dumb question about the Datsun 280z...

[That_Guy28]

Does anybody know if the Datsun 280z has an electrical outlet for charging phones and running GPS units and stuff like that? If not, is there a way to get an electrical outlet for it? Also, I know it's got an outlet for a cigarette lighter but that's not the same thing.

[Lurch]

Yes, that is a dumb question.

 

No, they don't have standard 110v plug outlets. Before the vibe/volt came along in the early 2000's, nothing really had them short of a camper and possibly a big rig. Hell, what really has them now aside from the Vibe?

 

You can get one of those converters to convert from a cig lighter outlet to a standard 110.

[Fozzy Fozborne]

Since it has a cigarette lighter, the easiest way to get a 110 is to get a power inverter like this and plug it into the cigarette lighter.

 

It provides 65 watts continuous which is plenty to power a GPS, medium laptop, or a smartphone. They also come in more powerful versions.

 

If you're going to be charging a GPS or smartphone (as you say in your OP), you will be better off getting a cig to device adapter because you'll avoid the step-up then step-down, which is not very efficient (12v car to 110 back down to 5v for the device) and can hurt your mileage a bit.

[Kevin...]

Just be careful if you do use an inverter. They cause a good bit of strain on your car's electronic system. You might want to just ditch the idea considering you are going to be using it in a 20+ year old vehicle and the wiring is old and built without the intentions of that much stress on it. You could fry the sh*t out if sh*t hits the fan.

[Harrisboy]

Since it has a cigarette lighter, the easiest way to get a 110 is to get a power inverter like this and plug it into the cigarette lighter.

 

It provides 65 watts continuous which is plenty to power a GPS, medium laptop, or a smartphone. They also come in more powerful versions.

 

If you're going to be charging a GPS or smartphone (as you say in your OP), you will be better off getting a cig to device adapter because you'll avoid the step-up then step-down, which is not very efficient (12v car to 110 back down to 5v for the device) and can hurt your mileage a bit.

Lmao @ mileage.

 

It would use less extra fuel than having the headlights or the windowscreen wipers on.

[Fozzy Fozborne]

Anecdotal evidence: running my mom's Scion on I-80 on a flat grade @ 65MPH the readout says 46MPG. Once you turn on the power inverter to power a laptop it drops to 42MPG on the same level grade after turning it back off it's back to 46 where it says (about) unless you reach a grade.

 

On the way to North Carolina, the trip computer said my brother and I averaged 40.3 MPG with the power inverter on the whole way (powering the same laptop) but without using it on the way back we got 44.5 MPG.

 

That's way I said 'could'. Unless something else changed, it seems that it does have an effect.

Edited December 9, 2010 by Fozzy Fozborne

[The-King]

Only makes sense, the alternator has to turn faster in order to compensate for the extra power drain the inverter would be putting on it. Since the car wasn't designed for that extra drain of power in the first place, the engine has to run at a slightly higher RPM in order to keep the alternator producing the necessary energy the inverter would be demanding. Thus, the lower overall MPG.