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Add-on Car Accessories, Buy Auto Parts
Add-on Accessories To Enhance Your Car
There are many add-on devices and gizmos for cars that can provide
features to make your ride better. There are accessories that will
give you music that is more to your liking. A gps with maps can
display the route to take to your chosen destination. A heated mug
will keep coffee hot as long as the car is running. There are other
useful functions and nice effects that add-on accessories can
provide. Many car accessories are low enough in price so that they
may be well worth installing. This article concentrates on the lower
priced accessories. Most are under $50.
Here's the list with some information and comments about each:
>> Map reading light- These are available with incandescent bulbs,
flourescent tubes or leds (light emitting diodes). The flourescents
and leds use less power and so are slowest to drain batteries. Led
bulbs last the longest, flourescents next, and incandescents
generally burn out first. Incandescents usually are priced lowest.
Options include a power cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter
socket or two wires that get connected into the vehicle's wiring.
Some map reading lights mount with double sided tape, some clip on,
some are supported by the cigarette lighter plug/socket, some use
velcro. Some have swivel bases to aim the light, some have flexible
stems, and some are fixed.
You might find these at larger auto parts stores, large department
stores, electronics stores or online.
Example models:
CarMate NZ181 ZAX LED Interior Map Light. Has plug to get power from
cigarette lighter jack. Available at www.eautoworks.com for about
$25.
Touring R Series LED Shot Light- With swivel for aiming, two wire
connection to vehicle's power. Available at www.eautoworks.com,
www.xtremewhite.com for about $20.
Some online sources are:
www.eautoworks.com
www.xtremewhite.com
>> 12 volt heated mug- A mug with a plug for getting power from the
cigarette lighter socket. It keeps a liquid such as coffee hot for
as long as the vehicle is running. Some models have a thermostat to
set the temperature.
Example models:
Wagan Tech Heated Travel Mug about $30
NexxTech™ Travel Mug with Thermal Control about $20
Available online at:
www.autoanything.com
www.circuitcity.com
>> Cooler/warmer- These give the choice of keeping food or beverage
hot or cold. Some are sized to hold a can of soda or a mug of
coffee, larger units might hold a six pack or more.
Example models:
Wagan Car Cooler/Warmer about $75
Koolatron 8 quart Food Cooler/Warmer about $50
Vector 6-can Portable Food Cooler & Warmer Chest about $50
Available online at:
www.autoanything.com
www.jcwhitney.com
>> Cell phone charger- Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket to
power or charge your cell phone.
Example models:
Custom Accessories Deluxe Power Cord Charger about $20
Custom Accessories Power Cord Charger about $10
Radio Shack 273-1288 Car Power Adapter for Hitachi SH-P300 Wireless
Phone about $30
Quick Cell 3900 Car Charger Nokia about $15
Available online at:
www.carlovershop.com
www.radioshack.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
>> 12 volt coolers-
These range in size to hold 2 soda cans up to full size
refrigerators for recreational vehicles.
Example models:
VDP Road Chill 2-pack Cooler about $30
Available online at:
www.jcwhitney.com
>> Multipurpose lights- Can be incandescent, flourescent or led.
They might plug into the cigarette lighter socket, might be wired
directly into the car's power circuits, or be battery operated and
portable. If used while the vehicle is not running, a consideration
may be that led models will drain the battery the least (but in
general produce less light).
Example models:
Wolo FL4 Battery-operated Fluorescent Light 4 Watt about $10
Wolo FL95 12 volt flourescent
Bonatrade International 6-Watt Single Tube 12V Fluorescent Light
about $15
Custom Accessories 10716 Power Lite: Magnet Mount about $10
Custom Accessories 76665 Utility Light 12v at www.acehardware.com
about $3
Type S Accessories LM104166 Dash - Map Light about $20
Voltec Industries 0800255 Trouble Light: 12 Volt about $4
Alert HC20 Halogen Worklight 12v about $20
Available online at:
www.carlovershop.com
www.jcwhitney.com
www.circuitcity.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
www.acehardware.com
>> Compass- Some are magnetic, mechanical; some are battery powered
with digital displays, can be lighted to read at night, and/or have
additional features such as time, date, and/or temperature.
example models:
Wayfinder V2000 Digital Compass about $70
NexxTech™ Digital Compass with Calendar, Clock and Temperature about
$30
Radio Shack 63-1221 Digital Vehicle Compass about $20
Custom Accessories 18100 about $10
Custom Accessories 55558 about $5
Type S Accessories AC12320606 Digital Compass about $40
Black Type S Compass about $5
Available at:
www.autoanything.com
www.circuitcity.com
www.radioshack.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
www.autobarn.com
>> Weather alert radio- Receives broadcasts from the National
Weather Service. The NWS provides weather forecasts and reports as
well as announcements about severe weather and any possible
disasters. Choose a radio that uses the vehicle's power so you don't
have to replace batteries every time you turn around.
example models:
ShareCom WRP50 Weather Radio about $70
Weather One Emergency Alert Portable Weather Radio about $35
Midland74109 All Hazards Weather Alert Radio about about $70
Midland 74-109 Weather Max Plus about $35
Midland 74200 All Hazard Alert Monitor about $50
Midland WR-10 Weather alert radio about $40
available at:
www.weatherradiostore.com
www.safetycentral.com
www.diversepower.com
www.midlandradio.com
www.amazon.com
>> Flashlight- Dozens of types available including windups that
don't require batteries, solar rechargeables, flourescent tube
(bulbs last much longer), and led models that will run many hours on
one set of batteries.
example models:
Dorcey Coolblue led about $20
Himount Windup LED Flashlight about $20
available at:
www.batterysavers.com
www.jcwhitney.com
>> 4 point safety harness- Has four anchor points with a restraint
for each shoulder. These are more likely to get you through a crash
with less injury than if you had been using a standard belt (across
one shoulder and across the lap). Many of these models are made to
attach to a roll bar, so make sure the one you are getting is
appropriate for your vehicle.
example models:
Peak Racing Equipment PEK-507-2 about $75
available from:
www.amazon.com
www.summitracing.com
>> Power inverter-Plugs into the cigarette lighter sockect, clips to
battery, or wire it in. The vehicle's 12 volts dc is changed to 120
volts ac to power things like laptop computers, coffee makers, cell
phones, camcorder battery chargers and other small appliances. Don't
go bigger than 400 watts unless you want to go directly to the
battery with heavy wire. Even then, high power devices will drain
your battery quickly and could fry the alternator if the engine is
running.
example models:
Coleman Powermate CMN-PMP400 400 watt about $60
Motor Trend power inverter HDL-MTI-12-3716 about $60
Xantrex X Power Mobile Plug 75 about $30
Go Power GP 175 Modified Sine Wave Inverter about $30
available at:
www.summitracing.com
www.fisheriessupply.com
store.hamiltonmarine.com
www.jcwhitney.com
Other accessories that can be used to enhance your car include seat
covers, floor mats, steering wheel covers, sun shades, head rest
covers, litter bags, can and cup holders, inside/outside
thermometer, gps/map device, extra loud or novelty sound horns.
Items to keep in your car for repair, emergency, safety,
miscellaneous- Jack, lug wrench, trouble light, flares, jumper
cables, maps, cell phone and phone numbers, coolant for radiator,
drinking water, long storage food, empty container for gasoline,
various hand tools, gloves, coat, hat, blanket, rain poncho, and a
first aid kit.
About the author : Alan Detwiler is the author of several books on
leisure activities. The books are available at Amazon.com
His web sites are www.leisureideas.com and www.makegizmos.com
Content Courtesy : choosetoprosper.com
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