How to Use a Car Vacuum Cleaner At Home

12V car vacuum cleaner that is powered via a car cigarette lighter socket can be very useful in keeping the car clean and more pleasant to drive in.

These days most homes have a main vacuum cleaner that is used for regular cleaning and a second vacuum cleaner for quick cleanups. But, if one has the main vacuum cleaner and 12V car vacuum cleaner, is it necessary to buy a second vacuum cleaner for home? Can a 12V car vacuum be used at home?

Updated: June 24, 2023.

12V Car Vacuum Cleaners Power Requirements

12V car vacuums are mostly small, compact, handheld units that are usually rated up to 120 Watts due to the limitations of the car cigarette lighter socket limits of 12V (up to 13.5-14V when the engine is turned on) and 10 Amps (fuse limit).

Although 120W doesn't sound much, especially not when compared with large AC 120V 10-12 Amps (1200-1440 W) vacuums, since these vacuums are intended for quick cleanups of smaller surfaces, they feature relatively good suction, which is often combined with a set of cleaning tools designed for car detailing.

So, can such 12V car vacuum cleaners be used at home?

Yes, they can - if one can provide a strong enough 12V power source.

110V AC to 12V 10A DC Converter/Adapter

The easiest solution is to purchase a 110V AC to 12V 10A DC converter/adapter and to use it for powering not only the 12V car vacuum but also all those devices and gadgets that may be powered using a car cigarette lighter socket, including car vacuum, car mini-refrigerator, car fans and similar.

And when traveling, one can simply pack the car vacuum cleaner into the carrying bag and put it in the car, and use it as intended.

Since 12V car vacuums don't feature an onboard battery or anything similar, they can last for a very long time.

Also, thanks to the advancements in electronics, many 110V AC to 12V 10A DC converters/adapters actually accept a broad range of voltages, often between 100 and 240 volts, and can be used globally - just be sure to use a proper cable to connect it to the wall socket.

 Portable Power Station/Solar Generator

Some of the portable power stations/solar generators feature car cigarette lighter sockets and can be used to power 12V car vacuum cleaners - if they can supply at least 120-130W.

And most power stations/solar generators that feature car cigarette lighter sockets can provide at least 120-130W.

Using a portable power station/solar generator for powering a 12V car vacuum cleaner also comes with other benefits, including:

• all 12V car devices, gadgets, and accessories can be powered regardless if there is a car or home nearby, even in emergencies and during blackouts,
• even small to medium portable power stations/solar generators feature built-in lithium batteries that are larger than the batteries found in cordless car vacuums, ensuring that the powered 12V car devices can operate much longer than the cordless ones,
• in emergencies and during blackouts, portable power stations/solar generators can be used to power 110V devices and to charge USB devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, flashlights, and similar,
• with suitable solar panels, power stations/solar generators can be recharged using sunlight - no need to charge them via wall sockets and mains power.

Of course, there are many other reasons why having a suitable portable power station/solar generator can be very handy...

Battery Powered Car Vacuum Cleaners

Battery-powered Car vacuum cleaners are cordless vacuums that are usually charged using a car cigarette lighter socket and can be used everywhere as long as the battery contains some charge left.

Thus, having a 110C AV to 12V DC adapter with a car cigarette lighter socket allows the user to recharge the cordless car vacuum cleaners at home.

Or, if the user already has a solar power generator/power station with a car cigarette lighter socket present, the user can recharge the cordless car vacuum cleaner with the solar power generator/power station.

Note: If You already have a solar power generator/power station without a car cigarette lighter socket, feel free to plug in the 110V AC to 12V DC adapter and use it to recharge the cordless car vacuum.

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Long Story Short: There are other means of powering a 12V car vacuum cleaner at home, not just using an AC/DC converter/adapter and/or portable power station, like using a 12V battery with a car cigarette lighter socket adapter cable with clamps, or using computer's PSU (Power Supply Unit) and pulling out enough Amps from 12V wires, or ...

But, using an AC/DC converter/adapter and/or portable power station is the most convenient means of powering 12V car vacuums.

Having an additional cleaning aid at home can save both time and effort - and 12V car vacuums can be very helpful for smaller cleaning tasks and in various (pets, kids, etc.) emergencies.