Using 12 V Outlet when camping

[mytiturk]

Can I use one of the the 12 volt "cigarette lighter" outlets in my 2007 Camry Hybrid to operate two 12 V bulbs in a camper RV for a few hours at night? We have done this when camping on non-electrical sites with other vehicles for years through our hitch cable. Of course, we do not tow anything with the Hybrid, so I would like to use a "lighter" outlet.

[ukrkoz]

was told that ANY accessory in TCH runs off 12V deep cycle battery in the trunk, ICE running or not. Now, that battery being a deep cycle one, should prolly hold to powering a couple of low wattage 12V bulbs fine.
Then again, considering it's 2007, and most likely original battery vehicle came with, you might want to re-check on its status. Mine is same year, and when I checked terminals with voltmeter, voltage was just right above 12V. I recharged the battery - and boy it takes sweet time to do so - and it went up to over 14V.
I'd also recommend LED lights instead of regular bulbs. And hey, how about some photovoltaic ones? I have bought about 30 garden lights from Walmart few mths ago, and they work just fine. They have them in all kinds of shapes and uses. Very cost efficient too.

[mytiturk]

Thanks for the prompt reply and thoughtful suggestions. My deep cycle battery should be fine. It was replaced in 2010. Boy those things aren't $80, either. More like $300. Spiral electrodes blah blah. I didn't pay for the replacement, BTW. Whew!

So I will be careful. Toyota don't recommend boosting the 12 V, but I've witnessed the operation done successfully. Must look for LED bulbs that would fit in the fixtures or replace the sockets.

Love the Camry Hybrid and our local dealer, Attrell Toyota in Brampton, Ontario, has been great.

[ukrkoz]

well, for your info, Sam's has now equivalent of a deep cycle battery you have in TCH for around $160. Of course, in Canada, it might be different. But there's a lot of posts here, including my pictures, on more cost efficient replacement. I think it's Omni battery.
Go green, brother. Nothing beats free solar energy. You can get very decent illumination from solar lights now, for around 10 bucks.
Not sure what you mean by "Boosting" battery. Mine, I simply charged it, and voltage on it went up, I did no boosting or such. If you have nav on yours, you can log into "settings" screen in it, and it will show you battery voltage, said to be around 13.8V when car starts. hence, 14V sounds about right.

[jetttstream]

Don't the cigarette outlet's turn OFF when the vehicle is off?

[rainbowchaser]

Originally Posted by jetttstream

Don't the cigarette outlet's turn OFF when the vehicle is off?

I thought that was the case when I checked mine. The car is in long-term storage and I wanted to keep the battery up with a smart charger, used clips on the battery terminals rather than the lighter socket.