Auto/Air Power Inverter running off Cigarette lighter

[jeff24680]

Wondering if there would be any issues running this http://us.kensington.com/html/17163.html off of Cigarette lighter. I am not very fond of electrical equations.

I am basically going to be using it to plug my Netbook and cell phone in to when needed.

 

[nicho919]

Not really a good idea, for a few reasons, not the least of which is voltage fluctuations to the laptop. Use a cigarette lighter to run things that are designed to be run off of of a cigarette lighter. Converting DC to AC just to convert it back to DC isn't really a nice thing for your electronics. I personally hard-wire all of my electronics into the car. I have a power cable running to my radar detector out of the front of the headliner, a cell phone charger with a cable going through the floor of the center console, and the GPS wall charged at home. That way you can use the cigarette lighter for what it was meant for. Lighting cigarettes. Not to power Manhatten.

 

[jeff24680]

Thanks for the info.

So where do you run your power wires too?

Could you give me a brief description or diagram of how you did yours. I would like to be able to have my Netbook plugged in a the very least.

**EDIT**

I have also upgraded all my cabling from the 200 AMP alternator <2 ga> fuse box <2ga> battery <4ga> Multiple Grounds

 

[nicho919]

The netbook is possible, just not necessarily the best for the laptop. There's 12v to the mirror. Tap that up high. Down low, just run wire from the fuse block, or scotch lock on to something down there. I know there's at least a few wires. You have to remember the wire to the cigarette lighter is TINY gauge. The higher the gauge, the better it will be for your electronics, particularly high draw items.

 

[jeff24680]

Ok, I wonder if I could just thicken the wire going to the cigarette lighter, if not I will construct something using your advice. I'm learning electrical slowly.