Cobra CPI 475 400 Watt Power Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We needed a higher power interter to use in our RV when camping without shore power.We needed to power two laptop computers, charge cell phones and PDAs and run a small fan.This Cobra unit reviewed well so I ordered one from Amazon.It was delivered in just a few days (thanks Amazon). It has a solid feel to it, connectors are of good quality, and it is small enough not to be obtrusive in the confines of an RV.I used the cigarette lighter plug and put this on our dining table.The two AC plugs accommodated two AC adapters for laptops.As a bonus, there is a USB port on the Cobra that will supply 5 volts! So, I can charge my Blackberry simultaneously.What a delight!!The unit has an internal fan which only runs as needed.If I'm just charging a cell phone, then the fan does not run - but when I've got a load on - the fan runs and effectively cools the inverter.This is not a pure sine wave inverter but I've had no trouble at all using it with various laptops, pdas, fans, and cell phone chargers.I've not used it to power a TV or Radio (those could be more sensitive to interter noise).After a months use, I'm delighted with the inverter - it meets my needs completely.

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Product Description:
The Cobra CPI 475 is a 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC power inverter with 400 watts continuous power handling and 800 Watts peak power.This unit contains a 5 volt USB output, modified sine wave, thermal shutdown, reverse polarity protection, low voltage shutdown, low voltage alarm, external fuse, 2 grounded AC receptacles, and includes a carry case, cigarette lighter plug, and direct- to battery cables.

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Whistler PI-400W 400 Watt Power Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had previously purchased a Xantrex 851-400 inverter to run in conjunction with a marine battery so as to power lights for my jewelry booth at Art Fairs. I was very happy with it but when I decided to expand my use of lights, necessitating a second battery and a second inverter, for whatever reason I decided to try the Whistler PI-400W and save a whopping $7.55. Big mistake. The Xantrex will operate flawlessly for 2 days sucking enough juice out of that marine battery to operate 75 watts of CFL bulbs for 8-10 hours each day. The Whistler worked well for the first day but kick off after 2 hours of the second. The first time that it happened I rationalized that perhaps I hadn't fully charged the second marine battery but after making sure to test it again with both batteries on successive weekends, I got the same result both times. The moral of the story is that Amazon does a great job of refunding your money during the first 30 days and don't get cheap when making your purchase. If you find a product that does the job well that you need it to do, pay the man!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Whistler PI-400W 400 Watt Power Inverter

Product Description:
The Whistler PI-400 400 Watt power inverter allows you to run some AC appliances right from your car, boat or RV. Perfect for weekend use and life on the road. They're also great for power outages.


400 Watts continuous power to run AC appliances right from your car, boat or RV. Click to enlarge.
Two separate outlets. Click to enlarge.
Connects directly to your vehicle's battery. Click to enlarge.
Whistler Power Inverters
For many of us, a vehicle is more than just transportation. It can be a mobile office, communications or entertainment center, or simply an expression of our personality. Whistler products are designed to make the time you spend in your vehicle more productive, more fulfilling, safer, or just simply more fun. Whistler's mission is to provide products that improve your driving experience.
Whistler offers a complete line of DC to AC inverters ranging in capacity from 100 Watts to 3000 Watts. These inverters offer advanced technology, dependable operation and will provide years of reliable service when used in accordance with their operating instructions.
PI-400 Features

Full Output Power--Other inverters have reduced output over time.
High Surge
Cooling fan
Ground Fault Sensing
20 Amp Power Requirement--at rated output

Electronic Circuit Protection

Overload Protection
Inverter will automatically shut down if load exceeds inverter rating.


Smart Surge Control
Inverter will attempt to start loads above the continuous rating for up to 10 seconds.


Voltage Protection
Whenever the input exceeds 15 volts DC or is less than 10 volts, the inverter will automatically shutdown.


Short Circuit Protection
Automatically shuts down until short circuit is removed.


Thermal Cutoff
Automatically shuts down if internal temperature exceeds safe design parameters.

What's in the Box
Whistler PI-400 400 Watt power inverter, User's Manual

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Xantrex Technologies 851-0400 XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This item works as advertised, but it is a modified sine wave inverter.If you are planning on using it to charge cordless tool batteries---don't.The owners manual contains a caution about using with cordless tool chargers (such as Dewalt).Do a quick Internet search on "cordless tools" and "modified sine wave inverter" to confirm whether your tool is effected.Some other items that may not work well are appliances with clocks, microwaves, etc.Be sure you understand the limitations of a modified sine wave inverter.
For those smaller appliances that will run on modified sine wave, this item works well.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Xantrex Technologies 851-0400 XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter

Product Description:
Power your electronic devices when you're on the road with the Xantrex XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter. The smallest 400-watt power inverter on the market, this handy device plugs directly into your car, truck, van, RV, or boat's lighter socket to convert power from your vehicle's battery into standard utility power. And with dual three-prong outlets, this in-vehicle power inverter lets you simultaneously run or recharge multiple devices, such as cell phones, camcorders, handheld gaming devices, stereos, laptops, TVs, and DVD players.
The Xantrex XPower Plus 400-Watt Inverter
At a Glance:

Quiet alternative to generators
In-car power inversion for use during transit
320 watts of continuous power with 600-watt surge capacity for safe, consistent power
Dual 3-prong grounded 120-volt AC outlets for running multiple electronics
Automatic shutdown protects against overheating and overloads

This in-vehicle inverter lets you turn your ride into a mobile office or entertainment center.
View larger.

Quieter and more compact than a generator, this powerful tool can run multiple devices at once.
View larger.Power Your Electronics in Any Automobile
Plug the XPower Plus 400 into your vehicle's 12-volt lighter socket and turn your ride into a mobile office or entertainment center. This power inverter incorporates high-frequency technology to convert power from your vehicle's battery (12-volt DC) into standard utility power (115-volt AC, 60 Hz), so you can power your laptop to get some work done on the road--without draining your expensive computer battery--or plug in a TV or DVD player to keep the kids entertained on a long trip. This versatile gadget gives you options for keeping informed, up to date, or entertained anywhere, and it's a perfect companion for camping, beach trips, and tailgates.
Built-In Features for Convenience and Safety
The XPower Plus 400's dual three-prong grounded AC outlets give you the ability to simultaneously power multiple devices, such as cell phones, camcorders, stereos, laptops, and TVs. And with 320 watts of continuous power and a 600-watt surge capacity, this power inverter even has DC terminals so it can be directly connected to your car, RV, or boat battery to support higher AC loads.
For protection, an integrated automatic shutdown prevents overloads, overheating, and low/high battery conditions. The inverter also senses low battery voltage so you never have to worry about completely draining your batteries. An added bonus, the XPower Plus 400's operates quietly, so you can enjoy on-demand AC power in your car without giving up your peace and quiet or drowning out your favorite tunes.Lightweight and portable, this power inverter measures 5.88 x 4.12 x 2.25 inches (LxWxH) and weighs one pound, six ounces. The Xantrex XPower Plus 400 is covered by a one-year warranty.
About Xantrex
Xantrex Technology Inc. (xantrex.com), a subsidiary of Schneider Electric, is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced power electronic products and systems for the renewable and mobile power markets. The company's products convert and control raw electrical power from any central, distributed, renewable, or backup power source into high-quality power required by electronic equipment and the electricity grid. Xantrex is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with facilities in the United States, Germany and Spain, and a joint venture in China.
What's in the Box
In-car power inverter.


Plug it into your car, truck, van, RV, or boat's lighter socket to power everything from DVD players to handheld gaming devices.

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CyberPower CPS150BI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Bottle Mount Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this product with the intention of using it for charging my laptop while on the road. According to the product's spec sheet, it is rated to supply 140-watts of continuous power (and 150-watts peak) and it is marketed as being a suitable power supply for laptops. Unfortunately, when I plugged my laptop (which uses a 90-watt charger) in to the unit it would overload and trip the surge protection after a few seconds.I was thoroughly unamused.

Additionally, I found this nugget from a review on Newegg:
"The problem with this unit is that neither the hot or the neutral plug on the unit are referenced to ground. In other words, the neutral actually has a potential of 60v above ground. This can lead to some shocking situations. The ground leg of the inverter is just a dummy hole -- there is no actual ground.

In layman's terms, the electrical design of this unit is very poor and would never achieve household electrical standards. I can't figure out how they are allowed to manufacture and sell this unit especially when they advertise it for use with laptops."

And upon further inspection, I can confirm that this is accurate, which could possibly be the reason why my laptop charger overloads the unit despite the fact that the unit is supposed to be able to supply 140-watts continuously.

This unit does seem to work well for small electronic devices, but I cannot recommend this unit for any electrical device that draws much power or uses a 3-prong connector.

Click Here to see more reviews about: CyberPower CPS150BI AC Mobile Power Inverter/Converter, 12VDC to 120VAC, 150W, Bottle Mount

Product Description:
150Watt Car/Bottle Inverter

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Wagan Smart AC 120 Watt USB Power Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a very small DC > AC inverter than converts 12V DC from your car to 120V AC.The removable power cord is a good idea and it has a handy 5V USB plug on the side for charging small USB devices.

It's smaller than a deck of cards but they've overrated it's power capacity by quite a bit.It doesn't have enough cooling capacity to prevent overheating of it's internal parts with even a small load, so it gets hot and shuts off.

I measured it's output with a quality Fluke TrueRMS voltmeter and the output looks ok at 117V AC which is close to a standard 120V household outlet.This is adequate to run most low power AC devices with no issues.

The 120 Watt load rating is overstated because it heats up to 100`F even before you plug in anything. Then it gets really hot if you connect anything that draws some power such as a laptop computer.I tried a Dell D830 laptop which requires 25 watts to run.The AC Inverter overheated and shutdown within 2 minutes while running a laptop.

I have a variety of test equipment and found that the inverter can handle 15 watts all day but 20 watts is the thermal limit.25 watts overloads it and it overheated to 190`F and shutdown in 2 minutes. It smelled like hot plastic burning.It's possible another inverter of the same model may perform better but that is not likely.

This design has marginal internal cooling capacity so it appears limited to about 20 watts max.The tiny 3/4" built-in fan is quiet at first and it gets louder as the inverter heats up.The fan has a high pitched whine and is really too small.The fan noise may be ok in a moving automobile as it would be drowned out by road noise.

If they changed the design to include a real aluminum heatsink with some mass to it that would increase the power handling a lot.A bigger 2" fan would have worked also.

There is no "off" button.
It has a power LED to indicate that it's on.
The overtemp shutdown feature works.
The fan is thermally regulated, and ends up running all the time.
The low battery feature works and it will shut off if the input voltage gets below 10.3V DC.
It automatically turns back on when the voltage comes back up to 12V.
Tiny high speeed fans typically don't have a long lifespan.

Technical data:
I measured a 400mA current draw with the unit idling with nothing plugged in.A 25 watt load draws 2 amps on the 12V line which sounds about right. Be aware that if you try to run something that actually draws 120 watts (using an inverter that could handle it) a load that big may blow the fuse in your vehicle 12V outlet since they typically has a 10-15 amps fuse.10 amps X 12V = 120 watts, for example.

Conclusion:
This is a really tiny voltage inverter. If you plan to only run small equipment like a AA battery charger, camera, or MP3 player that needs 5 to 10 watts then it should work ok for you.

I am going to return mine in favor of a physically larger inverter with some mass to keep it cool and one that can really handle 50 watts or more.A quality unit rated for 50 watts would be much better than a tiny, plastic, overrated 120 Watt one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wagan Smart AC 120 Watt USB Power Inverter

Product Description:
Wagan Smart AC USB Power Inverters are the smart and compact mobile power to convert 12 Volt DC to 110 Volt AC for your electronics. This slim and portable inverter provides 120 watts continuous power and 300 watts peak surge power. This powers laptop computers (some processors need at least 90 watts), video game consoles, PDAs, MP3 players, etc. Allows you to run and charge electronics in your vehicle and in the airplane (compatible port at airline seat required). Airline adapter is detachable from the DC cord which plugs into any 12v cigarette lighter. Features a built-in USB port and 1 AC outlet. Includes many safety features such as auto reset short circuit protection, overload protection, low battery indicator and low battery shutdown. Carrying pouch included for easy transport so you can take it anywhere you go.

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Black & Decker PI400AB 400 Watt Power Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This inverter powered my MacBook Pro which draws 85 watts using the power plug in a box truck I rented. The plug tag and inverter label read up to 80 watts while the manual states up to 100 watts for the plug. The heavier gauge alligator clip cables are for higher wattage applications or you may blow your power port fuse. The alligator clips connect directly to the battery. If you permanently hardwire the inverter buy 6 gauge wire with a 50 amp fuse up to 6 feet long or 4 gauge wire over 6 feet.Both included cables are 3 feet (91 cm) long. Remember, Volts x Amps = Watts. The inverter draws 512 watts when output is 400 watts according to the label.Output is a stepped modified sine wave and NOT sinusoidal.

When the inverter fan comes on it is noticeable like a radio between stations at moderate volume (took me some miles before figuring it was the inverter).The housing stayed cool at 85 watts.

When Black & Decker fixes their dead links the manual may be available at [..] (search for PI400AB). Lowes and Home Depot were [..]for this inverter.

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Product Description:
mfr: Vector 400 Watt Power Inverter / 800 Watt Peak
- Converts vehicle's 12 volt DC power into household 115 volt AC power
- Dual AC & USB outlets power and/or recharge personal electronics
- Low battery shutdown prevents total battery drain
- Electrical fault interrupter circuit
- High and low voltage protection
POWER DISTRIBUTION & ACCESSORIES Vector>

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Jensen JP30 300 Watt Power Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this inverter does wonders. On a road trip this past summer, we drove from colorado all the way out to new york city, with many stops in between. The whole time, we had the tv and ps2 hooked up thru the inverter, and never did we have any problems. played constantly, it was great. DEFINITELY BUY IT if you are looking for a way for your kids to have fun in the car, or wherever. WORTH EVERY LAST PENNY!

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Product Description:
Recoton is a global leader in the development and marketing of consumer electronic accessories, audio products and video gaming products. Recoton's more than 4, 000 products include highly functional accessories for audio, video, car audio, camcorder, multi-media/computer, home office and cellular and standard telephone products, as well as 900MHz wireless technology products. The JP-30 double-outlet 300W DC to AC Power Inverter allows AC operation from car, RV or boat cigarette lighter.

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Belkin F5C400-300W 2 Outlet Dc/Ac Inverter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This Belkin inverter is much louder than the 140 watt inverter (which is difficult to hear at all).You can easily drowned out the noise with your radio but the pitch was a little too high for me.
The 300 watt unit is only a little bigger with a second outlet than the 140 watt inverter.It comes with an automotive type fuse (30 amp) which does seem to be very useful if your car lighter fuse is 10 or 15 amp.

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Product Description:
Thanks to the AC Anywhere Power Inverter from Belkin, running out of power is an event of the past. This unit simply plugs into any standard, 12-volt DC vehicle cigarette lighter socket to convert your vehicle's battery power to 110-volt AC (common household current). It also features two AC outlets, an automatic overheat shut-off at 150F, low-battery alarm at 10.6V and automatic shut-off feature at 10.6V. Now you can keep laptop computers, PDAs, and AC appliances powered and operational wherever you go.
What's in the Box
Power inverter and replaceable fuse.

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Tripp Lite PV150 PV 150W 12V DC to AC Portable Inverter with DC Auto Power Outlet Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Seems to work just fine -- have only used it for cell phone and small game units.The advantage of this smaller unit is no fan - quiet.Some devices will require the power of the larger (noisy fan) model.Low cost inverters such as this produce electric power that is an approximate sine wave as opposed the perfect sine wave that come out of a wall outlet -- as far I know this isn't a problem for typical consumer electronic equipment, laptops etc -- but it's probably worth checking the user manual of the device to be powered just to make sure there are no precautions about using it with an inverter.However, the AC motors in things like power tools and appliances may run a bit lest efficiently when connected to an (inexpensive) inverter.

*** Update ***

We've used this with a variety of cell phone/ipod/handheld game chargers and so far haven't experienced any problems.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tripp Lite PV150 PV 150W 12V DC to AC Portable Inverter with DC Auto Power Outlet

Product Description:
Harness your vehicle's battery to efficiently power office equipment on the road. Continuously spplies up to 150 watts of 12V AC power to a single AC outlet from any 12V battery or automotive DC source. Convenient cigarette lighter DC input jack with 3' cable provides 1-stop installation. Portable and compact, the inverter's design is among the most rugged available thanks to its lightweight metal casing.

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