Batteries and Rechargers: One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that...

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

BebuLamar

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

For what kind of battery? Many cars today has USB port which can be used for charging as well.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The car charger port aka the Cigarette Lighter, produces roughly 5 VDC of output charge. All you need is an adapter from the socket that allows you to plug in a USB cable, or an iOS Lightning cable. The next step, for a camera, is to plug said camera directly into the cable and let it trickle charge like a Sony or Fuji. You can also find, on Amazon, dual battery USB chargers for Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Sony, etc.

I typically do this on a long day of shooting when I want to top off Nikon batteries between locations.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...you just need an inverter, plug it into your car's lighter receptacle then plug your charger into *that!* But, yes, a USB adapter solves another piece of hardware, too...

BebuLamar

chasgroh wrote:

...you just need an inverter, plug it into your car's lighter receptacle then plug your charger into *that!* But, yes, a USB adapter solves another piece of hardware, too...

I wouldn't want to go the inverter route as it's very inefficient. It uses a lot more energy than the other way.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Well not knowing what type of batteries you want to charge is going to be hard. However I use an Wasabi changer it has a car plugin for the lighter or it plugs into household wall outlet I have two of them and no problems with them in the last three or five years you can go to Amazon and put your model number in and find out quickly the cost is very reasonable!

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

stonecherub Loc: Tucson, AZ

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

The car charger port aka the Cigarette Lighter, produces roughly 5 VDC of output charge.

The little plug-in "buck" that you stick in the cigarette lighter socket to charge your cell phone does, indeed, provide 5V. Be careful of the current rating, most cell phones require one amp (1000 mA), my iPad requires 2.4 A and the cheap ones won't charge it.

The car runs on 12V, and that is what is available in the socket. A "buck" changes the voltage from 12 to 5, they're quite clever devices. The cigarette lighter socket/plug is the standard for 12V car systems.

As a field geologist, I live out of my 4runner and regularly charge drone batteries, computer batteries, power-pack batteries and camera batteries when I am in the desert. Each camera has a unique battery shape and voltage. I purchased separate 12V chargers for my Nikon and Lumix from Amazon.

Bill_de Loc: US

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

The car charger port aka the Cigarette Lighter, produces roughly 5 VDC

Beware of misinformation on the internet. You may damage something.

"Standardized 12 volt DC automobile plugs are defined in the United States by UL Standard 2089 regarding vehicle battery adapters. This standard covers plugs and cord sets that insert into cigarette lighter receptacles."

--

BebuLamar

Bill_de wrote:

Beware of misinformation on the internet. You may damage something.

"Standardized 12 volt DC automobile plugs are defined in the United States by UL Standard 2089 regarding vehicle battery adapters. This standard covers plugs and cord sets that insert into cigarette lighter receptacles."

--

There may be some misunderstanding. The adapter that plug in to the cigarette lighter socket and has USB port on it. The USB port provides 5V using the 15V from the cigarette lighter port.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Guy let's not be electrically ignorant. A cigarette lighter port in an automobile is a nominal 12v DC power supply. A usb port provides 5 V DC. If you have a device that plugs into a cigarette port and has a USB port on the other side then this device converts 12 V DC to 5 V DC.

As suggested above an it is possible to used an inverter to supply AC to your charger. An alternative (likely cheaper) is to use the Adorama PT15 AC/DC Rapid 8.4V Battery Charger for Nikon ENEL3e. Other models exist for various battery types. It plugs into the cigarette lighter socket.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

They make all sort of chargers/and or connectors to run a charger off a car, as well as solar panels for chargers!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

They are readily available for almost ALL current camera batteries. No sense letting commenters complicate the question.

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

Not sure if you are referring to a "day trip" issue where you suddenly noted you do not have backup batteries or if you are totally out of the loop on a trip. I am often off the grid. If I have access to a vehicle I use an inverter. It converts 12V to 110V to power/recharge the lap top, all the batteries and any other electrical device. If I am camping and have no vehicle I have a solar charger that I can use for the batteries while in the field. I deliberately do not use the laptop to PP in the field when camping and only power it up to download and then back up the days images.
You can find both in various configurations and price points on the web. The beauty of the inverter is it provides basically a house outlet(s) and you can plug in anything(with reasonable amp draws) just like you are at home.
If you are only day tripping then I would focus more on maintaining a 4 battery rotation set and taking them with you on every outing.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

I am not sure this is what you are looking for but I use on to charge my batteries in the car.
https://www.amazon.com/UCERAMI-Inverter-Adapter-Converter-Charger/dp/B01DR2RLDQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527159446&sr=8-2&keywords=car+120v+charger

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

John_F wrote:

One is not always near a 110 volt source, so recharging is not always easy. The last time I was at the Micro Center in my area I could not find a charger that would run off the car socket where the cigar lighters used to be. Anyone know of such a charger?

I use USB chargers in my car. I have USB ports, and there are many 12v cig lighter/USB adapters.