Really dumb question

[Snikwahjm]

will my car battery die an untimely death or weird out if I plug my refrigerator into the cigarette lighter when I drive?

[Blacktank]

no,when the engine is running things are being powered by the alternator

[CatPerson]

There are no dumb questions, no matter what anyone says.

[sternwake]

If this is the prius.....well...i think the ~3amps of a 12v compressor fridge would be no issue at all on most any other vehicle.

Not being familiar with a prius starting battery charging system, i'd wait for somebody with a Prius to respond, or seek a prius owner on a prius forum to verify.

I highly suspect it will be no issue, but experience rules over heartfelt good meaning tell you what you want to hear intensions.

[GotSmart]

Many cars have real small wires going to their cigy  plugs. You might want to run a dedicated fused wire.

[Scott7022]

What gotsmart said. Run a dedicated wire fused closed to the battery. Adding a small switch inline near your ignition or stick shift so you remember to turn it off as you will forget.

[Snikwahjm]

It is a Ford Connect, not a Prius. I would love to learn how to run the wire. Seems like the worst would be that it would melt a thin wire or the connectors. At best it will power the fridge while I’m moving. And somewhere between blow a fuse over and over. There is no power when I turn off the key. I tried to charge a phone with the key out.

[weigh2ez]

I think it's pretty smart to ask that question. Better safe than sorry.

[sternwake]

The Ciggy plug itself will become the biggest issue as it will work its way loose and eventually be unable to make a satisfactory connection.

The fridge will.consume about 3 amps when compressor.is.running
It.will run about 20 minutes per hour at 75f ambient

This is about 1 amp hour consumed each hour.

Your starting battery likely has 75 amp hours or more.capacity.
Even if your ciggy plug stayed alive with engine off, You could likely power it for 1.5 days without worry. Depends on ambient temps.in vehicle and size health of your starting battery.

The fridge itself likelly has battery protection. When voltage falls.too low it will stop running and spoil items.within if not discovered.in time. The ciggy plug and receptacle and undersized wiring to that receptacle will cause it.to shut down even earlier. Well before battery is in danger of not being able.to start engine.

Since your.ciggy plug dies with engine shutdown that is not a.concern. until you run a dedicated fridge feed wire to power it.

[TWIH]

There are no dumb questions, no matter what anyone says.

I don't know, Ive come pretty close to them, when I remember the looks I’d get from my wife sometimes...