12v - 240v Power Inverters?

[Tim Good]

As with anything you get what you pay for but I have noticed that with power inverters you can get some good ones and some really **** ones. Can anyone give me the low down on this and some advice on buying? I need only about 400w to ensure I can charger a laptop. You can buy crazy expensive ones or you can get them for about £20 on ebay. I know people who have done both and the expensive ones are always good but I also know some cheap ones that seem to be good.

Basically if I go and buy a lower cost one, how do I avoid the crappy ones and is there something in the spec to loom for?

Many thanks!

Tim

 

[Georgio]

In my experience the cheap £20 ebay inverters don't last long, at least my one didn't. I then bought a Waeco 500W inverter, still going strong. Like you, only used for laptop and charging other small 240V devices.

 

[FWB]

To charge your laptop you need a DC to DC converter, no point in going up to 240V and back down again. Somewhere like the Laptopshop will have one that fits your particular laptop.

 

[Highndry]

I bought one of these Silverline jobs a few years ago http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-675258-Watt-In-Car-Inverter/dp/B000OO9V48/ref=tag_stp_s2_edpp_url and while it's only had light use (wife's hair dryer and my laptop charger on charter holidays) I've been very impressed.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

To charge your laptop you need a DC to DC converter, no point in going up to 240V and back down again. Somewhere like the Laptopshop will have one that fits your particular laptop.

Fully agree. Try Maplins they can even supply one that will fit a DELL. We have run a laptop from one for years.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have two inverters from Maplins; low cost and good quality. However, for charging your laptop only, get a 12v variable voltage transformer from ebay for laptops; approx. £6