Any particular brands or models you would recommend?

Got it Doink!
This link will show you essentially what you're new gift from SoCal looks like:
http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?...ore=&catid=393

Cost is $24.99 + 7.75% sales tax + Shipping = $26.93 + S/H

Of course, don't forget the $100 convenience fee ;)


Actually, this is a better inverter than what I have. It's the same size and all but you have attached rubber outlet inserts to keep foreign objects from getting into the prong holes. You also have a nifty keen plastic case that holds both the inverter and the 2 different types of attachments (12 DC outlet and jumper cable-like direct attachments). Very cool if you decide not to hardwire it in.

Anyhow, I hope you don't mind but I took it out of the packaging because it was huge and hard to deal with. Now it's all in the little carry case and ready to go!

PM me with your addy so I can get you the final breakdown and send it off out your way :D

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but my wife was in an accident. Here is a site that sells small pure sine wave http://www.solarseller.com/samlex_am...sine_wave_.htm . You really only need one if you plan to run say a lap for extended periods of time. Otherwise a regular $40 one will work fine. You can also buy car adapters for many laptops.

Chris's URL got a bit smashed because of how the forum parses text. To get to where he was aiming at, do this:

• Head for http://www.solarseller.com/
• About 23 URLs down on that page is one for "Samlex Sine Wave Inverters". Click there

Chris, I hope your Missus is okay.

Thanks for the information. I hope your wife is OK.

I got me this one, 1400/700 watts:

MaxxSST 700-Watt Power Inverter VEC062

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/61/79/77...00_500X500.jpg

If it's good enough for you, I might as well get one... :D

Give some thought to spending $70 and getting the 1000/2000w model. They're available at CostCo as well, and are fan cooled. The downside is that you MUST hardwire them - no cigg lighter hookup at that wattage.

The upside is that you can run things like blenders, jigsaws, a small circular saw, etc.

Damn, I don't belong to Cost Co. I'll try Sam's club. I planned to hardwire it anyway :bigok: Is $70 a good price for a 1000/2000w model? Hmmmm..........blender......

) if you can't find them at Sam's, lemme know and I'll hit up CostCo for ya'.


:) And yeup, it's a good price. A 1000/2000w inverter will normally run you $250-$300.

http://salestores1.com/xanpwpor10in.html
http://www.pwrtap.com/products/inv1000/
http://www.provantage.com/buy-7TRPI0...c-shopping.htm


btw... I _think_ it was $70. It's either $69.95 or 79.95. I'm pretty sure it was $69.95. Either way, it's a bargain.

I might upgrade to a 1000 watt one later.
Since I have the wiring for my current one hard wired, it would be a snap to put one in the same place.

My 400 watt one is fan cooled.

If I read everything correctly - you don't have to be a member to shop at Costco online (http://www.costco.com).
They do charge you a 5% fee off what you buy but that seems pretty decent to me.
I don't think they have any inverters there though...

the one I got is fan cooled too and can run a blender (tried it :) )
it too has the downside of having to hardwire it since the provided cable is only 2.5 feet long and if you want to mount it in the cab... plus the wires in the lighter would burn up if you tried plugging it into there and running a blender. There's one just like it at target that has a handle and a digital voltmeter for the same price too.

That one at Target sure looks nice. I really like the digital voltmeter:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

This offer still stand?

I've been checking, but no luck. I'm going to give it a try today again.

Yeup, just lemme know! It's in a solid impact molded cocoon that can make it hard to ship, so with your approval, I'll cut it out of the plastic, test it, then repack it and ship it.

If you want, drop me an email outside of the forum: mark@midiwall.com

... and just in case it's not there, I'll back you up on this one ;)

Thanks Peter!

Becareful about using the inverter under load and turning the key from "acc" to "on". I did that with my costco inverter a couple weeks ago while powering my laptop and as soon as I did that the low voltage alarm from the inverter went off. Now, the alarm always goes off unless the engine is running. I'm going to have to return it.

I think the voltage spike did something to the inverter's alarm circuitry. The inverter that I have hardwired directly to the battery in my 4runner does not have this problem though.

By the way, playing games with the pseudo surround sound of the car it really cool! (I got a tape adapter and plugged it into the laptop)

Hmmm... so, the 2nd inverter is wired across the battery (and works fine), but how'd you wire the first one?

Mine's wired right across the battery and I've never had a problem like that.