makezine.com: Xantrex xPower 400 Plus Power Inverter

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Xantrex xPower 400 Plus Power Inverter

Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: power inverter power+inverter

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/26/p/1/pt/10/product.asp
$35 (US, estimated) Buy from amazon.com

Tool photo.

Have you ever wanted to run a TV, stereo or other appliance while on the road or camping? For anyone who travels, an inverter will allow you to plug in/recharge all of your gizmos by taking 12 VDC and stepping it up to 120 VAC. Invariably, I find even if I buy a gizmo with a car adapter, I can never find it when I need it; a small inverter will recover its cost on the third car adapter you skip buying.

I'm sure some inverters are better than others, but I figured out that the most important single factor may be to insure that the one you buy will fit in whatever cubby you have in your vehicle when it has a wall-wart plugged into it. Mine makes the arm-rest in our car not quite close...I wish it were slightly smaller! But now there is no longer any danger of forgetting my battery charger in the hotel bathroom.

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Sounds like this will be the next addition to the wagon. Having something to plug the occasional charger into (like the charger for the portable DVD player the kids use) would be great!
I have already added a Radio Shack (R) 3 outlet car power adapter (hacked in, under the dash, and on switched power, of course) to allow me to charge the phone and run my XM radio - but only when the car is running. No energy vampires gonna drain my DieHard (R)!
Oh, Mark, I just plug the adaptors into the triple adaptor and leave them there, so I don't have to worry about losing them (a place for everything and everything in it's place - YIKES! I'm starting to sound like my grandfather!).
_{Works for me! Your mileage may vary. Offer not valid where taxed, licensed or regulated. Other disclaimers may apply. See dealer for details, rules and requirements. Blah, blah, blah. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Yabba dabba doo! Scooby dooby doo! To do is to be. To be is to do. Doobie doobie do! I don't like Mondays ... oh wait, it is a Monday. 8(}
Posted by thisIsAStupidScreenName on July 17, 2006 at 08:44:39 Pacific Time