In the past, most automobiles had factory installed cigarette lighter sockets specifically designed for assisting smokers with lighting their cigarettes while driving down the road. However, non-smoking car owners had a powered socket with no conceivable use. Currently, many manufacturers are designing products, such as heaters, that conveniently plug into the cigarette lighter socket for power.
A car cigarette lighter socket is essentially a metal port that supplies a constant 12 volt DC (direct current) power source. A user simply connects a plug from a device into the port for instant power. The car's battery supplies the socket's power, as long as the vehicle's electrical system is on by turning the key to the accessory position on the ignition.
Cab heaters are small, space warmers that attach to the cigarette lighter socket. Many vehicle owners purchase these auxiliary warmers for producing warm air to defrost the windows' interior surfaces. However, consumers should understand that the limited 12 volts supplied by the socket also limits the cab heater's current draw. As a result, the cab heater will not emit hot air, only warmed air. Consumers can purchase higher-voltage cab heaters, such as 24 or 36 volts, but they must be directly connected to the car's battery only.
Specialized seat pads can also connect to a cigarette lighter socket. The seat pads cover the driver and passenger front seats like a typical seat cover. The seat pad has a wire with a plug extending from its material. The plug directly connects to the socket, supplying power that heats the seat pads for cold, wintry days. In addition, specialized heat blankets are offered. The blanket has the same wire connection extending out to the socket for powering the heating wires within the material. Passengers in the rear seats can benefit from a warm blanket on long road trips.
Designers have also placed wiring connections on cooler/heaters and individual beverage cups. A cooler/heater resembles a basic portable cooler used for keeping drinks icy cold. However, this cooler/heater combination allows a user to keep food and drinks warm or cold based on an adjustment feature on the housing. A user plugs the cooler/heater's wire into the cigarette lighter socket and chooses either cooling or heating. Alternatively, consumers can purchase an individual beverage cup with an extending wire. The cup, as well as its contents, remains warm as long as it is plugged into its socket power source.
