Oct 292009
I am thinking of buying one of the car vacuum cleaners, which can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket in the car. I would like to know whether this will affect the car battery. Where is the power for this socket coming from? Is it taking directly from the car battery, or if the ignition is on, will it take from the gasoline power?
The battery if the engine is not running, and from the alternator if the engine is running.
Works the same as the headlights or the radio. Don’t worry, it’s not much of a current draw unless your battery is shot or your alternator is defective.
It depends on the car, but generally speaking the cigarette lighter is active both when the engine is idling, and when the car is off.
If the car is running, it will be powered by the alternator (which is spun by the gas engine).
If the car is ‘off’ it will run of the battery. Don’t do this for longer than a few minutes or you will kill your battery.
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The battery if the engine is not running, and from the alternator if the engine is running.
Works the same as the headlights or the radio. Don’t worry, it’s not much of a current draw unless your battery is shot or your alternator is defective.
References :
If your battery is in good condition, you can run one of those vacuum cleaners for an HOUR with no problem. Even with the engine off.
When I was working, I would sit in my car at lunch time and listen to the radio while recharging my cell phone, with the engine OFF. NO PROBLEM.
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