MyecRunners Blog (Team Driving)

I am using my laptop right now, and always fully charged.

A small inverter is all you need.
I use the Cobra 400W. Plugged in to a 12V socket it provides 150W of power, which is enough to power a laptop and charge a smaller device at the same time. Most laptops use less than 100W.

If you are worried about Swift's 'no inverter' rule, don't be.
Mine is left in the open when the truck is in the shop and there is no problem.
Plug-in inverters are not a problem. You just can't wire it directly to the battery.

Go forth! Power and use that laptop.

 

How does the food on board work out when there isn't an inverter? Or you have to use a plug in Cobra 400W?

 

Like I said, plugged in to the 12V socket you will only get 150W of power - no matter if the inverter is 200W or 300W or 400W.
The 12V plug can only support 150W, and any inverter will detect if it is plugged in to a 12V plug.

However, if your MacBook will only work work with a true sine wave power source it could be a problem.
Most small inverters from truck stops do not produce a true sine wave. And those that do are much more expensive.

You also didn't say why or how it didn't work, or exactly which inverter you tried.
Details, details. It is all in the details if you want to diagnose a problem.

 

I use that Cobra inverter because it has been the most reliable inverter so far.
And it isn't good to use a 100W inverter to power a 100W device. Using it at max is a sure way of burning it out quickly.

I use a couple of 12V lunchbox ovens to cook meals - RoadPro. The Barton unit with adjustable temps always fried my 12V sockets, no matter the setting.
But with the RoadPro lunchbox oven, I can use it doubled up with my Coleman cooler on the same plug with no problems.

And the Coleman 12V cooler will keep things very chilly, if not frozen at times.

And the cooler will cool better if it is raised up a bit from sitting directly on the floor.
The heat from the floor when the engine is running will fight against it.
My mentor had used a sheet of 1/2 inch Styrofoam to insulate it, but I use some adhesive felt pads that I found at Lowe's.
They raise it up about 1/4 inch, just enough to get some airflow under the cooler. And that is all that is needed.
And when I replaced the cooler last month (after over 2 years with the last one) I was able to simply peel off the pads and install them on the new cooler.

 

Yellow is not Cobra. That is a different brand.

Does the laptop charge when at home? Sometimes it could be the power supply.
The laptop should also have a light to indicate charging. ?

My sister has a laptop that won't charge.
It has a new power supply and a new battery, but the computer never shows more than 10%.
It simply doesn't charge up. She has to keep it plugged in to work.
There is something wrong with her computer, and it has nothing to do with the power supply or the battery.
Perhaps you have the same problem?

 

??

I've been running a 30" flat screen and also a DVD player both plugged into the same 12V inverter.

It's been 6 months or so, all is working great.

I'm at home now, can't remember the exact brand and details.

But I got it at AutoZone. Pretty sure it is 300w. Has two plugins and 2 USB. It cup holder shaped, but I just have it on the floor between the bed and desk.

I always unplug the inverter when not in use.