looking around the carpark I can see a Volvo stationwagon with a sort of light grey dashboard.

How about car accessories that match the inside of an actual car?

(Yes that would mean producing a tan coloured one for the Alfa in the corner.)