INVERTER, have aquired a new laptop so considering an inverter

Thanks, I did not select forum, so may be that is where I slipped up. Must admit I was a bit surprised when nothing came up.

Thanks

I got an inverter because I couldn't see the point of buying dozens of 12v adaptors for things I had 240v adaptors for... MP3 player, laptop, NiMH battery charger, camera charger, handheld CB charger, etc.

The safety angle SHOULD be considered.

Having 240 volts in a car interior is asking for trouble in more ways than one.
Eg Spill a drink on it Will light up your life( or whats left of it ) rather dramatically.
Have it mounted too low and get water from a creek crossing. Same result.

Have an accident and still have that voltage floating somewhere and an Ambo grabs it. How would you feel Honestly???????
Then you are trapped and bleeding slowly to death because they cant stop the voltage easily if you cant tell them whats causing it

Think about it

By a Converter and keep the voltage low and reasonably safe.

Tim

You can get a variable voltage DC to DC converter to run all of those things:
a more elegant solution than inverter plus a bag full of 240V adaptors - lighter, cheaper and more energy efficient.

Good food for thought, Graham. However, I don't think we'll be likely to spill something on it as we don't eat/drink on the go (we always stop and eat outside). The inverter is packed away (& disconnected) until I need it (like most things!) and it just sits on passenger side on the dashmat or footwell while in use. In an accident, I'd be most worried about it flying around the cabin, at which time I'm almost certain the plug would end up being pulled from the ciggie socket (it has a very short lead). Failing that, it's certainly not 'concealed' when in use.

Bob, a DC to DC converter would be more efficient but I've not yet seen one supplies more than a few hundred mA or has all the required connectors. Besides, my Creative MP3 player only accepts charge from genuine Creative chargers (eg. the 240v one that come with it). Yes, I can buy the genuine 12v charger for $60-70, then I can buy a 12v adaptor for other things, etc. and it quickly adds up to more than I paid for one small inverter to do the lot...

Altronics have a 6A DC-DC converter for lappies for $40 at present.
Comes with a whole range of adaptors.

Thanks David.

Thanks Mark, will think about what else I can/will run off it.

The cheapest pure sine wave inverter from Jaycar at the moment is a 180 and it is $219 or $249 for a 380.
Considerably more than a Projecta converter which for $69 for a 6 amp on will do the job much better.

I also use one of the optional ends and have a car battery charger for my camera and it does the job very well and much safer.

Incidentally a modified sine wave is usually quite safe on a laptop.

In fact the Jaycar catalogue recommends them for computers (most)

Quite honestly I dont consider some of the Jaycar stuff to be "Top of the range"anyway.

Thanks for the input.

Thanks, will get someone who knows what they are talking about to have a gander at this. :)

Russ,
the smooth "pure sine wave" is the same as the 240v electricity in your home, the 'squared' wave is not
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