3 Handy Car Accessories That Use Your Car's 12V Outlet

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If you've ridden in a new vehicle lately, you may have noticed that manufacturers aren't including cigarette lighters in vehicles anymore, but the 12V outlet is still featured in many. You may be wondering, unless you're plugging in an adapter for more USB charging capabilities, when or why exactly would you need the 12V outlet? Why wouldn't the manufacturers just build in more charging capabilities for phones?

Many products, like emergency equipment and camping gadgets, come with 12V options. However, there are several products that you could use daily that have 12V plugs. For example, did you know there is a 12V sandwich maker on the market? Instead of wasting the outlet, you can find a product that will make it useful during your daily commute to work or perhaps on your next road trip. As attested by highly rated reviews from customers who have used the products, here are some handy car accessories that can use your car's 12V outlet. 

A tire inflator is one of those emergency tools you should always keep in your vehicle. Many of the top-rated tire inflators come with alligator clips that attach to your vehicle's battery — however, some people may not be comfortable with touching the battery. Luckily, there are also 12V plug options. The AstroAI Portable Tire Inflator uses your vehicle's 12V outlet to power up with the flip of a switch. All you need to do is attach it to your tire and start the machine.

This tire inflator can fill your tire from 30 to 36 PSI in one minute. It comes with a digital display that can set a preset pressure, so you won't over-fill your tire. When it reaches your preset PSI, the machine will auto shut-off. For the affordable price of $32 when it's not on sale, you may wonder if this tire inflator is a gimmick. It comes with a 4.5 out of five-star rating from over 100,000 buyers with many positive written reviews. However, there are limitations. It's not recommended you use this inflator on bigger trucks, like tractor-trailers and cargo trucks or vehicles with tires larger than 28.5 inches.

No one really likes having a charging cable hanging around getting tangled, but in today's day and age, on-hand charging capabilities is a necessity. However, Amazon sells the DreamBee Retractable Car Charger Adapter, which can help to solve that messy problem. This 12V adapter comes with two cord types — a type-C and a lightening cable — and has the unique ability to retract the built-in cables back into itself when you're not using them. Additionally, it comes with a type-C 3A port, a USB 2.4A port, and a screen letting you know how many volts are running through the gadget. And not to worry, you can use all four ports and cords to safely charge up to four phones at once.

There's also the ability to adjust the direction of the adapter to fit securely in the 12V outlet's area in your vehicle and have it facing in the direction you find the most convenient. This nifty gadget comes with a 4.5 out of five-star rating from over 2,300 reviewers. Many are very satisfied with both the charging capability and how simple it is. However, some do mention that the design is a bit large for some car layouts, so you may want to find where your 12V outlet is located in your car and make sure it will fit securely before purchasing.

You're traveling in your vehicle during a long drive and want to heat up your lunch, but you can't access a microwave or don't want to stop at a gas station to use one. With a 4.6 out of five-star rating from over 11,000 reviewers, the Hotlogic Mini Portable Electric Lunch Box is an innovative meal-heating choice. It comes with a 12V adapter that can safely plug into your 12V outlet and start heating up your meal. It comes with a slow-conduction heating pad placed on the bottom of the lunch box, so you can place your food on top of it.

The product photos show a glass container being used to store your food — however, this lunch box can safely reheat metal, glass, plastic, and cardboard. Though, in the reviews, someone does state not to use very cheap plastic or ziplock-style bags because they can melt. This product can do more than just reheat. You can also fully cook a meal up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It is suggested that you give the lunch box up to 40 minutes to get your meal to the desired temperature. Be aware that this heated lunch box also comes as a 120V to plug into standard household outlets— though that would require a separate purchase.

Vehicles come with so many unique tech accessories, but why not add a gadget or two to center your vehicle around your needs? The 12V accessories discussed in this article were selected based on high ratings and positive reviews from consumers who have bought and used the products in their vehicles. Each item has at least a four out of five star rating from hundreds of people weighing in. Additionally, each item is under the price of $35, and along with the high ratings, this makes them both reliable and affordable. 

However, we do recommend you do more research on these gadgets to consider if they would work well in your vehicle. For example, the retractable car charger adapter comes with a lightning cable, and if you have a family of Android users, it won't come in handy. However, the same company does make a Dual TypeC adapter. With that being said, the products listed in this article are readily available on Amazon.