ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Automobile accessory power

Hi there little one! Do you know how when you turn on a toy or a flashlight, it needs batteries to work? Well, cars have something similar to batteries that give power to things like radios, GPS devices, and phone chargers. This power is called automobile accessory power.

Cars have a special part called the alternator that makes this power. When the engine is running, the alternator uses the energy from the spinning wheels to create electricity. This electricity goes to the car battery, which stores the power until it's needed.

Now, let's talk about accessories. Have you ever been on a long car ride and wanted to watch a movie or play a game on your tablet? Or maybe you've needed to charge your phone while you're driving. These are accessories that need power to work! When you plug them into the car's power outlet (sometimes called a cigarette lighter), the accessory power gives them the energy they need to work.

So basically, automobile accessory power is the electricity that comes from the car's battery and alternator to give power to things like phones, tablets, and other gadgets that you might use in the car. Cool, huh?