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[sounds2k]

just thought I'd mention, Maplin are currently selling on special offer a 12VDC to 240VAC inverter - rated at 150W continuous, 450W peak.



It's a modified sine wave output so probably not brilliant for audio gear, but for charging a laptop or something on those lines I'd have thought it'd be ideal. It's got overload & short circuit protection, plus 12V input low voltage alarm (11V) & cut-off (at 10V)

link is here

price at £14.99 while stocks last, thought it was worth getting if I need to use the laptop whilst working on the car at the garage (no mains power source there) ... it's cheaper than a "proper" 12V laptop power supply, plus if you want to run something else (eg an inspection lamp) you can do that too ... BARGAIN  

[TheBoy]

No inverter is particularly good for audio type stuff.

Personally, I carry a 300W one in the car all the time, so worth having. BUT, not really usable unless car running. For instance, running a laptop will flatten battery in no time at all. So will a 100W leadlamp

[sounds2k]

I'm thinking more along the lines of accessing info on the laptop whilst working on the car if the laptop battery died ... so it probably wouldn't be for long anyway. Plus the lappy pulls about 60VA (according to the power meter), 90VA tops with 100% CPU and charging the battery, so that'd be about 8 or 9 amps current draw allowing for losses in the inverter. I think the car battery is 65Ah or so, which would give over 7 hours' of runtime at that current draw - so I'd have thought you'd be able to run the lappy for about an hour or two and still be able to start the car afterwards OK ....

[Auto Addict]

I'm thinking more along the lines of accessing info on the laptop whilst working on the car if the laptop battery died ... so it probably wouldn't be for long anyway. Plus the lappy pulls about 60VA (according to the power meter), 90VA tops with 100% CPU and charging the battery, so that'd be about 8 or 9 amps current draw allowing for losses in the inverter. I think the car battery is 65Ah or so, which would give over 7 hours' of runtime at that current draw - so I'd have thought you'd be able to run the lappy for about an hour or two and still be able to start the car afterwards OK ....

I wouldn't, you'll shorten the life of the car battery.

[TheBoy]

I'm thinking more along the lines of accessing info on the laptop whilst working on the car if the laptop battery died ... so it probably wouldn't be for long anyway. Plus the lappy pulls about 60VA (according to the power meter), 90VA tops with 100% CPU and charging the battery, so that'd be about 8 or 9 amps current draw allowing for losses in the inverter. I think the car battery is 65Ah or so, which would give over 7 hours' of runtime at that current draw - so I'd have thought you'd be able to run the lappy for about an hour or two and still be able to start the car afterwards OK ....

You may being too kind regarding the efficiency...

[Chopsdad]

It's good for the kids to use laptop to watch movie on 17" screen instead of those titchy dvd players though  

[TheBoy]

Yup, sorry, I wasn't knocking them. They are incredibly useful.  I was just saying don't expect miracles, and they do flatten the battery quickly if car not running...