240v Inverters? Are they any good?

[warren t claim]

Can any fellow autoshiters recommend one of the above based on experience? I'm looking to run a laptop in a truck so one that takes 12/24v would be ideal. Thanks!

[pogweasel]

I bought a cheapo one off ebay a few months ago, I think it was less than a tenner. It's had loads of use, and no problems...

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Can you get one thats powerful enough to run a Mig welder thats what I want to know. I like this idea about repairing rusty floors, inner sills etc while still driving about.

[Guest]

I wonder if they could run a small CRT TV without knackering the battery up?

 

I say this as I've got a spare curvy-screen security monitor a bit like this and it'd be ace to install it in a car with some other devices hooked up to it:

 

Imagine the possibilities, you could have an on-screen ECU management system controlled by a Spectrum or C64. Get in the car each morning and wait for 10 minutes whilst you load your fuel map cassette. Brrrr-bip! Brrrr-kssh-brr-bibib-ksssh!

[Milford Cubicle]

The one I've got is supposed to be able to power a 14" CRT TV, but struggles to keep the battery on my little netbook charged up.

[Rod/b]

I had a cheap-off-eBay one in my BABE rally car. First time I used it the 3-way adaptor I was using fell out, the inverter went bang and lots of smoke filled the car. I believe this was attributed to "operator error" more than anything though

[Timewaster]

My work van has a 1000w inverter that we use to run pumps, and all sorts of power tools through a 110v transformer and charge cordless tools.

It wont run an 800w microwave due to the start up current required, and kettles are out of the question.

To run bigger stuff we leave the engine running after being stranded more than once.

The only downside, if you dont turn it off it will flatten the battery overnight, Even if there is nothing plugged in.

Other similar vans with the same inverter have the same problem.

 

Bollox, you need one of these in the boot:

 

[Station]

The weedy ones won't run anything that requires high watt stuff. If it can be run off a battery, it's OK. It cuts out automatically if it can't take it.I do wish they'd upgrade from that horrible ciggie lighter socket, they should bring out a better standardised plug.

[Timewaster]

The weedy ones won't run anything that requires high watt stuff. If it can be run off a battery, it's OK. It cuts out automatically if it can't take it.I do wish they'd upgrade from that horrible ciggie lighter socket, they should bring out a better standardised plug.

Agreed. Almost anything that plugs into the lighter is a F waste of time.Sat nav's and phone chargers excepted.Hoovers, kettles, heated scrapers... any of that sort of thing should come with a fire extinguisher!

[Father Ted]

I have a poxy 75w one in the Microid powering thet ghay pink wireless on the dash, and a 300w one lashed when needed to a deep cycle 100AH leisure battery for powering a light and the central heating pump / control board when the power conks out (which it does without fail every winter).It copes well for about 10 hours then thats its lot. Its a dead basic one and pumps out a modified sine wave, but works OK