Reddit reviews BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter
We found 102 Reddit comments about BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
BESTEK Advantage: America's leading power inverter brand. Provides 300 Watts continuous DC to AC power and 700 Watts instantaneous power, featuring 2 AC outlets and 2 USB portsFast Charging: two 110V AC outlets for charging larger devices such as laptops and tablets, 2 USB charging ports (0-2.4A) for powering USB compatible devices, a good choice as requisite car accessoriesUltra Compact and Lightweight: iPhone-sized design ideal for use on vacations, work trips, and camping. 24 inch cigarette lighter plug makes the power inverter can be plugged into almost any vehicleMulti-Protection: built-in 40 amps fuse to protect your device. Safe charging design provides protection against, overheating, under and over voltage charging, short circuitingDurable metal housing provides advanced protection from drops and bumps.Smart cooling fan system makes the car power inverter very silent when operating,and the fan runs faster when the device gets warmer or output power exceeds 70W.18-Months Warranty
Walkie talkies and their chargers are always nice. Good to always have an inverter too so you can actually charge things with normal plugs.
Bring water and juice, snacks etc. But all in a cooler that you can actually open while driving. Hopefully your passengers can reach it in the trunk if need be or have it so it won't obstruct leg room. For a long road trip, I usually leave the entire back seat for 1 person. That way they can stretch out or sleep while the front passenger and driver have all the leg room if they choose to scoot the seat back.
As for cars - oil change, check your belts, check the condition of your tires and make sure they are filled to spec (no over, even if you want that extra 2 mpg fuel economy). Bring an electric tire pump with you too. If your car has a spare tire, make sure your tire is in decent condition, and make sure your jack is functioning. No point in a spare tire if you can't get the car lifted.
If you don't have a spare tire, or just want options, get a tire filling/repair kit. It will at least get you to the next town.
As for drivers. Some may have an ego and want to show other how long they can drive for. Make sure everyone understands, if you are in any bit tired - pass the wheel to someone else. If you don't have enough drivers, then pull over and get rest. Even a 15 to 30 minute nap can save lives.
I've done some pretty grueling road trips and I always enjoy bringing my laptop (here is where the power converter comes in handy), some speakers if you can't hook into your car's speakers, and my harddrive full of movies and tv shows. Don't rely on netflix through your phone as you won't get good service on half the drive (and because data use can get pretty high pretty quickly).
Source: for 2 years in college, i did 6 total road trips. Some were as short as 1000 miles, some were as long as 2500 spanning from Maryland to the north western tip of Washington which also had to be completed in about 3 days. That trip only had 2 drivers per vehicle with 2 vehicles to move. A terrible box truck limited to 70mph and a rental camry. The Rockies and national parks were amazing. We camped out at a state park one night and woke up about 15 yards from a moose (not a good thing). Once you get into the mid-west, it's all downhill from there. The middle of the continent is nothing but flat ground and farms. Ohio is a terrible state to drive in, Pennsylvania gets really hairy with their downhill mountains in a semi-poorly loaded box truck, and the entire east coast has shitty traffic.
Edit: reading through the responses here, I should state the radios I had for the trip cost several hundred dollars and had a range of about 1/2 mile. If you're using cheapo 20$ units from radio shack, probably best to not even bother purchasing them. Phones may be better.
You can also get shit like this.
Pick up a 12V inverter.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535999158&sr=8-1&keywords=12v+inverter
http://www.amazon.com/outlets-inverter-adapter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405470334&sr=8-2&keywords=12v+inverter+with+usb
or for even cheaper
http://www.amazon.com/inverter-adapter-outlets-charging-MRI2011GU/dp/B00EY6RJKA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1405470334&sr=8-8&keywords=12v+inverter+with+usb
This way you're not limited to just powering your wii u, you can use it for other things (even a tv, heh!)
Get an AC adapter for your car, this one is rated at 300 watts and will easily support your computer and monitor.
Once you have that installed, go ahead and order these parts and assemble them. Pop the computer under your car seat sideways OR put it in the footrest area of your passenger side and MAKE SURE the graphics card is secured. The car bumping around could cause problems.
Next, grab this monitor and this monitor stand. You can probably mess with your passenger seat or center console to get the stand to fit.
Grab a keyboard and mouse from target for $10 and get Windows 10 from /r/microsoftsoftwareswap.
Then, buy a Zubie for $100 and pay the $10 a month service fee for internet.
Spend another $100 or so to refine things, get supplies to keep everything secure, get a dank gyro set to show you're on the move, and a VGA cable for the monitor.
Altogether, this setup costs $900 and can play Dota on the go.
And yes, I know this works, I've built one. My uncle who passed away recently was an architect and as such, spent a lot of time on work sites. He was also an avid Dota player, so I made him a system to practice and pass the time in his van. He played ability draft a lot, so it worked out well. The only problems he had were download speed (we ran an ethernet cable into his garage so he could plug into his Fiber and download updates as often as he needed to) and room for keyboard/mouse (he bought a lunch tray from the dollar store to solve that).
Something fun for you laptop djs to try on long road trips: Get an inverter for your car to plug your laptop into, bring a midi controller, plug the laptop output into your head unit's AUX IN, and rock the fuck out. WARNING: Someone else should be driving. We did this on a 2 week tour last summer and it made the long hours in the car not only enjoyable, but something I started looking forward to. Scenery, beats, live mixing, and herb being passed around. What's not to love?
First things first, contact your state's marketplace and find out if, due to your income loss from the illness and your homelessness, you can get on your state's Medicaid. Your income might be low enough to qualify you, if only to give you a few months' break from that $250 a month.
You can get a free "survival" phone. They will even transfer your number. https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enrollment/Safelink/en/NewPublic/index.html
It's sounds like you're on a phone plan now - call your provider and see if you can switch to a prepaid plan with them. Those are $40 to $50 a month and maybe you can afford those? That way you can get/keep a SmartPhone.
To save $$ on food, go to the Food Banks. The Food Banks are also a place where you can ask questions about homeless shelters in the areas. But I have not read good things about a lot of shelters. People get their stuff stolen while they're sleeping. That's why a lot of homeless people hate the shelters, and wouldn't any of us feel the same way?
It depends on the weather in your town. If it's not too hot, sleeping in the backseat is not a problem and good for you for getting that $10 gym membership so you can shower. Turn your trunk into clothing storage so your clothes can stay neat, backseat is for sleeping and food. Or, if you're tall, passenger seat laid back might be better.
If you can afford it, obviously a cheap motel will be nicer.
Where to park? I've done a lot of YouTube watching on alternative lifestyle living in RVs and some reading about where to park when living in an RV or your car. Never had to live in my car, but I've done this for worst-case-scenario planning. Some homeless shelters WILL let you park in their parking lots so that might be a good option.. Police won't hassle you and you can lock your doors. If you have an RV some Walmarts let RV livers park in their lots. Talk to the manager.
Some churches will also let you use their parking lot. I'm assuming you're in AA - if they want references they can talk to your sponsor. Scope the church out first, see if it has a lighted lot, maybe some shade trees, and then call them and ask.
Be grateful you're a man. There are so many more low-skilled jobs open to men. If you can handle construction work and like it, that's a good field to get into. Later on, you could go to community college and become a Construction Supervisor. They make good money and we're in a building boom in many parts of the nation now. More secure than Construction Supervisor is Plumber, HVAC person, or Electrician. They always have work, even in recessions.
You are also, as a man, more likely to be promoted to management than a woman. So if you like retail or the food industry, as soon as you get settled again, you could start taking some business courses in management at a community college. Many are offered online now.
Good for you for staying away from your addict friends! That is so hard to do - so very hard to be alone, start over, and learn a new way of life.
I would suggest getting into counseling as well as 12 Steps, but the copay is probably more than you can afford. But call the homeless shelters and ask them if they have any special mental health support programs for the homeless. Most places do not, I know, but you can ask.
Food banks!! Find them in your area now. Google "Food banks (name of city or town)".
OH - for your mail - get a PO box right away. $8 a month, pay 3 months at a time. That way, when you go to the Food Banks you have proof of residency (that address) and will be able to get your closing utility bills which are also proof of residency and proof of your homelessness.
I'm sorry - I wish our nation were not so cruel. I think simple housing is a basic right. Oh that our political leaders could be swayed to agree with me.
Wait, one more idea - Because you can't eat fast food all the time - it's expensive and bad for your health - I've seen much ingenious camping cooking equipment online. I once saw a video of a guy living in his Prius and he had a small piece of plywood on the passenger seat for his "cooking counter". On that he made coffee and warmed up canned soup and canned veggies ($1 ea. at the $1 stores) on that board over a little propane single burner. Coffee maker ran off of his car.
Here's an adapter thing for your car so you can plug in household stuff. Just have the engine running when you do this so you don't kill your battery. https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_8?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1501341161&sr=1-8&keywords=12v+adapter
So go to Amazon, and look for all the ingenious stuff you can plug into your 12v in your car. There's also battery lanterns for safety at night, single burner electric cooktops, and even an electric cooler that plugs into your 12v.
https://www.amazon.com/Knox-Electric-Cooler-Warmer-Liters/dp/B01DMVV282/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1501341051&sr=1-3&keywords=camping+cooler+plug+in
Good luck to you. You have a good plan, and at least there are jobs out there now. They don't pay well, but it's better than the Recession.
If you want to bring any electronics, get a reasonable inverter. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/outlets-inverter-adapter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406487845&sr=8-1&keywords=inverter
Lets you charge your laptop while your car's on. Also, it has usb charging ports so you don't need need other adapters.
Not OP but used a adapter similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MDXS0U/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1467338693&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=adapter+for+car
Worked great for me.
Any car ac/converter will work
BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_C-V7Ab4M164VP
It depends on where you're going and what shots you want.
Are you planning to go to Udawalawe? If so, your kit lens will do for the most part, but do bring a telephoto to get some of the wildlife shots esp. the birds. Depending on the guide and timing, you can actually get pretty damn close to the elephants for example: http://i.imgur.com/fhtcL6z.jpg. However, there are other things like birds you can't really get without a telephoto.
For example, if you're going to Polonnaruwa and want to take shots of the monkeys, you need a telephoto. You don't want to get very close to these bastards despite them being used to people and coming pretty close to people. I have a bunch of shots from here, but these are not on my phone unfortunately, so can't upload them. edit: Found a few more pics: http://imgur.com/a/eqEg1
Pic 3 - I wish I had a fast zoom. You can clearly see the issues with the image in low light. This + bad tripod + no IS (older kit lens) on the lens = bad time.
Pic 4 - Frescos are pretty cool and there were places where I couldn't get multiple of them in to one shot like I wanted. A wide angle would help. I can imagine a few cool macro shots of the frescos as well, but I wasn't really able to do that due to equipment limitations.
For landscape hots of say Polonnaruwa or Sigiriya or Mackwoods other places, you definitely should go with a wide angle. The Canon 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is under $300 and probably your best bet when it comes to price vs performance. It's by no mean the absolute best wide angle lens, but it's pretty cheap and offer good performance.
Your f2.8/1.8s will come in very handy, especially if you want to take inside shots of say the Dalada Maligawa. I really wished I had a fast lens when I went.
Also, if you're going to the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, either bring a macro lens or extension tubes. You may also want to invest in a GoPro (or a Xiaomi Yi, make sure you get a real one and not a counterfeit). I wished I had a GoPro or similar action cam to record say the ascend/descend for Sigiriya.
And bring LOTS of batteries AND a DC to AC car inverter in the 100-200W range so you can charge your stuff on the go. My relatives told me to bring this, and it was invaluable while traveling to charge my camera batteries, laptop and phone. I used this one: http://smile.amazon.com/Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/
DO bring a laptop and external HDD/SSD for backing up. I would personally go with a 500GB or larger SSD now as things can get rough on a HDD while traveling. I had 2x500GB SSDs (swapped out DVD RW to 2nd HDD cage see: http://www.smile.amazon.com/Protronix-Optical-Drive-Caddy-Universal/dp/B004XIUQYA/, make sure you get the right sized one) on my laptop, and had an 2TB HDD. Backed up photos/videos to both of these.
Things I wish I brought:
Source: Been there, done that. Spent about 4ish weeks in June/July. Traveled to Udawalawe, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Mackwoods and Peradeniya. I didn't spend a lot of time in the big cities like Colombo, so can't really comment on cityscape stuff. I traveled with my aunts, cousins, uncles, etc who live/lived in Sri Lanka so they knew their way around stuff which made it a lot easy to get to places. PM me or ask here if you have any questions.
Well, that's a lot longer than I expected... hope this helps OP!
You can buy adapters that let you plug 3-prong extension cords into cars.
Could you use something like this to check the TV before you take them?
That's the solution I used. I collected a nice little library of movies and stuff the kids can watch and just run it off the portable HD. It has its own battery, but it has a charger too. I even bought one of these to keep everything charged. It worked out great.
If you overnighted them then they flew cargo, especially over 4,000 miles.
If you were flying on military orders, then you knew where you had to be and when.
If you don't own a car, you could rent one. The lack of UVB is an easy fix. They make these awesome things.
Lacking UVB for a week isn't going to kill or paralyze your beardy either. Mine went for a week without after the bulb died while on vacation and the bulbs were locked in the shed were the caregiver couldn't get them.
Like I said, I'm very sorry for the situation you are in. Money fixes problems. You just took the cheap one and signed your beardy over to people who don't care.
The most efficient option is to get a DC to DC converter that takes the 12V DC from your vehicle and converts it to the DC voltage for the laptop. Something like this. 12V to 19V. This will take a little research to get one that matches your laptop.
The easier, but much less efficient method is to plug a power inverter into your cigarette lighter socket to take 12 V, convert it to 120 V AC, then plug your laptop power supply into this to make the DC power your laptop requires. Because of the roundabout way this gets you the power you need, it will use up the vehicle battery faster. However, it does get you 120 V that you could use for other things.
In both cases, make sure the converter can supply sufficient current (amps) or power (watts) as your laptop requires.
Buy an [inverter] (http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power-Inverter-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457048412&sr=8-2&keywords=Car+DC+12V+to+AC+120V) and do it out of your car in a public, recorded location.
During an extended blackout your rechargeable batteries will be flat and you'll have... nothing.
Highly recommend a small DC-AC inverter so you can charge your toys from your car. like this guy for $20 arrives 9/12
There's also something to be said for having a few Duracells for the flashlight. They're all sold out by now though.
I’ve been working on my display and wiring setup for a while now and I’m finally happy with it so I thought I would share it with r/mini. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. This is one of my first posts so if I messed up, that’s why.
Links:
Ultragauge: http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/
Aluminum GPS Mount: http://www.cravenspeed.com/mini-gps-mounting-kits/
AUX in: http://www.minicarparts.net/Instructions/M3367_Instructions.cfm
Phone/ipod holder: http://amzn.com/B009GMKT0Y
Charging cable: http://amzn.com/B000EFVGV8
gold plated AUX cable: http://amzn.com/B004LTEUDO
Antenna: http://www.cravenspeed.com/products/The-Stubby-Antenna.html
Inverter: http://amzn.com/B004MDXS0U
Lights: I don’t remember exactly, but if someone want the link then I can look more. They were like $25 total.
Power inverter for the campgrounds: http://amzn.com/B004MDXS0U
Has enough ports to charge 4 phones/external chargers off your car battery. I haven't had to use the Coachella charging stations in years thanks to this thing. Just make sure your car is running while it's being used (or at least start it up every now and then). Get the extension cord for extra convenience.
Will your car be by the campsite?
It's not out of the question to bring a real nebulizer with an inverter, assuming you're doing car camping rather than backpacking. I've done it plenty of times, with an inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet and gets my Pari running. As a bonus, you end up doing the treatment in the car, which is nice because it's comfy, cleaner than a tent, and at least somewhat private and less likely to draw attention.
One bit of advice: A cigarette lighter can only power a small nebulizer; if you want to run something bigger like a vest or IPV you'll need to have the inverter professionally installed, and hooked right up to the car's electrical system.
EDIT: I almost forgot, we have a wiki page on this very subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/CysticFibrosis/wiki/guides/travel
What do you mean by 19.5 auto adapter?
Are you talking about a DC step up converter? or a power inverter?
With an inverter you'll have more energy loss, but it should be cheaper, easier to find, and universal with any 120VAC wall plug
You probably want a DC to AC inverter
This would definitely do the trick http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK%C2%AE-outlets-inverter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=lp_583328_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1426786121&sr=1-1
You won't get 10hrs, but all those things you mention are good, watching a movie will drain more than the other things you've planned.
You haven't mentioned it, but whatever you do, don't use any usb devices. (HD, mouse etc..)
Have you thought about getting an inverter for the car?
Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/outlets-inverter-adapter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/
There are lots to choose from, and it then you'd have absolutely no problems. (always handy to have one on long trips)
Awesome! I remember camping with my parents from the time I was knee high. What great memories.
For car camping, we use a standard home queen sized air mattress. We use one of these to air it up. Depending on the weather, you can get by with using your own bedding and pillows. Big savings there. And bonus - you now have an air mattress for the unexpected guest.
A good Coleman two burner camp stove is a great investment. As is, as someone else mentioned, a separate set of camping cookware.
Have a great time!
I'm not questioning your technique at all...some bikes take to bump starting better than others.
Two things wrong with your battery solution:
Bottom line, remove the battery or get an extension cord and plug your tender in.
Alternatively, if you have a car get a power inverter and use that to plug your battery charger in.
No fooling, I used to worked for an event company that sent entertainers to weddings, dances, etc. One of the rigs was literally called the "Bubble Astronaut," and it was a spaceman outfit with a bubble machine rig on his back, backpack style. Weight was a HUGE issue, but we're not here to talk about that, we're here for electricity:
What you're looking for is an inverter, something that takes in DC power and spits out AC power, often at your local utility voltage (120V-60hz stateside, say, or 240V-50/60hz elsewhere).
There are many criteria for which inverter you want, but one of the first is how much power the bubble machine draws. A quick amazon search shows everything from 300W to 3000W. Select as apporpriate to your bubble machine
Next, you'll need a source of power. Probably a LiPo or SLA battery. Many options there too. Size as appropriate to how long you want your bubble machine to be able to run.
Finally, make sure you connect the battery to the inverter using sufficiently gauged cables. Remember that there will be much more current on the DC side of the inverter than the AC side.
Edit: I realize after re-reading your question that you might be looking for an all-in-one solution, rather than the more DIY approach above. I couldn't find anything small enough to really be useful... most of it seems to be something like this, big and beefy for emergency/utility work. The thing is, once you get to powering AC devices, you need a pretty hefty battery to drive any meaningful amount of power for a period of time.
Depending on your camper, there might be none.
You can purchase a small inverter that can recharge laptops, etc for < $30. https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ I'd recommend one of these.
Larger inverters will need more serious tie in with the battery but let your run a coffee pot or toaster. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SLDDHQ?aaxitk=Y7GrGBvM25auhWk2RTTYAA
I would not bother with the larger because you can just fire up the generator and run almost anything. Since you are in a class C with only two batteries, a large inverter will flatline your batteries pretty quickly if you try to run something at high power for any real length of time.
Also check your park rules because some parks only allow generators during certain times of the day.
I'd also recommend replacing the conventional light bulbs with LED bulbs. Incandescent can make a surprising amount of heat and waste precious battery. If you have time to order from china, it can be pretty cheap, but remember to order extras and take them with you. Some will have 'birth defects' and die quickly so you want to replace them.
Remember that it can take longer than you might think to recharge your batteries so make sure you pay attention to how they are doing. Dead batteries in the early night can really suck if you need that fan, lights, or water pump. You'll get the feel for it though after a few days once you see how much they burn down overnight, recharge etc.
You might be better off getting a battery powered toy. If you do want one powered though, I would recommend a DC to AC adapter, as you're much more likely to find a quality toy for a conventional outlet.
Something like this maybe.
Solar Panel + Charge Controller + Battery + Inverter will do the trick. You can get all of it off of Amazon.
Solar panel size (physical) depends on what you can manage to take with you - obviously bigger will charge everything faster.
Ensure all items are the same voltage - 12V is most likely.
This is just a quick selection of example parts - you'll have to customize it for your own power needs.
It might work but if it does, it will probably charge slowly. I would just buy a small power inverter like this.
I would first recommend a bandana or hat. But if hair care is a must, use one of these with your normal blow drier. Just have your car running so that you don't have to worry about having a dead battery.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_L3O7CbR5A1E01
A power inverter for your car. You can use it for charging your camera, laptop, etc. Here is my favorite - http://www.amazon.com/outlets-inverter-adapter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=lp_583328_1_1?s=automotive&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404840992&amp;sr=1-1
You could try using a power inverter in your car. It plugs into your cigarette lighter and will allow you to use your straightener, but only if the car is running. As long as your engine is running while you straighten, it won't drain your car battery.
Great post. If I were you, I would add to the box a power inverter (like this one) and a 12v air compressor (like this one).
You ask a really good question.
Power failures are a good reason to avoid slow cookers with electronic controls. For a five minute outage (nothing magic about this number, just common in my area) a manual cooker will flywheel through and you don't have to do anything.
If outages happen a lot, a small inverter will work great in your car. You'll have to run the engine some to keep the battery up. I use https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=inverter . The inverter also keeps my cooker and contents warm on the way to potlucks. *grin*
I use this one which is more than enough to charge things and run small appliances but you should check to make sure whatever you want to use is below 300w. It is definitely a blast to silently run a TV and video games while tailgating while everyone else is stuck with shitty loud generators :)
There are tricks you can use to keep the car running indefinitely if you want to keep the power flowing, like using a rubber band on the shifter button. That disables the auto shutoff so you dont have to restart the car evey 30 minutes or whatever
I bought Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter a year back and it works great.
First, my needs:
Second, the components:
Panels/controller https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8L6EFA
Battery https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ACKDGPS
Y connectors https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4ELRSH
Cable entry https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CSEXW2S
2 Gauge wire https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KD2756W
Terminal rings https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V9UWB2
Crimp tool https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X51S00
Terminal block https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S5Q2VS
Busbars https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0091VHLW4
Inverter https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDXS0U
Vent vans https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OW5JIU
Monitors https://www.asus.com/us/Monitors/PB278Q/
Puck lights https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ODSAR12
Strip lights https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IQOV13G
Fuse box https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P6FTHC
Killswitch https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DUUL9W
Switches https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFJW1SB
Dimmer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L8KP16E
I know my needs are fairly minimal. I see opportunity to grow with this system if I ever need to. I’m excited to lay it out with the actual parts soon and begin thinking about it in the real world.
Any suggestions, info or questions are completely welcome. I know little about electrical, only what I’ve learned from reddit and youtube. Thanks pals and again /u/StolidSentinel for the help and replies to all my messages and questions!
Did uou find one of these in the glovebox?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MDXS0U/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501608490&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=12v+to+plug+car+converter&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51XOZ%2BxBykL&amp;ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MDXS0U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521495837&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=car+power+inverter&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51XOZ%2BxBykL&amp;ref=plSrch
Buy a power inverter and use a standard wall charger. It'll be 10x more convenient when you're out somewhere and you need a wall charger. Plus, it includes USB ports for others to plug into if needed. I've also used it to charge my laptop and other electronics. Trust me, it's worth it.
I got this power inverter this year. My friends had one last year and it worked for everything from hair straighteners to a ninja blender! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MDXS0U/ref=s9_top_hm_awbw_b2RkW_g107_i1/175-6392808-6413203?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-11&amp;pf_rd_r=JBXGE4GM2E5HE93NMNFK&amp;pf_rd_t=30901&amp;pf_rd_p=86eca43c-f86b-58c9-bf92-d94fc03d133c&amp;pf_rd_i=583328
Buy a 12v power inverter, this is the one I have it worked fine for me https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDXS0U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
If you're not concerned about designing one that's self contained, you could grab a 12v inverter. (assuming "normal" 120v AC build)
If it's going to be primarily portable, build it to run on 12v DC (coil, PID, SSR, power connectors), and use a 12v switching power supply for stationary use. The voltage switching components are about the size of the controller unit, so separate is nice imo... you could make it really tiny if you want like this, no big IEC connector etc.
My $0.02
No problem. I haven't told my family and only told 3 close friends about my decision to Prius dwell due to the stigma, so I enjoy talking about this with whoever I can. I think this is the one I got: AMAZON LINK
I recommend a Prius v (wagon) as every little bit of extra room helps. :) But either way, with the amount of use and wear you will be putting on the car simply by living in it, I would recommend going used. The Prius is extremely reliable. I had the option to get an extended warranty for an extra $1200 on mine, but I talked to a trusted mechanic, and he told me there was no need. And in the off chance something does break, there are plenty of used Prius parts you can get for cheap.
According to the box it requires 35W of power. Assume 10% loss from an inverter such as this one:
http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK%C2%AE-outlets-inverter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1422172500&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=inverter
You'd need about 39 W to run this thing. You'll want a 12V power source. A deep cycle marine/RV battery would be good if you are able to bring one to your crab feed. You might see 1000 W-h from one, in which case it will keep your butter crockpot running for almost an entire day. If you want to bring a smaller battery you can, you could even bring 10 1.2V AA sized NiMH batteries if you wire them all together.
My solar set-up was this:
This 100W solar panel was mighty for my 12Volt 15AH SLA batteries, and is used for RVs typically. It did the job well even in overcast skies.
$100 -
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HHDC6NQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
You'll need a controller so you don't overcharge your battery or fry any electronics you'd like to attach. I used one like this(the one I bought is no longer posted):
https://www.amazon.com/Esky-Solar-Adapter-Charge-Controller/dp/B013HK2OOE/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?
The controller attached to the SLA battery. You can then either charge the SLA, remove it from the system as needed, and use it for other things (as I did), or leave the battery to hold power for your various electronics you may be trying to power at your camp. I had a battery for my electronics, but would swap it out for my ebike batteries when I needed to charge them.
I had an inverter connected to the controller so I could plug things (mainly a small fan) into it.
Inverter. I cut the cigarette charger off and connected the wires to the controller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDXS0U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Here's a diagram that will help visualize how these set-ups are typically: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/63/6b/f5/636bf543aa56b79c556a2c8a1b216461.jpg
Charging batteries in series is doable, but not advisable because they don't tend to charge evenly. IE: The first battery gets more charge and the middle one doesn't get totally full. If you charge them separately you can make sure each is charged fully. This PDF describes the whole concept in more detail: http://www.thunderstruck-ev.com/images/Charging%20in%20Series.pdf
Sorry a bit vague. BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Ada... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_OjrJBbEPY33JS
My friend has a SR5 Premium in the cargo area he has a 110ac stock where as I have 12dc.
I haven't used that but I've used a cheap 9v-120v car thing and then you can just use the whole charger. This isn't the one I had but I imagine it's better, mine was from Wally-World
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1541963464&sr=1-14-spons&keywords=9v+120v+car&psc=1
No problem. And yes its fine to have the car running while charging, its like having something plugged in to the cigarette lighter while the car is running. Speaking of which I would go with something a lot less robust that doesn't have to be hard wired to the battery with those terminals like the link you posted. Try something like this that you can just plug in to the 12V outlet on the dash:
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1539870706&sr=8-13&keywords=car+cigarette+lighter+adapter
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Keep in mind that 300W you calculated probably means 300W when all of your devices are plugged in at the same time. So you won't constantly be drawing that many watts.
As comments have already mentioned getting a power bank is a great idea. You could always get an inverter as well https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1487653515&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=car+charger+inverter
Go to your local auto part store and purchase a used car battery for like 50$. Then buy a battery clip on cigarette lighter socket extension cord for 10$ and a Dual 110V AC outlets and Dual USB 3.1A 300w power inverter for 27$. Now you wont have to drain your car battery charging your phones and it can power other stuff like lights or a pump for your air mattress.
also you can get Portable Solar Car Battery Charger encase you need to charge the battery or use jumper cables.
Something like this one is a 300w with a cord. You might want a 150w or lower for the laptop, but don't worry that this thing will take 300w of power even if you're only using 100w.
The main thing with these inverter things, is don't overload them. In the past the manufacters were quoting the surge wattage, but these days it looks like everyone has smartened up and is quoting continuous values.
Please use clean amazon links, or else reddit flags the message. Thanks.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/
I had this issue with my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus and I fixed it by making sure all of my chargers output at 2Amps and I made sure to get 28/24 gauge cable. Also, some car usb chargers will be identified by your phone as a computer thus still limiting you to 500mA so you could look into an inverter like this one and just plug a standard wall charger into it for your car.
This may be a bad idea, but off the top of my head, maybe you could use a small inverter plus a battery tender to recreate a setup similar to your old one.
Edit: Also these are not cheap but there is a company called All In Charge that makes setups for charging your boat or RV battery while you tow.
Edit2: If these guys are still in business, they offer a solution that some people really like. Their website really needs some work though, I would bet its best to just email them.
Edit 3: Found one more solution for you from PowerStream.
You can look into battery operated air pumps, but I would get a power inverter and plug any existing air pump(s) (and possibly heater(s)) into that while you're on the road. If you're stopping by some place for the night, just bring the containers into the room with you and plug everything in there. If you want to be extra cautious, bring some extra water along on the trip and do a water change at about the halfway point.
Assuming you will be using iPhones, you would need an AirPrint compatible printer. Also assuming your trucks are equipped with inverters, you should be able to buy any compact printer from this list, and you should be good to go.
HP printers are recommended for this as they have WiFi Direct printing which requires no setup nor a router, however, any printer with WiFi Direct printing should suffice as well.
If you already have a bunch of portable printers or some other printing solution, you can also use an AirPrint Server such is this HP NFC/WiFi Direct Adapter (Apple has partnered with HP hence all these HP products).
Note that Bluetooth printing from iPhones is currently not possible
You want a dock like you would normally plug into your house power, to work in your car. Correct? You just need a 12V inverter like this
http://www.amazon.com/outlets-inverter-adapter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1396027210&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=12v+inverter
only you have to find one that is made for australian plugs as I have no idea what your plugs are like.
edit - I have to say it is trivially easy to install a new head unit in a car. Crutchfield sells head units and plugs that you plug into your car wiring harness and the new head unit. Just buy a head unit with an auxiliary input.
OP this is what you want ^
Plug this into this, put your boots and gloves on there at night. Worked for me every time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_U6wAxb5MK0QJN
This is what I use. Works great!
Hohlecrap-
You can screw around with specialized drone battery car chargers, or you can just buy this and have a solution.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDXS0U?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
It works great. I've been using it for 3 months. Its badass and you should have one in your car anyway for those low power emergencies.
Thanks everybody!
I ended up going with This one from Amazon. Looks like it should do the trick.
I just wish my surface was getting here today instead of tomorrow now...
This is the one I have, Bestek 300W Power Inverter, handles a MacBook Pro and charging a phone and Ipad just fine.
No. The Switch requires very specific power supplies to activate docked mode.
Get a Car power inverter instead and just use the official AC adapter.
Gamepad Nerf Foam Armor - $20 at Amazon
Power Converter w/ 2 USB and 2 AC ports - $27 at Amazon
I bought this car charger for Roo last year when we were using an air mattress and it has come in handy for countless things since then too. Definitely worth it to keep in your car just in case.
This one
Hello from across the strait! Victoria here.
No worries, here are the parts I used:
Fuse Box
[Switches (available in other colours, look at the similar items)] (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01APBAQSE/)
12V Lighter Ports
Voltmeter
Inverter
Battery Charger (external)
I snagged the last battery charger they had in stock for $50, looks like the price available now is significantly higher. I'd recommend shopping around. Everything else is a basic part, and of course could be easily replaced. Just make sure your switches are rated for the amperage you're going to draw from them, and that the fuses are rated the same or less than the load you put on.
Best of luck, and don't forget to post your build when you're done!
I just plugged it in the cigarette lighter for a 5 minute test. This is the inverter that I bought from Amazon. It's advertised as a device that plugs into the lighter.
Yes I was under the impression clamps should only be a temporary connection such as for when a car needs a jump. Basically all of my stuff is 12v, Christmas lights, Dometic fridge and fantastic vent fan. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004MDXS0U/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1524704596&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=power+inverter how would I connect something like this to the battery?
Definitely, but I'll add that adding a relatively low watt 120V inverter is cheap (e.g. $30 300W https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDXS0U/ ) - if you might need to run a laptop or similar down the road, just include in a 12V socket today and don't feel like you've committed to 12V only forever. If you're planning on running off shorepower anyways sometimes though, wiring in some 120V outlets may make sense regardless. Certainly in terms of just fixed appliance loads, 12V only makes sense.
Well, most laptops are about 18-21v input. The best bet is to snag a high power panel, maybe 30-50w, 110v inverter, and large battery with enough capacity to charge. Now, many factors depend on variations. How long will you be using the solar/battery? Hooked up and running 24/7? Just for a few hours (or like, one battery cycle, etc) These will determine the amount of solar power you need, and size of the battery.
You can get small car inverters to attach to the battery. A smaller motorcycle/garden tractor battery might work as well.
Oh, and a charge controller, since 30-50w panel is too larger to directly charge the battery.
From what the sounds of it are, you have a portable folding panel? I don't know many others that have a 12v/USB output. Chances are 1-10w in size?
If you look on your power adapter, it should tell you the watts, if not, to calculate watts, multiply volts x amps. So, for my laptop, it was 65 watts, and the Samsung fast charger is 10 watts for a total of 75 watts, so I could have gotten away with like a 100 watt inverter, but I was looking into getting a portable printer and wanted extra capacity.
I bought one like this off of amazon, worked good, but after a while, the USB port died (probably an internal fuse). But since it had "household" 110v outlets as well, it was just as easy to use the standard plugs that came with my laptop and Samsung wall charger.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1
This one is the same price (29.99), but 400W (400 watts):
https://www.amazon.com/Ampeak-400W-Power-Inverter-Converter/dp/B0714B231X?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4
At the time, I didn't have much money, but I would have liked to have bought a higher wattage one, like 2000 watts, so that I could use a hot pot to heat water for tea/coffee/soup, etc. The hot pot that I currently have draws 1500 watts, for example.
When driving, I charge off the 12v lighter plug on the dash board with a small inverter. Like this one. Having two plugs plus USB is really useful. I always unplug it when parked though so as not to drain the car battery. Using this, I make sure my laptop batter is at full charge when I park for the night. https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503271065&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=12v+inverter+to+120v
At night, or when parked for a couple of days, I use something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-JNC660-1700-Peak-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503270823&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=car+jump+battery+pack
There are many makes and models of this kind of thing. The one I purchased was on sale at Harbor Freight. I recharge it with an extra long extension cord, depending on my stops/sleeping locations (not too hard to find places to plug in most of the time). It charges phones, tablet, and laptop. Plus, I have something just in case I am alone and the minivan does need a jump, or I meet someone who needs one.
I also use a solar powered light that will also charge my phone if needed. It sits on the dash board to charge up and then I can use it at night. I found a deal on it on Amazon Warehouse. https://www.amazon.com/WakaWaka-Light-Solar-Powered-Flashlight-Yellow/dp/B00W6NTLXG/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1503270978&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=waka+waka
I also carry two small battery packs (great for air travel too) that charge using the USB plug on the inverter. I make sure they are fully powered all the time.
I'm sure other folks have other ideas about how to do this without solar. I'm curious about what those might be too.
I've used a car jumper pack with an inverter to run a small TV at a tailgating event before a game for about 6 hours before.
This is the back up I used:
http://www.target.com/p/peak-750-amp-jump-starter/-/A-14903814?ci_src=17588969&amp;ci_sku=14903814&amp;ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&amp;AFID=google_pla_df&amp;CPNG=PLA_Automotive%2BShopping&amp;adgroup=SC_Automotive&amp;LID=700000001170770pgs&amp;network=g&amp;device=c&amp;location=1018375&amp;gclid=CO3u-f3DgcoCFYEYHwodpD4NJg&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds
I use something like this for an inverter, it's actually only a 100w, and that is actually overkill. This would be to much but I like how it has two plugs and I can use a power strip with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=lp_583328_1_1?s=automotive&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451407979&amp;sr=1-1
Because you can't run a Power Inverter off USB
if LED and at 5W for 50, you could run 1000 bulbs for 100 watts.. That would be a very small inverter (this one is $30).
Also, the demand would be low enough that even 200' of extension cords would work fine... You could easily go to 2000 LED bulbs without risk. ( 200w = < 2A draw on #14 wire)
I bought this one of amazon for $30 and it works rather well http://www.amazon.com/Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=zg_bs_583328_1
I was thinking of buying this to keep my laptop charged and just use my car for sound (not extremely loud or early or late don't worry)
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521653627&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=laptop+car+chargers
If you wish to power the projector off your truck's battery you will need to find an inverter with sufficient wattage. The 110-240V is the voltage abilities; if you're in the states (which I assume given the Ram) you are working with 110V.
Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450163409&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=300w+power+inverter&amp;psc=1
That link is just representative of what you need. I don't know the wattage required for that projector. If you already own the projector you can look at the label and it should say something like 110V at xxA where the xx is some number. If you multiply those numbers you will get the wattage minimum. For future reference P=I*V where P is power in Watts, I is current in Amps, and V is voltage in Volts.
Something to note, if you wish to run this independent of the truck's battery you can buy/borrow a car battery and connect the inverter to that instead. Know that after a period of time either battery will die. That time, however, depends on current load from the projector. I won't get into that (there are college degrees on just that topic) but I would say you should get 2-3 hours out of a standard car battery.
Honestly I have no clue what that is but I will check it out now.Thank god someone replied ;)
EDIT:So I can use my pickups battery?I have a Dodge Ram 1500, will this kill it like leaving the lights on too long?
Also which inverter off Amazon would work?I see they have different outputs?Like this would work right: http://www.amazon.com/Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=pd_sim_107_1?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=51RkdWdCdgL&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;refRID=1EN92XBPC38SW536R5A4
Couldn't you just use an AC converter? It put's out more power and it's cheaper. https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1504134077&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;keywords=power+inverter&amp;psc=1
You mention a cigarette lighter, so I'm assuming you mean a charger for a car.
Cars have 12V (not 110V) and the voltage you need for the Boosted Board is much higher than that. But you can get a 110V car inverter (like this) and connect your boosted charger to it (it wouldn't be the most efficient solution since you'd first convert from 12V to 110V back down to what is probably 48V), but it'll work.
It's theoretically possible to have a straight inverter from 12V to 48V, but you'd have to verify that you actually need 48V and it would be a fairly expensive charger, because you don't want to over or under supply that voltage.
I sometimes use a standard $20 power converter in my car. It plugs into the cigarette lighter and has two standard outlets. I then simply plug in a charger like I do at home.
It seems to work fine for phones, iPads, Surface whatever model, etc.
Not sure I'd want to run a toaster oven off of it, but all my tablets and that charge fine.
This is similar to the model I have.
http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK%C2%AE-outlets-inverter-notebook-MRI3011BU/dp/B004MDXS0U
I ended up buying one of these and it works well. Just use the plug that came with your XPS
BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-5rRBb6ZRHA7Y
So, this may be strange but what if you took one of these 110V to 12V cigarette adapters, then went from that to an inverter like this?
Edit: Apparently there are "pure sine wave" inverters that are more expensive than the "modified sine wave" inverters. At that point, you may want to forego the cigarette adapter and just look at a DC 12V power supply which then is wired to a pure sine wave inverter, which appear to be more common in the context of solar installations.
Why not something like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Outlets-Inverter-Charging-Smartphones/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_23_1?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=51dt4hRUj4L&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&amp;refRID=0CMT7QFE6QK90YQF7Y7A)?
You could use a battery pump but most run on AAs or the likes. So here is what I have done successfully...
Your number of fish will change the size of the bucket required. Having the plants in there will help. 5 gallons would probably be ok for less than 5 corys, any more than that and I'd opt for a larger rubbermade tote or something.
Be sure to strap your container down in the car so it doesnt shift around. I also wrapped a hand towel around the air line hosing and hole for the small amount of water that made its way out. Don't worry about insulation or heating too much, especially with corys. As long as you don't change their water temperature quickly they will be fine. Along the way be sure to do water changes, probably a small one each night. Test your water to keep an eye on ammonia levels and such.
BESTEK 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7Mw4Cb14Q8KZ4
Man, I have no idea but what I plan on doing when I get to around 20 at a time (currently I am getting 12 at a time) is just to bring an inverter along and plug the 2 at the very bottom of the stack in to mantain its battery level while going to serve. Just something simple like this one below. If i was picking up 20+ a night I think getting one would be worth it. Does anyone know if these things would work though? I think so but haven't tested it if anyone has more knowledge about inverters then I, I would appreciate the insite.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1541393163&sr=1-4&keywords=inverter&dpID=51XOZ%252BxBykL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
Get one of these https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U
Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. I ended up getting badly sunburnt at my campsite last year (even though we had a canopy for shade (I'm stupid)) and it severely effected my experience. Wear very comfortable shoes that you don't give a shit about. The past 3 years I've gone to Firefly and it's been a mix of insane mud or insane dust. There's also a Wawa a few minutes from the festival, if you can I highly suggest getting a sandwich either for lunch or whenever, it's cheaper than food inside the festival from what I remember. Another thing, if you're camping, an AC/DC converter that you can plug into your car (this is the one I got for last year http://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power-Inverter-Smartphones-Tablets/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1456799948&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=ac+dc+converter) so you don't have to go to a charging station or if a portable charger doesn't hold a charge for long enough.
So many are stuck watching MSM. We need to stick Bernie videos (such as some of those in this list...below the wall of text) between their eyes and their TV. Put some on your tablet or phone so you don't have to eat up your data or worry about bad cell service.
If you want to go hard core, carry around a Bluetooth speaker and get a cigarette lighter multi-plug outlet in your car.
My iPad has been my secret weapon during canvassing. Show them Bernie right then and there. Go into their world and show them Bernie.
Receptacle-- you're right on this. A plug is usually the "male" part. Amazon calls the female devices "sockets." Most people I known call the equivalent device in their home an "electrical outlet."
"Inverter" is a standard name for electrical conversion devices.
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1536520861&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=power+inverter+dc+12v+to+110v+ac+car+inverter
I stand behind my definition of "wire" and "cable." But I confess I only learned this recently, doing research on installing my solar power system. "Cable" carries more current because a bundle (of strands) of smaller wires contains more surface area(s) with which to carry electrons than does solid wire of the same diameter as the cable bundle. Or at least that's what I was told by an electrician.
http://www.copperwiregranulator.com/gallery/Difference-between-Wire-and-Cable.html
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power-Inverter-Converter-Charger/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1467391036&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=car+plug+inverter
I charged my Pint today from a 12v car power inverter, and from a Ego Nexus Escape.
My car has a 180w limit, and the Ego Nexus Escape has a 150w limit. Hopefully the ultra charger is under 150w, but I think it's going to be close.
https://egopowerplus.com/nexus-escape/
Bestek 300w car power inverter
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U
I'd trust a cheap inverter over a cheap DC adapter, just because they are so much more common and there are good ones cheap enough that the garbage ones aren't on the market long. It'll be less efficient to do DC-AC-DC, but then you'll have an inverter for other things too. Unless you are charging your battery with solar only, I'd say go the less efficient but cheaper route of an inverter.
Inverters don't use their rated power at all times, they use a bit of current to stay on (usually less than 10w if they don't have an always on fan), then they draw more power as the load increases. Usually they are around 80-85% efficient. Some can be set for 110v instead of 120v, to save some energy, but most of the small ones can't.
I use this 300w Bestek to charge my 120w laptop when driving. There aren't any decent universal 120w DC converters for this price. This Go Power 175w doesn't have a fan, which is really nice if you are using it when your vehicle isn't running.
We just went on a big shopping trip this afternoon. We are going to attempt to fly our 4x6 foot flag with 3, 5 feet sections of 1 and a quarter inch PVC pipe, some connectors, a bucket, and 50 pounds of quick crete (about $20 total). We have one of the pipes cut into a point just in case we need to mallet it into the ground. Our list, and other distracting items. We also have duct tape just in case.
I also just bought a two plug car AC converter. I bought these recently. Excellent source of fiber and protein. And 600 glowstick bracelets.
We have acquired most everything we need. We will end up buying around 8-9 24 packs of water in addition to a dozen or so gallons and some other easy access water. We have a 15 passenger van with back seats taken out (no storage concerns), and its our first time going, but we figure people will be needing water come Sunday.
Here is a list of the things we purchased today. Maybe a thing or two will give you some ideas. We also used this as a guide and checklist as well:
Some things we bought individually: ear plugs, eyemask for sleep, offbrand camelbaks (2 liters with additional storage), flasks, granola bars (a variety, including a few boxes of high fiber), twizzlers, a metal hot/cold thermos, sugar free red bull (8 cans). should be bringing a few pounds of homemade beef jerky.
This all totaled around $250 or so.
[Friend], this is what we need you to buy:
We have a setup that uses LiOn batteries. Alternatively you could just buy a power inverter that runs off your vehicle.
BESTEK makes reliable ones. 300W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter with 4.2A Dual USB Car Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fAYkDbPNMJXSQ
You just need a reasonably large automotive battery and an inverter.
Something like this, one of these, and a car battery. Use a deep cycle battery if you plan on using this regularly, and pick up a battery charger. Otherwise you can just plug it into the battery in your car, if that works.
I also found this...
https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-300W-Power-Inverter-Adapter/dp/B004MDXS0U/ref=pd_sbs_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B004MDXS0U&amp;pd_rd_r=68X506RBA2YGJN6RHWYV&amp;pd_rd_w=5bjN9&amp;pd_rd_wg=nklYQ&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=68X506RBA2YGJN6RHWYV
Not sure if that would be my best solution or not?
A power inverter is what you'll need. As for wiring it in, perhaps something like this will help. You could just find a circuit that comes on with the key (radio circuit usually) to plug that into. However, that wire does seem a little too thin to run an inverter..