Charging devices whilst travelling

[netBookBabe]

Sorry that this is a little off-topic. :cool:

Does anyone know whether any kind of adaptor exists to allow the simultaneous charging of two devices (for example netBook and cellphone) from a normal car cigar lighter socket?

Thanks
Julie

[ohsix]

I've seen a "Y" shaped adapter that plugs into a car's cigarette lighter socket that then gives you 2 cigarette lighter sockets. They ought to have them somewhere in the UK. It may have been in an electronic store in the cell phone accessories section.

[netBookBabe]

Thanks for the confirmation that such a device exists! I contacted Halfords in the UK, which seemed a likely source, but they didn't seem to know what I was talking about.

I'll keep looking. :)

Julie

[ohsix]

I *think* a buddy of mine has/had one. I'll check with him to see if I can find the company that makes them.

[MartinG]

Try Tandy as a fair bet Julie - or Maplin (www.maplin.co.uk) would be almost guaranteed to have them...

Martin

PS: You realise of course that you'll look like a complete geek using it? ;)

PPS: Went away, had a look, came back - and this is probably what you're looking for I think: http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030930162147831&moduleno=10480&Products=1

[Jack B Nimble]

My wife has one, and sometimes it's still not enough. I thought she was being silly, then I went to RadioShack.com. Apparently she is not alone as the selection there (http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F009%5F001%5F002%5F002&Page=1) includes several adapters which provide three plugs!

Enjoy!

Jack

[netBookBabe]

A four-socket device! Fantastic, Martin - thanks!! (Sounds as though Mrs B Nimble could do with one too) ;)

Now, let's see, that will cover netBook, P800, 5mx, and one other device that I'm not allowed to mention on this forum. ;) Total geekdom! :cool:

By the way Martin, do you still have branches of Tandy in your part of the world? Always the first thought for this kind of thing, but they've all closed down around here.

Thanks
Julie

[Jim Cooke]

Julie,

In the US, Tandy, which is the parent company of Radio Shack, only had leather goods stores. Most of these have closed down. There is a Radio Shack on almost every corner in most towns in the US though. You can buy everything from a simply "Y" adaptor that plugs directly into the lighter socket for about $6 all the way up to a direct wire, fused, 4 outlet socket than can be mounted anywhere in the car for about $30. I assume there must be a similar type of selection available in the UK.

[netBookBabe]

Jim

Yes, I'm aware of the ubiquity of Radio Shack in North America - a lot of people in the UK relied on the Tandy stores in the same way for all kinds of electronic "bits and pieces". They were pretty much on every high street. It seems that most, if not all, of the stores have now been closed by Carphone Warehouse, who took over the company in recent times.

Thanks for everyone's input on this one.

Julie
<scuttling off in direction of Maplins, geek mode ON> ;)

[MartinG]

Originally posted by netBookBabe
By the way Martin, do you still have branches of Tandy in your part of the world? Always the first thought for this kind of thing, but they've all closed down around here.

Actually, good question Julie. Can't say that I've seen one recently - but then they were always at the cheap'n'cheerful end of the spectrum and I don't usually go looking for them. You could be right - they may well have gone...

Martin

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by MartinG
Actually, good question Julie. Can't say that I've seen one recently - but then they were always at the cheap'n'cheerful end of the spectrum ... That's me then - cheap'n'cheerful! :eek: ;)

Julie

[swing]

Originally posted by netBookBabe
I contacted Halfords in the UK, which seemed a likely source, but they didn't seem to know what I was talking about.
Guess they didn't look very hard then...
http://www.halfords.com/shop/item.asp?id=202838
And yes, I think all the Tandy shops have now gone in the UK. It leaves Maplin, and a lot of online dealers who might be of some use (eg)
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod1091.html
http://www.gpsw.co.uk/details/prod740.html
(although the 4 in 1 is cheaper at Maplin)

[markdeppe]

I bow before a true power user :-) Do you have a giant velcro pad on the seat or the dash with all these devices velcrowed up so you can stick them about your person - it conjourers an interesting image in my mind.

[donkeyontheedge]

Originally posted by markdeppe
Do you have a giant velcro pad on the seat or the dash with all these devices velcrowed up so you can stick them about your person - it conjourers an interesting image in my mind.

What? Julie in Velcro? :eek: :D

John

[netBookBabe]

ROFL at Mark and John!

Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not really a velcro kinda gal! :D

I have my methods, however. ;)

Julie