I want to assemble an Arduino project that would be powered by car, and also it should be power-independent to some degree. This project will be a simple car alarm system, with gps reciever and will send messages by gsm network (yep, there're plenty of those, but it's just a hobby project). But I'm a beginner in electrics, so I don't know much about subject. Recently I connected new car stereo system by myself, and proud of it - that should give you some idea :) (there was no ISO connecter in my old car though, so I had to discover and sort wires).
I plan to get positive wire from cigarette lighter, and connect negative to car body.
I need a battery (I'm thinking SLA), and a charger that will be able to charge it from 12V car electrics. Since charger will be connected to lighter (which powered through ingition), it will be active only when engine is running, so it wouldn't drain my car battery.
So, can I just get any car charger, say for usb or some phone, and charge my battery with this? Which will have an arduino project connected to it at the same time?
Or I need some failsafe? I heard smth about "voltage regulator", but I don't know what it is.
Links to appropriate chargers available online will be appreciated.