XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter

Xantrex Technologies 851-0401 XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter
From Xantrex Technologies

Price: $45.72 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

8 new or used available from $35.95
Average customer review:

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #1421 in Home Improvement
* Brand: Xantrex
* Model: 851-0401
* Dimensions: 2.00" h x 4.00" w x 5.00" l, 1.99 pounds

Features

* Provides up to 400-watts of AC power
* Converts 12-volts of DC power from a vehicle battery into 115-volts of AC power
* Two AC outlets to operate two devices at once
* Automatic shutdown protection against overload, over-temperature, and low or high battery conditions
* DC terminals for a vehicle DC socket or direct battery connection

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
Designed to provide portable power for your mobile electronics--such as a mobile phone, PSP, and laptop--when you’re on the go, the XPower Micro 400 Inverter accesses AC power from your vehicle’s DC socket.

The interactive LED display provides the user with instant feedback on input current and output voltage. It also offers valuable troubleshooting guidance. Commercial trucks with sleeping cabs can use the XPower Micro 400 Inverter to operate entertainment devices such as a small TV, radio, DVD player, and more.

Customer Reviews

Just Right
This Xantrex 400-Watt Inverter is very nice and would strongly recommend it.

I have an old car and needed to wire it directly to the battery because of my older smaller wires in the dash. Other than Rewiring I have no problems with this little power house. I am in college and been finding my self sitting in my car surfing the internet and doing some classwork then my Laptop battery would go dead in about 3-5hrs...

This little 400-Watt inverter has no problems powering my Laptop and recharging the batteries. I can sit for 2hrs running off my car battery (850cca) and not drain it or have to start engine to recharge because of low battery.

The Unit does not pull much for a laptop but it does Pull More when charging the laptop battery and running it. I found the Fan not so noisy, a little radio drowns it out. (no louder than the Ac fan on low or medium) I have notice when my laptop battery is full and no longer charging the Inverter slows and even stops the fan because of a lighter load.

The Fan only comes on when a moderate Load is their, otherwise it is dead silent and the little green light is on. Like I said the fan has turned off before with the laptop plugged in.

I have 3 other Xantrex products and never had a problem with them. It is a very good product, built strong, and last long.

I have not done any heavy testing on it, but a 100Watt incandescent work light light bulb and laptop running full speed does not phase this 400-Watt inverter. I have had them both on and for over and hour and still had 12+ volts in the car battery.

I have a 25min drive to college and back every day and I just plug my laptop in and let it charge as I go to and from school. I have no problems with it and would definitely recommend it for the traveling Laptopers.

A laptop does pull down some power and I fear any thing less than a 200watt inverter would struggle under the constant load of a laptop. The two electrical outlets are convenient, for other small electrical applications that you may need to plug in, like a printer for example.

My Car is old and when I first plugged it in the Cig lighter it only worked for 10mins then the 11.00 Volt alarm would sound,and it is very loud and does not shut up until the voltage gets about 11.50volts for about 1min... This is why I had to ReWire my car (very old) and now with a new hot wire off the battery I have no low voltage alarm.

Pros: Powerful, quiet when not in moderate use, small, convenient, extremely portable, Fan turns off when no load (so you do not have to unplug or turn off ever time you stop using it)

Cons: low voltage 11.00volt alarm is ear shattering, Internal Fan is evident when on.

Faulty on arrival
After opening the package, I did smell something funny, like when wires or circuit burns. But that did not deter me from trying it. So I went to the car to try it.

I press the red/pink button, it starts (you hear the fan, and status light turns green), but as soon as I lift my finger off the button, it shuts down. After several trys without succcess, I opted to get refund/replacement.

I tried to get a replacement, this site does not provide free returns for defective items. So I decided to return for a refund after I could not get through with any customer service.

I think I was thrilled to see this product, and it seemed to work fine, started my camera battery charger, but not for too long when I lifted my finger of the switch.

Updated Dec 1, 2008: Amazon customer service sent me another unit, and asked me to returned this damaged unit, and send them an email for the cost of returning. After returning via USPS, I emailed them the cost, and they promptly refunded me the cost. When you return an item, Amazon system also gets updated of the cost and they match with what you ask for.

This product worked like a charm. I tested it once in a car plugging my macbook into while I was using the computer, fan only came on once, but the sound was pretty low, only I could tell, no one else heard it, and it shut off the fan after couple of minutes. I like this product, not bad for the price and benefits. I couldn't change the rate later, so now I give 4 stars.

Works well
So far I have only used it to power my laptop through the cigarette lighter, but it worked well on an 8 hour trip and never once gave me any trouble. I especially like the small size and intelligent fan that only turns on under heavy load. You can keep this under the seat all the time and it's there when you need it.

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Tripp Lite PV375 PV

Tripp Lite PV375 PV 375W 12V DC to AC Portable Inverter with DC Auto Power Outlet
From Tripp Lite

Price: $45.24 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

53 new or used available from $39.99
Average customer review:

Product Description

Harness your vehicle's battery to efficiently power office equipment on the road. The PV375 continuously supplies up to 375 watts of 120V AC power to 2 AC outlets from any 12V battery or automotive DC source.

Convenient cigarette lighter DC input jack with 3-foot cable provides one step installation. Portable and compact, the Inverter's design is among the most rugged available, thanks to its lightweight metal casing. Lighted power switch 1 year manufacturer's product warranty

Product Details

* Brand: Tripp Lite
* Model: PV375
* Original language: English
* Dimensions: 2.00" h x 8.00" w x 11.25" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

* Product Type - Inverter
* Warranty - 1 year
* 2 outlets
* 3-ft. cord with cigarette lighter plug

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Harness your vehicle's battery to efficiently power your office or entertainment equipment while you're on the road. The Tripp Lite PV375 supplies up to 375 watts of continuous 120V AC power to two AC outlets from any 12V battery or automotive DC source.

The unit offers a convenient cigarette-lighter DC input jack with three-foot cable. Portable and compact, the inverter's design is among the most rugged available thanks to its lightweight metal casing.

A low-battery alarm with auto-shutoff preserves vehicle battery, while an equally handy overload alarm with auto-shutoff prevents wattage overload. A user-replaceable fuse further protects the inverter from overload. A lighted power switch signals status.

The PV375's power rating make sit ideal for not only laptop computers, but also portable electronics, battery chargers for cell phones, pagers, notepads, game systems, personal printers and battery rechargers for small battery-operated power tools, portable TV-VCR-stereo systems, camcorders, lighting, and other applications under 375 watts.

What's in the Box
Power inverter, instruction manual, warranty information.

Customer Reviews

Reviewof Portable Inverter
I have used this inverter to power my lap top computer and it has worked very well

Tripp Lite PV375
It works well and came just as was advertised. The only negative I have is that the fan is extremely noisy. You almost have to cover it up with blankets to drown out the sound which of course keeps heat from dissipating from it which means you need a noisy fan which means ....

My brother has a Monster brand and his doesn't make all that noise. I went with Tripp Lite because of the name and historical quality but if another name brand has a product that has the same features, is just as good and quieter, then I'd go for the other brand. This machine is really noisy.

Tripp Lite Power Inverter
The Tripp Lite PV375 375-Watt Power Inverter is typical of a Tripp lite product. Good build quality, esthetically pleasing, and delivers as specified. I like the compact size in relationship to the power output.

Some reviewers complain about the cooling fan noise but I have not found it to be a problem. In fact hearing it lets me know my investment is being cooled and protected. I can see how it would be a problem if you wanted to sleep behind the wheel.

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Black & Decker CP120B

Black & Decker CP120B 20-Watt Power Backup Battery Pack
From Black & Decker

Price: $3.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Hurricane Electronics

38 new or used available from $3.99
Average customer review:

Product Description

Black & Decker introduces the new Pocket Power, a compact portable source with rechargeable backup battery that powers and recharges personal electronics while on the go.

The new Pocket Power simultaneously powers and recharges mobile electronic devices such as cell phones, BlackBerry/PDAs, MP3-like devices, digital cameras, camcorders and more when a household AC power outlet is not available.

The Pocket Power will provide up to five hours extended runtime for personal electronics. With its slim profile design the Pocket Power is thin enough to conveniently fit into an average size jacket pocket, or be tucked away into a briefcase or purse.

Take the Pocket Power with you on business or away from home to have the confidence and convenience of power when you need it for your portable personal electronics. The Pocket Power battery fully recharges from a 120-volt household outlet in less than eight hours.

A battery status LED lets you know 10 minutes before the Pocket Power battery is depleted and needs to be recharged. A built-in power/fault LED indicates the condition of the inverter. A draw-string travel bag keeps the Pocket Power protected while traveling

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #254 in Home Improvement
* Color: ORANGE AND BLACK
* Brand: Black & Decker
* Model: CP120B
* Released on: 2006-09-01
* Format: CD
* Dimensions: 1.00" h x 3.15" w x 5.75" l, 2.00 pounds

Features

* Compact, portable, rechargeable power fits in pocket 3.15 by 5.75 by 1 inches; less than 1 pound
* 20-watts to power/recharge AC and USB appliances
* Power and simultaneously recharge small personal electronics on the go
* Rechargeable Ni-MH battery using AC adapter
* Travel bag included: holds batery pack and adapter

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
Black & Decker introduces the new Pocket Power, a compact portable source with rechargeable backup battery that powers and recharges personal electronics while on the go.

The new Pocket Power simultaneously powers and recharges mobile electronic devices such as cell phones, BlackBerry/PDAs, MP3-like devices, digital cameras, camcorders and more when a household AC power outlet is not available.

The Pocket Power will provide up to five hours extended runtime for personal electronics. With its slim profile design the Pocket Power is thin enough to conveniently fit into an average size jacket pocket, or be tucked away into a briefcase or purse.

Take the Pocket Power with you on business or away from home to have the confidence and convenience of power when you need it for your portable personal electronics. The Pocket Power battery fully recharges from a 120-volt household outlet in less than eight hours.

A battery status LED lets you know 10 minutes before the Pocket Power battery is depleted and needs to be recharged. A built-in power/fault LED indicates the condition of the inverter. A draw-string travel bag keeps the Pocket Power protected while traveling.

Customer Reviews

Great item, some may need a little TLC to get going...
Ok, I give it 5 stars although out of four I bought, two would not charge properly, but at 3.99 it was worth the extra effort to get them going. Here is the problem with some of these, the batteries have been sitting a while, so after you charge it for a few minutes, some of these may show they are charged, even though they are not. The batteries need to be cycled in these and all of mine have come back to life. Here is what you can do to help bring them back...

1) Charge unit until LED goes green (with a battery that needs to be cycled, it may show its charged after a few minutes. With battery that is in good shape and being dead, it should take around 4 hours to charge)
2) Unplug charger and turn on unit. It may go dead after a few minutes, thats OK. After it shuts itself off, wait 10 minutes.

Repeat the steps above and it should come back to life. The most I repeated the above steps were 4 times before it accepted a full charge, and all mine work now. Hope this helps someone if theirs does not take a proper charge...

battery backup time
i needed a battery back up just in case if i am unable to plug in my wall charger. i tested this unit several times after fully charging the back up unit and it will charge my cell phone for 20 minutes and then it will run out of energy.

the price dropped dramatically here on amazon so i am guessing it is being discontinued or it is on clearance.
i am going to look for another back up unit

Hit and miss
I have had 3 of these now,1 was junk straight out of the box new, 1 is still working and I'm waiting for another replacement since the 1st replacement was bad too.

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Honeywell HW7500E

Honeywell HW7500E 9375 Watt 15 HP 420cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Home Generator With Electric Start (Non-CARB Compliant)
From Honeywell

Price: $999.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

Average customer review:

Product Description

This durable Honeywell electric start portable generator provides dependable power in a simple and powerful portable electric generator. Great for residential applications and for homeowners seeking a reliable backup electric power generator. Features an OHV engine with oversized muffler for quiet operation, Smart Start controls and wheel kit for easy portability.

Engine: OHV, HP: 15, Engine Displacement (cc): 420, Rated Watts: 7,500, Surge Watts: 9,375, Run Time: 7 hours @ 1/2 load, Receptacles (qty.): 5, Fuel Type: Gasoline, Fuel Capacity (gal.): 6.5, Start Type: Electric, Low Oil Shutdown: Yes, Battery Required: Yes, Battery Included: Yes, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 31 x 23 x 23

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #6207 in Home Improvement
* Brand: Honeywell
* Model: HW7500E
* Released on: 2008-08-15
* Number of items: 1

Features

* 9375 Max Watts/7000 Continuous Watts, 420cc 4 stroke engine, low oil protection, fuel gage, AVR, overload protection
* Easy to operate - features a simplified power control center, oil, funnel, and power cord included.
* Smart Start TM - Comes with color-coded starting controls and 24-hour instructions at 1-888-RECOIL-8
* 3 year limited warranty
* 7 hour run time at 50% load, 6.5 gallon fuel tank

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
Keep the lights on, the water hot, the fridge cold and the TV tuned in. In a power outage, we make it easy to reap the many practical benefits of your HW7500E Honeywell Portable Home Generator w/Electric Start.

The generator comes with everything you need to get started: never-flat wheels and a high leverage handle for easy mobility; the first liter of oil with a funnel to pour it; and a 4-in-1 power cord. The HW7500E also comes with the added benefit of an electric start.

Features include: a simplified power control center, color coded starting control, 24 hour instructions at 1-888-RECOIL-8, a sound filtered oversized muffler for quiet operation, low oil protection, fuel gauge, overload protection, automatic voltage regulation and a 3 year limited warranty.

The HW7500E specifications are: 7500 continuous watts, 9375 maximum watts, 62.5A at 120 volts, 31.3 A at 240 volts, Big-Bore 420cc 15 HP OHV engine, 6.5 gallon fuel tank, 7 hour run time at 50% load, 210 lbs.

Customer Reviews

let the chinese buy it
I had a generac generator that I just gave to my son in law and replaced it with this generator,,after reading all the pros and cons on these reviews I took it for granted that the info I was reading was up to date..well LISTEN TO THE BAD NEWS,,,the nice rubber tires are probably made of the cheap plastic that the funnel was made of,,,

it will never go flat it will crack up in a few years,,oh the colors are pretty , so is the crap at the dollar store, what im telling you that the only thin that is made here in the USA is the box it came in after I assembled it and fueled it up I read the box and said made in china,,,

I had called Honeywell and asked them who makes their engine they replied Kohler,,,I called Kohler and asked about this engine ,,,they replied that this one is made in China and who knows what design they used..

If I had known this I would never have purchased it and If I had not assembled the unit and fueled it up I would have brought it back to the shipper and refused it..now maybe this being built in China means nothing to many, It means something to me..so if you like the tidbits you enjoy working in the usa,,,

like social security Medicaid and other benefits, you can spend the money and find a generator made in the usa,,or you can throw your future in the garbage and buy this one,,,the job you save might be your own PS Honeywell and amazon should advertise this item as made in china ,,the only place I have seen that is on the box

AWESOME GENERATOR
Received generator 2 days earlier than expected. Driver had a semi with a liftgate which made it easy to unload. Assembly was quick and easy, great manual, no parts were missing. Filled the oil tank & gas tank, push the electric starter, it immediately started up.

I live in a rural area and the power goes out quite often and sometimes it is days before it is restored. For $999 total delivery cost, it is a bargain. I have shopped and researched a lot of generators, this is a good buy. As others have said, the oil funnel is junk, in fact, the one included with this generator was broken in half, no real loss.

Great buy
We ordered this Honeywell generator online and it was delivered the same week. There is some assembly required to install the wheels, handles, and connect the battery, but the instructions are staight forward and anyone with minimal mechanical ability can accomplish this task with ease.

When I first tried to start it it would not fire at all. My touble shooting run down found that the spark plug clip on the wire was broken in half. I phone call to the nearest service dealer, which was 35 miles away, found that he had the part in stock.

After driving the 70 mile round trip to retrieve the part that was under warrenty, fixing the broken part was easy. Once installed the engine fired right up. I am very pleased with the purchase and the broken part issue should not be a determining factor in the performance of the tool.

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PowerLine 0900-66 200-Watt

PowerLine 0900-66 200-Watt Coffee Cup Inverter with USB Charging Port and Two Outlets
From PowerLine

Price: $26.33 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

19 new or used available from $26.33
Average customer review:

Product Description

200w Coffee Cup Inverter with USB charge port provides 3 power outlets for your vehicle: Two 120v AC outlets and 1 USB charging port. The unique cup design fits standard auto cup holders. Powers TVs as large as 27", laptops, portable printers, iPods, SmartPhones and much more..from your vehicle.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2840 in Home Improvement
* Brand: PowerLine
* Model: 0900-66
* Dimensions: 3.00 pounds

Features

* Convenient and attractive coffee cup inverter with 2 AC outlets and 1 USB charging port via 200/400-watt inverter
* Powers TV's, DVD players, game consoles, electronic instruments, and more
* Provides 200-watt continuous and 400-watt peak power via 120-volt AC outlet
* Unique coffee cup shape conveniently fits today's auto/boat/truck cup holders
* USB charging port provides 500mA of power

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
PowerLine 0900-66 200-watt coffee cup inverter with USB charging port. Provides 200 watts continuous and 400-watt peak power via two 120 colt AC outlet and USB ports. Unique coffee cup shape conveniently fits today's auto/boat/truck cup holders. Ideal for the road warrior powers laptops and other mobile devices while also charging your USB powered devices. USB charging cables not included.

Customer Reviews

Works great!
Very handy, works great. Would have given 5 stars if they had spaced the outlets to take brick sized plugs. Can only use one plug if not standard size plug due to blockage.

Apparently not made for your cup holder
But the instructions say to not cover any of the vents while in use. That makes putting the inverter into your cup holder (as it was seemingly made for) a big no-no. The bottom of the cup is filled with vents and you can feel air blowing out when it's in use.

So, they market this cool inverter that fits into your cup holder, but then give instructions that discourage you from putting it into your cup holder.....
When I put it into my cup holder, the light ended up turning red, meaning it was turning itself off.

Awesome design - good for USB charging devices
I have a Windows Mobile phone that charges and syncs via a standard mini-USB plug, so when I saw this adapter that a) sits in your cupholder so it doesn't slide all over the vehicle and b) has a USB port in addition to the normal plugs, I was intrigued.

After using it for a while I can confirm that both the USB port and the regular plugs work great, and I didn't have to buy a special car adapter for my phone, I just grabbed one of the many extra USB to mini-USB cables I had lying around and leave that with the inverter.

The design is great - sits right in my cupholder.

I've had no problems with it and get lots of good comments from passengers in my car when they see it.

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Cobra CPI-A20 AC Power Inverter Remote

Cobra CPI-A20 AC Power Inverter Remote
From Cobra

Price: $24.23 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

25 new or used available from $16.82
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Product Description

COBRA CPI-A20 AC POWER INVERTER REMOTEREMOTE FOR USE WITH CBRCPI1500, CRBCPI1575, CBRCPI2500 and CRBCPI2575

Product Details

* Brand: Cobra
* Model: CPI A20
* Dimensions: 2.50" h x 6.00" w x 8.50" l, 2.55 pounds

Features

* Remote on/off switch for Cobra power inverters
* Turns inverter on and off from up to 20 feet away
* Lets users mount inverters in a hidden location
* Compatible with Cobra CPI 1500, 1550, 2500, 2550, M1500 and M2200 models
* Includes long cord for remote hookup

Customer Reviews

nice to have a remote to your inverter
this remote helps me to turn my inverter off it works great and for the price the have it at it it worth it and plus you gt the job done right

Nice!
I was putting a system in my RV for dry camping and this works nice to turn inverter on and off from inside my RV. It's basically a phone cord and easy to route and install. Looks nice too and is a very slim design with nothing sticking out to run into. Very Nice!!

Not neccesary, but nice
We bought this thinking we had to have it for our higher power inverter. We did not need it. However it let us turn the inverter off and on from either side of the vehicle, which when you are using the inverter a lot for various things, it is nice.
Just want to mention. The indicator light can be hard to see during daylight as it is glowing through from behind the face panel. It is tempting to cut a hole around it.

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PowerLine 0900-36A

PowerLine 0900-36A 75/100-Watt Inverter with Airplane Power Adapter
From PowerLine

Price: $19.50 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

16 new or used available from $17.64
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Product Description

Portable outlet for car and plane! This powerful mobile Inverter converts 12v DC automobile power to standard 120v AC house power - up to 75 watts. For use in vehicle or airplane to supply power for AC Electronics. Light-weight design. Fits in glove box, computer bag or carry-on. Low-voltage safety shut-off

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #2059 in Home Improvement
* Brand: PowerLine
* Model: 0900-36A
* Dimensions: 2.30" h x 6.00" w x 8.50" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

* Converts DC power to AC for use in the vehicle or plane to supply power for AC Electronics
* Provides 75 watts of continuous power
* Includes a free airline seat power adapter
* Thermal cut off-protects against overloading
* Lightweight design fits in glove box, computer bad or carry on

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
PowerLine 0900-36 is a 75-watt continuous /100-watt peak power mobile AC Outlet with an Airline adapter plug. It provides 120 volts of AC power from any car or plane socket outlet. It produces 75 watts of continuous power! Ideal for the traveler. The perfect item for using with all smaller AC electronic products.

PowerLine electronic accessories are designed in the United States to be the best available. They are convenient and powerful. PowerLine combines new technology and innovation to help deliver safe and accurate power to electric devices.

Customer Reviews

Works Great
I got this for my Aluminum Macbook. I plugged it in to the car socket and plugged my laptop in. The laptop was fully charged and the green light stayed on without the computer having to switch to battery power. I would recommend this product.

Works perfectly!
OK, I've had this item for over 6 months and I dont know how I ever got on a plane without it lol. This is a great product. You actually use it for other devices in emergency situations. For example, I was driving across state and only had the directions to my destination on my cell phone (dumb, i know) and my phone was about to die.

Like an idiot i forgot my car charger but i plug my regular phone charge into this device and it worked like a charm, it didnt charge my phones battery but it did provide power until I reached my destination. This is a definite buy for the traveller that likes to work on their laptop (or watch movies) during their long (or short) flights.

Lot of stuff for the price
I bought this for a trip to Hawaii where I knew I was going to be spending a lot of time on the airplane. It worked fine. I have used the inverter only briefly. I have also lent this out to friends and they said it worked fine for them. This is actuallly two items in one offer. Like I said lot of stuff for the price.

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Cobra CPI 875

Cobra CPI 875 1600 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter
From Cobra

Price: $50.85 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com

48 new or used available from $46.66
Average customer review:

Product Description

This inverter provides household power on the go! It converts battery power to 120 V AC household power, allowing you to power up office equipment and household appliances from your vehicle. Direct-to-battery cables are included. This unit is ideal for laptops, TV sets, video games, CD players, DVD players, cellular phone chargers, and much more!

Product Details

* Brand: Cobra
* Model: CPI 875
* Dimensions: 2.70" h x 5.00" w x 8.50" l, 8.00 pounds

Features

* 800 W Continuous Power Handling
* 5v USB output
* 2 Grounded AC Receptacles
* Thermal Shutdown and Reverse Polarity Protection
* Carry Case

Customer Reviews

Good Unit BUT you need to know a few things
This is a very good unit, for what it is designed to do. It is up to Cobra's usual high quality standards. There are a few things you should know before you buy it though.

There are a couple of comments about the unit not putting out full voltage - however, if you go to the Cobra website and read up on this unit you will see that a standard voltage meter will not read the voltage correctly due to the sine wave configuration, instead it will read low voltage.

Measurement requires a specialized meter, an RMS if I recall correctly. I have read also that some electronics work fine with the modified sine wave and some pick up some interference. It would probably be worth the time and energy to research which would be the case for your particular electronic application, before buying.

Another quite important thing to know is that this unit, while rated at 1600 watts, will only run at 800 watts continuously. The 1600 watts provides room for start up surge, but not for running more than a few seconds. I bought mine to use in my car.

First thing I tried was a 1500 watt heater, and it would run for a few seconds and then stop. Then I tried a 750 watt heater and it ran just fine. So check your application and see if it will be 800 or less watts, if more, get a bigger unit.

Another important thing to watch for on automobile installations is the output of your alternator. Many cars have alternators with as little total output as 60 to 75 amps. You can calculate the amp draw by dividing the AC watts by 12 and then multitplying by 1.1 - so in my case the 750 watt heater draws 69 amps from the battery/alternator.

If I had a 60 or 75 amp alternator then there would be a serious problem. Probably the battery would be drained while driving and I would end up with a dead battery, at night, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by zombies pounding on the windows....

I have a 135 amp alternator, but since I am not sure exactly how much amp draw my car uses while running at night with headlights (most of my driving is after dark) then I am not completely sure how much reserve/overage I have for the inverter. As a result I only run the heater intermittently so the battery won't drain.

If your application pulls enough amps to cause the charging system to run at system capacity so that the alternator continuously puts out 100%, the alternator will not last nearly as long as normal. I never run my heater when the engine is idling, at idle the alternator puts out about 40% less.

If you are going to use this in a running car, try and find the total amp draw needed for the car,(I found that my alternator runs at about roughly 60% when idling so I am guessing that my total draw would be about 50% of the total capacity of the alternator at full speed, or 68 amps in my case, but that is a guess) subtract that from the total output of your alternator,

and then compare your alternator's power reserve with the draw from the inverter with your application, to make sure you have enough total capacity with some margin. Mine would, based on this theory, run a 2 amp deficit.

Or do what I do and run the application only intermittently so the battery gets charged up and the alternator isn't running at 100% capacity all the time, and never while the engine is idling.

If you are going to use this in your car while driving, the supplied cables are not going to work for you, they are too short. The inverter is not weather proof so it can not be mounted under the hood where water can splash up on it, or dust get into it.

It needs to be in a weather tight environment with good air circulation, it also doesn't like heat. I took a pair of heavy jumper cables and soldered bolt connectors on each end and ran these to my cars interior. I added an in line 100 amp fuse in case of a short in the cables.

If you are going to use this on a battery only, there are formulas to determine how long the battery will supply the load you need - you can find the info with a goole search easily. It would most likely be worth your time to run the formula before buying, to make sure that you are going to get sufficient run time from the battery you have or plan to get. If frequent recharging is in your future, consider deep cycle batteries.

In summary, this unit works, within it's limitations, and I am happy with it. I would have given it 5 stars, but the Amazon description of the unit's true continuous run capacity should be more detailed than it is.

Always buy Cobra
during the recent ice storms in Arkansas I was really sorry to have given this one to my husban for his truck.Luckily we had a smaller one that we were able to run to the house. Always a good thing to have in case of power outage and Cobra is the only brand to trust!

gross misrepresentation
how can you label this as being a.....
"Cobra CPI 875 1600 Watt 12 Volt DC to 120 Volt AC Power Inverter" ......I have purchased many products from amazon and never have I felt ripped off like I did this time ( and I purchased 2 of these, LOL ) this is nothing but a 800 watt inverter and I suggest you represent it as such ! shame on you !!!!!!

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XANTREX XPOWER POWERSOURCE

XANTREX XPOWER POWERSOURCE MOBILE 100 852-0281
From Xantrex

Price: $35.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Deal Monger

22 new or used available from $35.99
Average customer review:

Product Description

PowerSource Mobile 100 is ideal for people who frequently travel by vehicle and/or airplane. If your laptop battery runs low or you need more play time with your portable game console or portable DVD, simply connect your device into the AC outlet and keep going.

Two USB charge ports will keep your Blackberry, iPaq, Palm, or iPod charged when you need it most. You no longer have to carry extra cords, chargers and device-specific batteries. You'll save money and space in your laptop carry bag!

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #328 in Home Improvement
* Brand: Xantrex
* Model: 852-0281
* Dimensions: 9.00" h x 3.00" w x 8.00" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

* Converts 12 DC power from a vehicle battery into 120 AC power
* Three-prong AC outlet to handle all chargers and adapters for mobile electronics
* USB charge port
* Blue LED on/off power indicator
* DC cable with vehicle and airplane connector

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
The XPower Pocket Inverter 100 is a mini inverter that utilize advanced electronics to convert the 12 volt DC battery power from a vehicle into 120 volt household AC electricity. When your laptop, portable game console, or any other mobile device runs out of battery power, simply plug it into the Pocket Inverter and keep going.

Customer Reviews

Portable Power
I've used plenty of power inverters so i know what to expect and how to get the best out of them. Do not use this little baby at it's limit. It is designed just for low draw portable devices, cell phones, pda's, small laptops. 80 watts with DC input, (Less Than)65 watts just using the inverters battery.

Just remember to use it as a backup and to recharge it often even if you don't use it. Oh, and save yourself a couple of bucks by buying the Xantrex version, the Duracell version is just a relabeled Xantrex. You will be paying for that big brand name...you didn't think that just because they sell the batteries that they make them too, did you?

usb ports broke, battery so so
the usb ports on this thing do not charge my iphone. they do seem to work with some other devices. i'm not sure i'd trust this thing not to fry something out while charging it through usb. the ac outlet seems to do okay, but when the inverter loses dc power it will not automatically switch to battery as you may hope. it will need to be shut down and then turned back on with battery mode on. sad.

A good value for the price, good output frequency tolerance, but wattage is lower than advertised
I got two of these under the Duracell brand names and several more Xantrex branded when Amazon had them on sale for about $50 each. They work well for some devices, but don't work at all with some power hungry laptops like my Dell Inspiron 9400/E1705. This particular laptop has an AC adapter rated at 80 watts.

Although still under 100 watts, the device runs for about 1 second then shuts off. There is also no direct DC output from the battery which would have made it more versatile. They also don't provide enough power to run an aerobed inflator. But, for $50, it's not a bad deal.

After discovering some output frequency problems with some other model xantrax/duracell inverters, I tested 8 units of this model and was pleasantly surprised that this model still appears to be crystal controlled. Most of the units were within +/- 0.05 Hz of 60 Hz.

The worst was 60.14 Hz which is still within a quarter percent of nominal so that isn't too bad. The other new model xantrex (and Jensen brand) inverters I tested had output frequencies ranging from 58 Hz to 64 Hz which is very poor.

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PowerLine 0900-27 Global Power Travel Kit

PowerLine 0900-27 Global Power Travel Kit
From PowerLine

Price: $13.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Voltage Converters
18 new or used available from $13.49

Average customer review:

Product Description

Ideal for International travel. It converts 220v-240v current (the norm in foreign countries) to 120v US household current. Includes 5 adapter plugs to keep you powered in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, Midlle East and the Caribbean! Use with electrical appliances requiring up to 1600 Watts and electronic devices up to 50 Watts.

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #774 in Home Improvement
* Brand: PowerLine
* Model: 0900-27
* Dimensions: 5.90" h x 3.40" w x 4.50" l, 4.00 pounds

Features

* Converts 220-volt Electricity to 120-volt power for use in locations world-wide
* Includes 5 adapters for different plug-in types around the world
* All plug-in types are enclosed in the global power adapter kit for ease of packing in the suit case
* For use with electrical appliances requiring up to 1600 watts and electronic devices up to 50 watts
* Converts foreign voltages for safe operation of your personal appliances and electronics while abroad

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
PowerLine 0900-27B provides 120-volt US Household power from 220-volts to 240-volts AC foreign outlets. If you're traveling out of United States this is the item to carry with you. It allows you to power up your hair dryer, shaver and many types of electronics while overseas. Includes hard shell travel case. Also includes five adapter plugs for use in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, Middle East and the Carribean.

Customer Reviews

DO NOT BUY, WILL MELT!!!
I purchased this product in July 2008. One trip to London was successful with this product using various items - following the directions.

December 2008, my second trip to London, I awoke in the middle of the night to the smell of burning plastic. The device was melting as it was plugged into the wall. The plastic smell was overwhelming and caused a stir at the hotel. I had to remove the unit with a towel, and once removed, I realzed it was so hot the thick plastic was very pliable. The wall and outlet were hot.

Needless to say I strongly advise you to NOT purchase this product - spend a little more money and buy something reliable - protect yourself and your property. THIS IS NOT SAFE.

Be warned.

Learn the truth about "Dual Wattage" converter and don't get burned
This item offered here (PowerLine 0900-27 Global Power Travel Kit) is actually two different converters built into one package. At LOW setting (up to 50W), it uses a small AC transformer to convert 220V sinusoidal waveform into a 110V sinusoidal waveform. This is the preferred approach which works well for any low power appliance.

To handle higher power, however, the AC transformer must be made bulkier and heavier (around 20 pounds just for 1000W). This makes it impractical as a travel voltage converter for large-wattage appliance.

Therefore at HIGH setting (50-1600W), this converter simply uses a solid-state switch inside to chop off part of the input 220V sinusoidal waveform. This is exactly how an incandescent lamp dimmer works. However, its output waveform is highly distorted and is far from an 110V sinusoidal AC voltage.

A purely resistive appliance (such as travel iron or water heater) will work just fine regardless of different voltage waveform. But if you ever try to power an electronic appliance (such as TV, computer or battery charger) with this distorted 220V waveform, it will probably be fried in an instant! My advice is to stay away from this potentially destructive product - unless you are really, REALLY careful about what to plug in.

If you have to bring electronic appliances with your oversea trips, make sure they are rated for universal voltage of 100-240V AC. Power supplies for most portable electronics (laptop, camcorder, cell-phone, electric shavers, etc.)

are already designed to accept universal voltage, although some of them may require you to physically flip a voltage selection switch - check the user manual or the AC input plug of your appliance to make sure. If that is the case, all you need is a set of plug adapters, which you can purchase separately without a converter.

Really worked great
We used this on our recent trip to the UK. We visited England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Wales. We used this at every stop. Hooked a 1600 watt blow dryer, a 1200 watt curling iron and even used it to recharge my camcorded battery. This little unit never gave me the first problem.

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