Best 12v power inveter?

So you're going to power it via cigarette lighter?

 

Check the wattage of the power supply for the laptop. I am able to run my laptop and 23" flat screen TV off a 400 watt Cobra through the cig lighter (I haven't installed my big inverter in the new truck, yet). I think Pilot has the Cobra 400 watt on sale for around $30.

 

400's only run 150 max off the cig ligher. 400 is when you clamp the battery clamps on. Any works really.. i've got 2 on mine.. one is a cobra.. the other is the yellow and black kind and I have no problems.

 

Hope they're not on the same circuit. LOL!
Seriously, how much do you value your laptop ? While I've used a Cobra on my laptops for about 3 years , if you want to be Sure you don't damage it , get a pure sine wave converter. They cost more , and you won't find them at truck stops , but if you have a lot invested , it may be worth it. Google it.
otherwise , go with the Cobra.

 

First off, your cig lighter most likely has a 10 amp fuse. At 14 volts, that's 140 amps peek DC. Your gonna loose a bit in the conversion so you will prob have 125 left. Regardless of what the inverter is rated, your only getting 125. if you pull more the 125 watts you will blow the fuse.

Laptop pulls 80+ watts alone. Gaming laptops can pull 150. Remove that batt while gaming to reduce draw. cooler will need to be on a different circuit. for the laptop you want a "pure sign" inverter. they cost a bit more, but you may damage it without pure sign

 

Cigarette lighters are all on a 30 amp fuse unless someone replaced it with the wrong fuse. Pure sine waves reproduce house current of 60hz. Some of them actually make a better sine wave than the electrical company. Modified sine waves are produced through switching and filtering. Though close to 60hz they aren't perfect and have some noise and distortion if you looked on an O-scope. Though modified sine waves are suitable for trucks. They won't hurt a laptop as it charges the battery and the laptop is designed to run off the battery. The only things modified sine waves affect is stuff like digital clocks that rely on 60hz and variable speed motors.

Being his company won't install an inverter he is pretty well limited to the 400 watt inverter. He can hook the inverter up to the cigarette lighter in the TV covey hole, hook the fridge to the lighter plug in the fridge covey hole and use the dash plug for the cell phone and GPS. The front and bunk area are separate circuits. He can run approximately 350 watts on a 30 amp DC circuit.

The 800 watt has alligator clamps you can hook to the battery which can be a pain every time you want to use it. Plus you have to protect it from the weather. You'll be fine with a 400 watt for now. Just don't use anymore than what you said. You might even share the cooler with the front circuit.