ross replied:

Inverters run from 100watts to 2000 watts or higher.
For laptop and camera a small inverter plugged into your cig lighter in the car or a 12v outlet in the caravan will work nicley.
The 12v plugs are availble from any parts or auto electrical store

They are small enough to be packed away or they can be screwed to a wall or bench.
There are othes that sit in the drink holders in the console.

I paid about $80 for a 300 watt inverter from Dick Smiths.
It can be plugged directly to a 12v battery or a cig type plug.
(it came with 2 leads that can be swapped over.)

It easily charges my camera battery and have also ran my 50 litre fridge when I had to.
Another time I ran a large portable stereo off the inverter.

Vince NSW replied:

HeatherG

Most inverters are supplied with both battery clips and cigarette lighter plugs. I use a 300 watt inverter to do the tasks you are talking about. Works well. Mine was from Jaycar and I think it cost about $120 - $150 but not sure now.
Vince

TWCAmpbell replied:

We routinely use laptops in the field for work and you can get 12V chargers from Dick Smith for most of them - take in your laptop and ask for a 12V charger and they should be able to help you. I think they are between $90 to $150-ish. They can struggle if your laptop is energy hungry though - mine used to run but not charge the battery when it was turned on (wouldn't lose charge either though).

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/491d1aac0021f1e62740c0a87e010674/Product/View/M9694

You can also get 12V plugs from DS with the ability to step down the voltage to run most small appliances - depends on if the charger for your camera has a transformer in the power lead or if it takes 240V AC straight into the box. The adaptible 12V plugs come with about 5 different sockets on the end to fit different appliances too and cost $20 - $30. They don't have enough power to run or charge a laptop though. We've got a couple for different things around the camp (DVD screens, camera battery charger, etc).

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/491d1aac0021f1e62740c0a87e010674/Product/View/M9889

With these guys, we haven't needed an inverter at all (but keep one handy just in case!).

Member - Doug M (SA) replied:

Hi Heather,
Have you considered using a car power supply for your computer and a car charger for your camera. They are available for all laptops and most cameras. I have found this solution safer and much more convenient than mucking about with a 240 volt inverter while travelling.
Doug

Ray replied:

It's best to get an inverter, then it can be used for other things as well as what you want it for.

Member - Malcolm C (QLD) replied:

HeatherG

In May 2005 I was priviledged to meet Collyn Rivers in Broome and get him to autograph two of his "treasure" manuals.

There should be reference to both on this site somewhere but if it is allowable on the forum I will post his email address for people to order direct. Most readers will already be aware of these:

1. Motorhome Electrics and Caravans Too!

2. The Campervan and Motorhome Book.

One thing Collyn did say to me at the time was to "always buy the lowest wattage inverter to do the job that you want to do".

By that he also meant we should run a couple of 300W jobs instead of one large single 2000W to do the same job. You just gotta do the calculations so you get 1 + 1 = 5 ;-)

Malcolm

HeatherG replied:

Thanks for all the information - very helpful. Yes I have been investigating a car charger for the laptop but wondered whether an inverter wouldnt be more useful as it will charge my camera which doesnt have a 12v charger, also run other small appliances when necessary.
Sounds like I need to have a look at a 300watt or bigger to do the job.
Will keep on investigating and make a decision before we head off early next year towards the west.

Member - Brett C (WA) replied:

I purchased a well known 150 watt Modified Sine Wave Inverter to charge laptop (and rund DVD player), and successfully destroyed 2 Lap top batteries, costing $90 each to replace.

Now have a quality pure sine wave 150 Watt inverter which cost a lot more at $400...no more problems. And stanby current is negligable, and only _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx current dependant on size of item that is drawing from the inverter.

This inverter can also run other smaller motor driven things like my fridge and DVD player without damaging the electronics (if so desired).

There seems to be a bit on this forum and others about the pros and cons of pure sine wave to modified sine wave, and the latter only appears to have the cost saving as a benefit.

Maybe I had a faulty Modified Sine Wave inverter, but I will not go there again.

Good luck with your decision.

Brett.......

Motherhen replied:

Hi Heather

Our inverters seem to take very little from our three batteries when used for the laptop or charging batteries. They are connected directly to the batteries, sit inside a cupboard, and go to a 240 v power outlet in the caravan. Very easy to install. Phone and small rechargeable batteries are very slow to charge using a 12 v charger, but are as quick as when on mains power when using the inverter. Ensure you get a sine wave inverter for laptop and modern appliances.

Our van came with a 800 w square wave inverter, and i was looking at replacing it with a larger sine wave inverter and asked on a forum about what size to get. Collyn Rivers (mentioned above) responded with the good advice to leave the 800 w and get a smaller sine wave one as well. I purchased a 500 w sine wave inverter at a very good price from eBay. They are now side by side, and each has a power outlet. Both are good for charging batteries (from camera to electric drill), and having two is a bonus when phone and camera batteries go flat at the same time.

I found that the 500 w would not run my laptop (which must just be a bit finicky as 500 w should be more than adequate - it is a large US model Toshiba), but it would charge the battery if i computer. I can still use the laptop on battery then let it charge up again. I wouldn't risk it on the square wave inverter. Then when my laptop screen died when we were travelling this year, i purchased an LCD screen which was mains power only. It worked fine on the 800 w inverter. With this combination, i could still use the laptop while bush camping.

I hope this helps

Motherhen

Maîneÿ (wa) replied:

Get a quality built, *fan cooled, Pure Sine Wave* Inverter !!!

NOT with Alligator clips or cigarette lighter attachments.
Attach it direct to the battery (via a fuse)

As stated above, use a capacity just big enough to do the job it's required for, as too large a capacity wastes some (small amount) of power.
300 Watts is good size, as it can be used for various items at same time, running off a conventional power board with individual on/off switch's.

Probably would expect to pay few hundred $$ for quality product

Inverter with 4 x powerboard adaptor attached

Mainey . . .

HeatherG replied:

Have managed after much searching now to locate a car charger made specifically for the laptop so will purchase it and decide whether we still need to get the inverter. I have two batteries for the camera so can survive for quite a while with those.
Thanks so much for all the assistance though.