In recent times, modern SUVs, minivans and trucks have a house-style AC outlet quite different from the popular and wisely used USB ports available in most cars.

The question we will be finding answers to today is: what exactly can these AC outlets be used for?

House-style AC outlets are one of those very important car convenience features that have several use cases. This feature is still not a standard equipment on family vehicles where it is mostly found and it’s usually paired with expensive rear-seat multimedia systems in large SUVs and minivans or available only on more expensive trim level. This power inverter converts power from DC to AC. The AC outlets are typically mounted on the second row or cargo area giving it the appearance of a home wall outlet.

There are different names and ratings for this outlet. Some of the names are 110-,115- and 120-volt AC outlets. If you want to find these outlets, look in sedans, SUVs, trucks and minivans. These vehicles combine these AC outlets with the normal probe style DC outlets that accepts USB connectors.



Note this: Not everything plugged into the AC outlet works. It has it’s limitation. It would have so cool to be able to your refrigerator or cooker. But there are guidelines to follow in order to use these devices safely.

Like we established earlier, the AC outlets can be real useful. They help warm game-day meatballs in a slow cooker and inflate a mattress while camping. They also come in handy for keeping an iPad charged during a road trip to occupy kids’ attention. Most commonly, the AC outlets help us work on the go by functioning as a portable charging station for laptops and camera batteries; the outlets also charge cell phones faster than a standard USB port.

How do you know if that device you are about to plug into your car AC outlet is car friendly?
Look for the wattage rating on the bottom of the device or power supply or check the owner’s manual provided when you bought the device. Vehicles that come with the AC outlet feature usually have a maximum rating of 150- watts.

Some automakers warn against plugging high end gaming and entertainment systems into the power outlet. For example, The 2013 Dodge Durango SUV, in which the 150-watt maximum outlet is standard in all models except the base SXT, warns in its owner’s manual: “Certain high-end video games, such as PlayStation3 and Xbox 360 will exceed this power limit, as will most power tools.”

And that goes for every other car with a 150-watt maximum rating, not just for the Dodge. Research shows that newer versions of our favorite gaming systems have scaled back their wattage rating, but always check the device to make sure.

When there is power overload on these outlets, they automatically shut off via overload protection.



“Do not use any extension cord with the 110-volt AC power point, since it will defeat the safety protection design. Doing so may cause the power point to overload due to powering multiple devices that can reach beyond the 150-watt load limit and could result in fire or serious injury.” This is a warning written on the owner’s manual of the 2018 Ford Explorer.

Another precaution every car owner must take is to avoid using the outlet when the car engine is off. This can drastically deplete the battery of the vehicle. The fact is many vehicle’s outlets only work when the engine is on.

The AC outlets in trucks seem to carry more power compare to the SUVs and Sedans. For instance, the 2018 Toyota Tacoma has an available 120-volt, 400-watt maximum bed-mounted AC power receptacle. The maximum wattage is only unlocked when in Park mode or neutral with the engine running. If you’re moving, the maximum wattage is lowered.

The Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 also include an available AC outlet in the cabin. The F-150, like the Tacoma, has a 400-watt maximum for the 110-volt outlet, which has one located on the center dashboard and another in the backseat console. According to Ford, the 400-watt power outlet can be used for electric hand drills, rechargeable power tools, video games, laptops and televisions. Ford also warns that it’s best to use the outlets for recharging power tool batteries rather than directly powering them. Furthermore, Ford says these AC outlets should not be used to power cathode-ray, tube-type televisions, vacuum cleaners, electric saws or anything that needs a precise power supply, like measuring equipment.

Final words

Cars with USB outlets and auxiliary inputs are all well and good, but sometimes you need a little more juice. That is why carmart has decided to write on the uses and precautions of in-car AC outlets. If you are considering buying a new vehicle with this feature, you can check on our website to see a definitive list of vehicles with AC power outlets.

https://carmart.ng/public/blog/in-car-ac-outlets-what-do-you-use-them-for/

Op is obviously confused about what he copied and pasted ...


He was talking about vehicle AC power sockets( alternating current) only to end his copy and paste with a picture of vehicle AC vents (Air Condition)


Dear op, try to read and understand what you copy and paste...because you obviously didn't read this one.or if you did, u didn't comprehend