GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm just wondering what things people have tried to power using the standard electrical outlet? What happens if you try to draw too much power, ei; hair dryer. Can you blow a fuse?

Of course you will blow a fuse. Sorry I had to respond. It's kinda a goofy question. Not meaning to pook fun but it's just common sense. If a fuse didn't blow when you drew to much power, something would catch fire so yes a fuse will blow if to much power begins to be pulled from the outlet.I don't know how much can be pulled from the outlet safely. You can all ways look and see what size fuse is being used. Your owners manual should tell you the location of the fuse. The fuse box is also labled.

Actually, if you check your owner's guide you'll see the outlet is limited to about 1 amp or a total load of 100~120 watts. It has a breaker that shuts down and automatically resets if you exceed the rated load.Larry

What would be a typical appliance/device that would be beneficial inside a car that would meet this load requirement?Any suggestions by anyone?Laptop? Cell-phone charger? George Foreman Grill (KIDDING)
[Modified by NSimkins, 8:37 PM 6/10/2002]

How about a blender??? We can make smoothies!

LOL

A standard blender would be somewhere in the range of 3-5 amps, a bit too much for the outlet. However the charger for my Black and Decker versa pak blender works just fine. It'll make 2-3 batches of Margaritas before I have to recharge.Larry

I understand how electicity works and it's not a goofy question because Larry had the answer I was looking for. I don't have my Vibe yet so I can't refer to the manual.

I hope you didn't consider my post as offensive because I was only trying to be humorous. Sorry.My question was serious when I asked what people have used in their vehicle utilizing the outlet. Would be interesting to hear what practical and unique uses can become out of this feature.-Nick

There are now adapters that plug into your typical car power outlet and convert it to a standard 2 prong outlet. They cost between $40-60(Cdn) if you find you would like this Vibe feature in your other vehicles.

I can't get anything to run off of it, has anyone else yet.Rob

Guess I'm the first guy to put a Playstation game console in his VIBE. Works fine but I had to opt for the car adapter in the glove box because the household adapter was too big to plug into the outlet.

Yank-if the powerpack won't fit into the plug maybe you could use a small extension cord-plug the cord into the outlet and plug the adapter into the cord. As for other uses for the outlet-I plan on using mine to charge my cell-phone while on the move-that way I don't have to get a seperate vehicle adapter (I know the home power adapter won't fit the plug but I plan on using the trick I listed above).

I've got a handy little 6 inch extension I picked up at a computer store, it helps a lot with the wall wart items.Larry

So, so far we only have a Playstation, blender, cell phone and Laptop? I wish I could think of something to plug into that outlet just to see if it works, maybe a nitelight?

quote:....maybe a nitelight?Someone help me! The things I do at 12:30am.

You are the best! At least I'm not the only one on this site at this hour! Thanks!

Here's an interesting article about a guy wanting to custom install an aftermarket inverter in the dash of his Mustang:http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/inverter1.htm

A Vibrator?Sorry folks, I had to say it......Larry

quote:A Vibrator?Sorry folks, I had to say it......Larry Tried it, won't work. Mine is 5 amps!

Nah, it cut out before I got to the "ummm"!

Lori -5 amps?!?!? Is that that big old Black and Decker one? Larry

Hey!Keep this thread headed the way it seems to be headed you may have to go "off topic"

Black and Decker? No way! Mine is top of the line...Dewalt heavy duty!Ok, I'll stop. Wouldn't want to get off..........topic I mean.

I'll help get the train back on track. Really, you guys are too much... Anyway, the only thing I've tried so far was the wall-wart for my cell phone. Aside from having to hold it up there (the car was stationary, I was just testing) it worked great. Other than that my inverter hasn't seen much use.

I've done my laptop, my phone charger, and I travel around with a little 5 inch black and white TV, which I plug in to watch the news inbetween work and class! The AC adapter is WAY too big so I have a 6 foot extension cord that I coil under the passenger seat. I keep the long cord so that I can use it outside of the car if we are camping or something!Aaron----------------2003 Salsa VibeMoon N TunesPower Package

Last road trip, I used the plug for cell phone chargers and for charging my camcorder. Of course, they all have to take turns while I'm driving down the road. Plan to use it to recharge our electric camping light when we go on a longer camping trip. Plus, I'm sure we will use it for the laptop someday. (There are times I wish there were two outlets!)

My first post! How about a Glade plug-in? Keeps it smelling good!

I did that.... i stole the one from my hallway and put it in... it fit and everything

What?! My boyfriend would be mortified if I did that. He LOVES the "new car" smell.

Oh, well yea i'd understand that. Except i hit a skunk and that smell quickly went away.

I'm a smoker so I lost my new car smell a week after I got the car.

quote:Oh, well yea i'd understand that. Except i hit a skunk and that smell quickly went away. LOL! Well, I guess I can understand now. What rotten luck!

quote:So, so far we only have a Playstation, blender, cell phone and Laptop? I wish I could think of something to plug into that outlet just to see if it works, maybe a nitelight?I was thinking a toaster would be nice, if you are running a little late some toast, poptarts, or even a bagel, litterally "on the go" would be nice.

Lori...too funny!!!(removed)!!!!!

quote:A Vibrator?Sorry folks, I had to say it......Larry Tried it, won't work. Mine is 5 amps! I need to hang out with you Lori!

Dewalt Drill battery charger, dustbuster, nite light, glade plug in, cell phone, curling iron, paper shredder, coffeepot, and a little reading lamp when my interior light was out. That is the handiest plug I have ever seen. The dustbuster did shut it down after a minute. So I only did that once.

Do you try and curl your hair while you're driving?

I guess I should have explained that better....We had a really bad storm a couple weeks ago and our power was out for about a day and a half. I had to get ready for work somewhere....so I picked the vibe. I would never curl my hair while driving...but there is an awful lot of construction around Nashville these days...lots of traffic jams...plenty of opportunity to curl my hair if I wanted to.....

Alright here we go...Get an electric pressure washer, hook it up to the gas tank and plug it into to the outlet.... Attach spark plug = Instant Flame Thrower

In a few weeks, I'll be driving around with Christmas lights.

Please tell me what kind of coffee maker you were able to use. I was unsuccessful and COFFEE/HOT WATER is the ONLY thing I really want to use the outlet for. ANYONE have any suggestions?

A glad plug in--the best idea so far. My car smell ssooooo good. James

I have a little 4-cup Mr. Coffee coffeepot--it works great. I don't make coffee while driving. Just when the power was out.....

I finally tried it. A toaster is perfect. PopTarts on the road!

quote:I can't get anything to run off of it, has anyone else yet.RobYou have to push the button to the left of the plug to turn it on. I think it says '115V' on it or something and it has a little light to indicate it's on. (don't have the car here so can't double check)

Here's one I haven't seen mentioned yet... a crock pot! I was on my way to a potluck dinner and used the plug to keep things warm on the way. Awesome! Oh yeah, and I have also used it to recharge my video camera batteries on the way to a wedding. Oops.... would have been 'toast' without that plug!

I picked up a six-foot extension cord with 3 outlets on the end. It stays plugged into the dash permanently, then coils under the passenger seat with all my junk.At all times, I have a battery charger plugged in, with a set of four NiMH AA's for my digital camera. Nothing like having freshly charged spares when the set in the camera runs low.Many of my passengers carry laptops in addition to mine, so the other outlets on the cord are frequently populated with laptop chargers. The average laptop draws upwards of 70 watts while charging, but when its battery is full, power consumption drops off to 20 watts or so. Plugging in two laptops at the same time can overdraw the inverter, so we plug in one and wait until it stabilizes and then add the other.Frequently laptop accessories have their own power needs: My external burner has its own power supply, and it's really handy being able to roast CDs away from home. The radio modems I experiment with also have chargers that expect 110 volts.I've also used a fluorescent worklight in this outlet, very handy indeed! Yes they make 12-volt worklights, but they're usually not as well built as commercial 110-volt models, and it's nice to just carry one and be able to use it anywhere.In the past, I've used a flatbed scanner in the car (perched on the folded-down passenger seat) and the wall-wart suckled happily from the extension cord under the seat. It's not even worth trying to put a big transformer like that on the dash. Moving the outlet down there was the biggest and easiest usability improvement I've made on this car. My 12-volt outlet usually powers my cell phone charger, a CB radio, another laptop power supply (Lind brand, good stuff), and maintains the charge in a million-candlepower spotlight.Nearly everything is covered in Velcro. My phone and CB mic hang from the dash with velcro. The spotlight is velcroed to the carpet so it doesn't roll around. My GPS data cable liked to pull the GPS off the dash, so it got velcroed in place too. My biggest power-related gripe? The key has to be in the ignition for anything to be powered at all! At least in older GM models, the key could be removed in Accessory.Oh yes, I've never found a use for the 12-volt outlet in the compartment. All the chargers that I'd like to stuff in there take 110 volts. It would've been a fine location for a second outlet from the inverter, though!

I had to drive my wife to the doctor with pain in her arm last week. For the ride, we plugged a heating pad into the 115V outlet to help relieve the pain. It draws far less than 100 watts.

I'm hoping to try my orbital waxer in the outlet next weekend (if it's not raining again).