Best Inverter?

[BQuicksilver]

So which one would you use, and why?

[horist]

I bought one that was made for my laptop... (does the DC voltage conversion in the cable that plugs right to the laptop) so I can keep it in the car... and leave the AC cable inside for when I move the laptop around.

[jimmyblue]

Dunno about "best", but "good enough" has been a little
70W cigarette lighter one I got at AutoZone.

[BQuicksilver]

Dunno about "best", but "good enough" has been a little
70W cigarette lighter one I got at AutoZone.

would having the minimal needed watt rating be best to avoid battery drain. What about ground loop issues?

[jimmyblue]

I haven't seen any ground loop problems with this inverter
(unlike when I was running my TooCheapa Satellite off a
straight cig lighter connection, got some sparks off the parallel
port jacket on that one). Mine seems to be fully isolated as I
run the notebook adaptor off the inverter; one or two layers
of galvanic isolation there.

I never leave it in except when I'm actually using the computer.
I don't know how greedy it is but why tempt the Battery Furies?

[BQuicksilver]

Could you expand on that post? I have a few questions..

So are you saying a direct 12V adapter is a poorer solution than an inverter?

What exactly do you mean by "fully isolated", and what would you look for in an inverter to avoid any ground loop issues?

[jimmyblue]

I would prefer to see no connection (>1megOhm
resistance) between any of the output conductors
and the cig lighter ground / hot. I think I ohmed
mine out (not plugged in of course) and found it
had no conduction output-input.

If you have a PC that takes a 12V-15V DC charger
(like my IBM and older Toshibas) you can get it to charge
off car power, direct. But then you will almost certainly
have a direct connection chassis-chassis or, if the design
is stupid, maybe 12V on car = chassis on computer (bad
in the case of accidental contact).

I don't believe any sane power adaptor maker would
have an ohmic path from line to output on their AD-DC
power adaptor. That's product liability waiting to hit.
Since my little inverter runs the adaptor fine, I just use
the inverter - adaptor chain and no worries.