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Chasing Correctly
- Thread starter James Wilson
- Start date
Skip Talbot
EF5
Why not just get a DC power adapter for the laptop and skip the inverter all together?
Dennis Sherrod
EF5
I like the inverter because you can put a power / surge protector strip on it and run several things if you want. I use mine for laptop, recharging camera batteries or running directly to the video camera saving the battery for outside the car use, etc.
James, as far as some suggestions on power inverters, use the search feature above. There are some good threads on the use and hookup of them.
James, as far as some suggestions on power inverters, use the search feature above. There are some good threads on the use and hookup of them.
James Wilson
EF5
Mikey Gribble
EF5
I tried using a DC cord to power my laptop, but for some reason my battery would drain slowly while I did it. It runs fine off the power inverter though. Don't know why that happened. I guess it's just one of the mysteries of chasing. As somebody mentioned the inverter is nice if you need to power multiple things.
Do yourself a huge favor though. Don't go cheap on the power inverter. They aren't expensive anyway. I've gone through five or six of them. I have a 700 watt one from best buy installed in my car and I can't even power one of my laptops off of it (my other laptop will run off of it). If I try to power that laptop it does the squelch noise like you're drawing too much power. I can take that same laptop though and plug it into my 300 watt radio shack power inverter and it runs fine. The two more expensive inverters I bought (radio shack is one of them) have lasted like 7 years now while I've had to throw away several of the cheaper ones. I'm sure somebody will disagree with this because of their personal experience where a cheap one worked fine and I'm sure that it does in some cases. This is just how it worked for me and I'll always buy quality power inverters in the future because it sucks really bad when you're chasing and you start having equipment issues because the power inverter sucks.
Do yourself a huge favor though. Don't go cheap on the power inverter. They aren't expensive anyway. I've gone through five or six of them. I have a 700 watt one from best buy installed in my car and I can't even power one of my laptops off of it (my other laptop will run off of it). If I try to power that laptop it does the squelch noise like you're drawing too much power. I can take that same laptop though and plug it into my 300 watt radio shack power inverter and it runs fine. The two more expensive inverters I bought (radio shack is one of them) have lasted like 7 years now while I've had to throw away several of the cheaper ones. I'm sure somebody will disagree with this because of their personal experience where a cheap one worked fine and I'm sure that it does in some cases. This is just how it worked for me and I'll always buy quality power inverters in the future because it sucks really bad when you're chasing and you start having equipment issues because the power inverter sucks.
Jason McKittrick
EF3
To stress how important knowing storm structure is vs. radar. after I pick a storm and reach it, I switch over to Delorme GPS. Radar images are at best 7 min old. On a storm moving 40 mph that would be off by 5 miles(sometimes the entire length of the storm. A good GPS is the most important tool after reaching your storm.
Jeff Russell
EF2
how about an inverter?
Bob Hartig
EF5
I bought a fairly inexpensive, 375-watt inverter a couple years ago. I learned a valuable lesson: just because a power inverter comes with a cigarette lighter adapter doesn't mean you should use the adapter. Wire up to your battery unless you don't mind going through fuses like M&Ms.
The inverter itself works fine. I'll probably shop for something more powerful for this coming storm season, but so far this one has performed well for my laptop, cooling pad, and cell phone charger.
The inverter itself works fine. I'll probably shop for something more powerful for this coming storm season, but so far this one has performed well for my laptop, cooling pad, and cell phone charger.
Jeff Russell
EF2
Just had a Duracell 1000w inverter installed this week. I bought the inverter off Amazon a few months ago when someone on ST found a great deal. I had the audio shop use 80 amp fuse on the hot & ground. They installed the unit under the pax seat. Picture taken with seat full forward.
Jeff
Jeff
Last edited by a moderator:
Brandon Sullivan
EF5
Power!
I use a targus laptop power supply.. much more efficient than any inverter... this one is dual power so you can use it mobile or bring it in the motel at night!
I use a targus laptop power supply.. much more efficient than any inverter... this one is dual power so you can use it mobile or bring it in the motel at night!
J Kinkaid
It's nice to see others get in on deals that I post and good job with the install
David Drummond
Member
Holy crap! Be sure and gets pics of the fire for us! What gauge is that wire?
Jeff Russell
EF2
It's 4 gauge with 80 amp fuses. Well within limts.
David Drummond
Member
ahhh, it looked smaller in the picture. Some serious wire going on there.
80 amp fuse? Planning on running multiple vacuum cleaners?
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