Hi All - The power inverter for Laptop GPS is a pretty important component of the system and I thought the subject deserved its own thread (hope you agree).
I travel via airplane allot - so equipment with a small/light footprint is important to me, as I typically carry on my bags. I also have to rely on the car auxiliary power port/cig lighter. Choosing a power inverter can be confusing...Here's a primer I made up to help my customers (mobile sales reps) choose the best device....
 When choosing an inverter, make sure it’s properly rated for your laptop. Check your laptop’s power requirement specification in the manual and then choose a model that has a continuous power rating that exceeds your computer's requirement. A good rule of thumb is to choose one that exceeds the requirement by about 20%.
For example: If your laptop uses 60 watts of power, then you should look for a power supply that provides 20% more or a minimum of 72 watts of continuous power.
Make sure the supply is rated for ‘Continuous’ power – some models will highlight their unit’s ‘surge capacity’ on the front of the package, and bury continuous power supplied in the specifications on the back. Inverters will only operate at their surge capacity for a limited amount of time – and then will shut down to reset (often after getting very hot), and that’s not what you want. Generally, most laptops in use by the mobile sales rep will do fine with an inverter that provides at least 90 watts of continuous power.
Consider what other devices you’ll want to power and charge while you’re on the road – your MP3 player or your cell phone perhaps. Some inverter units incorporate additional USB sockets to power additional equipment.
If you do plan to power additional devices off your inverter, add the wattage of all devices – again, add at least 20%, and size the inverter accordingly.
If you travel in rental cars, I suggest getting an inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter or accessory socket with a cable. In some vehicles, space can be tight around the socket, and an inverter with a fixed plug can be difficult to insert at times. Choosing a model with a cable allows you to more easily position it in tight spaces.
Finally – make sure your inverter has ‘low battery’ and ‘overload’ shut-off protection – so you don’t kill the car battery if you leave your equipment running too long with the engine off – or damage the inverter if you overload it. |
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