interior power?

[John Diel]

Just as an example: On my behicle, I am running an 800/1600W inverter. 4 guage wire (closer to cable really...) from the battery, through the firewall to a distribution block. This is fused with a 20 amp fuse. From the DB, it's 8 guage wire to the inverter and using another inline fuse at the inverter's recommendation. The Inverter itself also has an internal fuse.

I run a laptop off the inverter, as well as a battery charger and occasionally, a scanner. So I'm well within the limits of what I have. I will also run a small video camera off this set up and still remain within the limits of what I have.

The big 4 guage and 8 guage wire is what really costs, but it's well worth the money to keep me from becoming a rolling tinderbox.

 

[Jarrod Cook]

For just running a Laptop does a 300w model sufficient? I know nothing about electricity. And is there any threat for doing this from the lighter plug?

Yeah, if all you plan on running is a laptop, a 300W model should be fine. Most laptops use at or under 150W. Even if that's all you use though, you're still safer running it directly to your battery, as you'll be getting close to the max DC current the cig. adapter can handle. A direct connection will prevent it from getting overloaded, and you can also then use the cig. adapter for other things.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

Through the cig. adapter I run a laptop the wx worx and gps. However, I have a strict rule with myself that I don't run anything else off of it. I've run the numbers a few times and I feel that it safe but that I don't want any more devices through it. So far it has worked fine for a chase and several long drives.

 

[David Schuttler]

I've got factory installed accessory plugs (98 Jimmy), I guess I should look and see how they ran these also. I've only used the cigarette one to recharge the BL GPS or cell phone when needed. The Ipaq and TV go thru the accessory plugs. Since I added an inverter for a laptop this year to the plugs , I suppose it might be a wise choice to find a schematic and see how the factory has them ran.

 

[Jason A.C. Brock]

What I have done is bought a seperate car or deep cycle marine battery and put it in the floor board behind the front seats on the floor board and strapped them down and out it in a battery box. This is then hooked to an 800 watt power inverter. I also have a car battery charger and after each chase I will put it on the charger until I am ready for another chase. It will stay charged for one good day long chase and if you decide your gonna stay the night somewhere and chase the next day away from home be sure to take the battery charger with you and you can charge the battery overnight as you sleep in your hotel room. It is cumbersome to take the battery out for charging but it does not put any strain on my actual truck battery at all since it is runnig on a seperate battery. Also once you notice your laptop is charged jsut turn off the power inverter and run off the laptops battery as long as you can. This will make the car or marine battery last longer. If I a for some reason on a chase that is lasting longer than 18 hours running the battery continous I also do have a 400 watt power inverter that hooks directly into the cigerette power adapter but I only run it if I must. Its also not a bad idea to have one or 2 of those cigerette power adapters that make one input into 3. I will usually run my XM weather worx amber non blinding strobe light to that as well as the cell phone charger.
It is also jsut a general good idea to have everything that needs to be charged...charged....cell phone gps scanner laptop camera and camcorder batteries. Always have extra batteries for your camera and camcorder always have at least 3 batteries fully charged for both the camcorder and camera IMO. Its the old saying...if you stay ready....you dont ever have to get ready......
Also if you use the extra battery be sure it isnt inclosed in a box....as long as it can breathe it will be fine. I know they are known to put off some gases but with as much as one gets in and out of the vehicle and runs the A/C or cracks the windows....as long as you dont jsut incase the thing that should not be a problem. I wouldnt leave it in the car during the day when its hot tho if your not chasing....take it out and charge it outdoors and do not charge it sitting on the concrete....it will never charge....you need to put it on a shelf off the floor along with the charger.
I used the whole pwer inverters hooked into the cigerette adapter for awhile before getting tired of blowing fuses and draining the cars battery by accident etc. before doing this. I have had little if any problems....jsut be sure the battery is strapped down! God forbid you do have an accident you dont want that thing rolling around.
Strapped down ventilated and easy to get to and keep it charged......keep those 4 things in mind.
Then you can also sjut take the vehicle to an alternator shop and have then hook you up a system but that takes time money and usually some altering of some of the wiring of your vehicle which is jsut more things that could go wrong with it....as if there isnt enough with todays vehicles.

 

[Skip Talbot]

If all you are doing is powering a laptop, why not buy a power adapter with a DC car plug? If you power your laptop off an inverter you are taking the car's DC power, converting it to AC power, and then converting it back to DC power. The cords alone are pain with that setup.

I do run a power inverter too though, a 400W one off the rear power outlet. Since I only use it for charging small things like my radio and camera, I don't think I need to tap the car's battery.

 

[fplowman]

Im using a small portable 150 watt power inverter. It uses a DC plug. I have used it for 3 seasons I think. It powers my laptop and Baron just fine. This solution although minimalist works great.

I have never over pushed its capacity while using Baron, Laptop, charging batteries or whatever all at the same time. I mean its not like im running powertools or something.

YMMV

 

[Van DeWald]

I use a 175 watt inverter, plugged into the cigarette adapter. It powers the laptop and cell phone just fine. Don't have anything else to plug into it. The power adapter for the laptop only draws 65 watts, so I think it could probably power a whole lot more without much trouble if needed.