BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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POWER INVERTER.dc to ac
It.s really necesary to have one while traveling to Baja.I can see the reason to waste the money.
[Edited on 4-20-2007 by BAJACAT]
[Edited on 4-20-2007 by BAJACAT]
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
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I have a small inverter from Costco, never use it... plus have a truck with one built in... If you bring a 110v light, appliance, etc. then use it...
But, be careful not to drain your battery.
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DavidT
Nomad
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My friend has a Toyota Tacoma with a 400 watt inverter built in, with an outlet by the tailgate. As luck would have it, I have a 400 watt blender,
margarita mix, ice and tequila.
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
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Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Good enough reason to buy one thanks guys I will be having fresh margaritas in my upcomming trip to Gonzaga on May.Thanks DK and also DTfor the margarita idea.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
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Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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so how many watts do I need
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Check the wattage of the appliance you want to run.
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
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If you are a writer, or just want to watch a DVD one night, then an inverter is the only way I know to use a laptop after its batteries expire. None
of these new laptops that I have seen will plug directly into a 12v DC source.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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for your camping needs you won't need anything larger than 700 watts
it will run you about $80 tops
bring a small coffee pot perk-u-lator (600 watts) and a bag of starbucks
coffee pot --- "perk" "you" "later"
i never saw that before
must'a went right over my head
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1628
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidT
My friend has a Toyota Tacoma with a 400 watt inverter built in, with an outlet by the tailgate. As luck would have it, I have a 400 watt blender,
margarita mix, ice and tequila. |
Who needs an inverter? http://www.flyingbarstools.com/dakwhak/index.shtml
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
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ahhh ... the smell of two cycle at dinner...
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
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I bought the 400w, $25 inverter from Costco which was recommended on this board. I love it, wish they were still selling them I'd buy another. Use
it in the camper to charge the laptop and cell phone, but most importantly as mentioned here, I clamp it direct to the battery, start the engine and
fire up the 375w blender for "hood-a-ritas! You're definitely the star of the campsite when you pour frosty ones. 
Another good thing about this particular unit is it has a digital meter which reads out battery voltage, and output voltage and wattage. I velcroed
mine to the wall in the camper and leave it on while driving to monitor the aux. battery voltage especially with the 12v fridge running.
I haven't seen another one at this price with these features. 
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Location: Sonora
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaBruno
If you are a writer, or just want to watch a DVD one night, then an inverter is the only way I know to use a laptop after its batteries expire. None
of these new laptops that I have seen will plug directly into a 12v DC source. |
Do a search for your particular laptop. You will likely find OEM cords or aftermarket cords that plug right in to DC outlets. Many laptops are 12v and
the AC unit that comes with it is usually an AC-to-DC converter that wants to put out more than 12v to charge the laptop batteries. But if all you
want to do is run the laptop, then a 12v cord is fine.
I avoid charging my laptop with an inverted AC signal, if possible. Some devices dont like a modified sine wave and the true sine wave inverters are
pricey. Even though the device seems to work, you can be shortening the life of the converter.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Location: South of the broder
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Living in a solar area, our laptops are always charged with modified sine wave inverters with no loss of life of batteries. I agree there are some
chargers that don't like the modified sine wave. Have had 4 laptops and none operated on 12VDV, all had to have a converter to change to 15, or 18
volts. If they would use 12V, life would be much simpler. (My linksys router does operate on 12VDC and really is very forgiving on the voltage ie,
11V 10.8V etc)
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajalou
Living in a solar area, our laptops are always charged with modified sine wave inverters with no loss of life of batteries. I agree there are some
chargers that don't like the modified sine wave. Have had 4 laptops and none operated on 12VDV, all had to have a converter to change to 15, or 18
volts. If they would use 12V, life would be much simpler. (My linksys router does operate on 12VDC and really is very forgiving on the voltage ie,
11V 10.8V etc) |
Lou, check the specs on your laptop. Many converters put out more than 12v to charge the internal battery but the laptop itself often runs on 12v.
This is the case with the Fujitsus I usually buy. The optional DC plug puts out about 14v max, so that it charges the battery but at a slower rate
than the AC converter, which puts out 19v @ 8amps. But there is no inversion going on with the DC plug.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
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Location: South of the broder
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The label on the laptop (Gateway) says - Input - 18.5VDC @ 4.9a.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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