New Belkin Gadget Turns Car Cig Lighter into Tasteful USB Charger
New Belkin Gadget Turns Car Cig Lighter into Tasteful USB Charger
Posted 04/21/2009 at 6:32am
| by Paul Lilly
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Does your car have a USB port? Kick that nasty smoking habit and it just might. By freeing up your car's cigarette lighter, you can then shove Belkin's Micro Auto Charger into the socket and charge your BlackBerry, iPod, or other USB devices.
The Micro Auto Charger comes with a single 1-amp USB "quick-charge port for fastest possible charge" and sits nearly flush with the dashboard, Belkin says. For a little more jingle (and a lot less svelte), Belkin also offers the Dual Auto Charger, which tosses an extra 500mA USB port and USB-to-mini-USB cable into the mix.
You'll have to wait until next month for the Micro Auto Charger, which will sell for $15, or $20 if you want Belkin to include a iPode/iPhone cable. Those interested in the Dual Auto Charger can pick one up now for $30.
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annabelle_bohr
June 29, 2011 at 1:12pm
Very nice! I have seen many posts lately about new gadgets. I plan to get a new car soon so I may have the chance to test them. If I contact a used cars Dayton Ohio center next week I will be able to get this USB in less than a month. I can't wait! Call me a freak, but testing new technology is my passion.
Ella Rochelle
March 21, 2011 at 6:45am
I might be wrong, but I believe this is a hidden campaign for quitting smoking. The USB device looks nice, but who's to say what's tastier? Unfortunately, I am a smoker and no matter how bad I would like to have this device installed on one of the vehicles I've bought from a used cars Iowa dealer, I can't forget why that space is there.
Josiah Charley
May 29, 2011 at 1:25pm
You may be right, Ella, but you must realize that smoking is bad for you, mkay? I actually installed the USB charger on two of my class B motorhomes and I feel better, I feel more mature, somehow, knowing that I've managed to use a place destined to make my car smell uglier into a spot I can put a lot of information in.
HerbieLaunce
March 15, 2011 at 7:51am
This sounds good, especially the Dual Auto Charger. I have no idea about what should I put in the place of my car cig lighter after I quit smoking. This week I'll go buy a couple of nice Mercedes Benz parts and I think an USB charger will be more than useful to my car
Karina Puterbaugh
February 25, 2011 at 11:46am
Wow, the Dual Auto Charger was 30$ back then, you can find it for half the price now. Indeed it charges fast and it has proven itself to be a more reliable charger than other ones that can be found on the market. A car from the Las Vegas auto body and an iPhone charger and you're OK to go. Anywhere:)
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December 13, 2010 at 3:06am
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aman
November 25, 2010 at 4:08am
It's great to know about the cool car accessory. It's really difficult to lit a cigarette with lighter or match stick in a moving vehicle. I will surely install this smart gadget in my car. car covers
jenny07
October 28, 2010 at 3:16am
Thanks for taking the time to discuss on Dual Auto Charger, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this.. Please keep updating your blog..
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winmaster
April 26, 2009 at 8:48am
Perhaps car companies should just start putting USB ports on dashboards and leaving out the cigarette charger. Seriously, does anybody still use those?
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Keith E. Whisman
April 21, 2009 at 10:53am
Cool get this and then I'll only need to get a USB powered cigarette lighter.
neo1piv14
April 21, 2009 at 9:25am
Nothing special or innovative, but it does look rather nice. And for 15/20 bucks, I'd probably go for it just as a cheap way to charge my phone. However, most car stereos these days come with USB ports on the front that you can use to charge your stuff too.
jcollins
April 21, 2009 at 8:28am
How is this different than any other cigarette lighter USB charger?
lovercathi
November 23, 2010 at 5:16am
Well for starters it has better looks... for some people eye candy is more important than the actual functionality of the desired object. car donations
AntiHero
April 21, 2009 at 12:02pm
It sits flush against te dash, better than something protruding, or in my fiancee's car's case (Cavalier), something getting in the way of hers/my knuckles. Some cars do not have the cigarette lighter in a convenient position, so using a cigarette lighter slot for an FM tuner can be tricky since they come off the dash by about 2 inches, just enough for me to find it in the way of my driving (or my fiancee's driving, which i am more concerned about)since the lighter is directly behind the wheel, so that if you're driving, sure it;s in a good place, but if you're nota smoker, then forget about it.
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Denis63
April 21, 2009 at 7:30am
I like the idea, next can they make me a compact charger that'll charge my laptop from my cigarette lighter? inverters are too big. -Denis
Keith E. Whisman
April 21, 2009 at 10:58am
Befor these inverters got cheap and popular laptop manufacturers used to sell car cigarette lighter chargers that you plugged into the car and then into the power slot on the laptop. I do miss the old days. You see these inverters can pull way too much juice and actually damage your alternator and voltage regulator. The old fashioned 12volt charger just used a tiny transformer and a voltage regulation circuit to charge your laptop. The old chargers were alot easier on your car. Use the inverter at your own risk.
winmaster
April 26, 2009 at 8:49am
New cars these days have 120 volt power outlets built right into them.
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Cache
April 21, 2009 at 6:53am
What remains to be seen is how many Belkin employees solicit positive reviews for this...
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