Mud-club

Chat & Social => The Bar - General Chat => Topic started by: turtle on November 12, 2004, 09:50:47

Title: Maplin special.
Post by: turtle on November 12, 2004, 09:50:47: Maplins have a special on 150Watt inverters, enough to run that DVD player (keep the kids quite in the back) or the laptop to run the GPS software, idea unit small and compact.

At half price Ã‚Â£14.98 a bargin. Our local Maplins had a big stock of them, piled high right by the door, which I seemed to miss and walked past them, doh!
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: strapping young lad on November 12, 2004, 10:30:25: pardon my ignorance but how are they wired to the vehicle and how do they affect the battery?
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: turtle on November 12, 2004, 10:35:13: They come pre-wired to go direct into the Cig Lighter socket or you can wire them direct.

Shouldn't cause any extra battery drain.
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Bob696 on November 12, 2004, 12:55:45: my local maplin had the 300 W version for Ã‚Â£19.95 and the 600 W for Ã‚Â£79.95.

Me thinks they know not what they do ! (oh n I picked up the 300W version)
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: thermidorthelobster on November 12, 2004, 13:08:19: A friend of mine bought a 150W inverter, wired it in, and to check it was working, plugged the angle grinder in...

Pop!

Doh...
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: thermidorthelobster on November 12, 2004, 14:44:17: Well, I just popped in to Maplin in Farnborough and bought the last 300W inverter there.

Now I've come home and I'm wondering what the heck I need an inverter for! Thanks for the tip-off... I think!
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Andy. on November 12, 2004, 17:28:50: Bummer, just went to Halfrauds this afternoon and there's a Maplin right next door :evil:

Knew I should of gone in and had a browse.
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Bush Tucker Man on November 12, 2004, 19:13:29: Quote from: "Andy."
Bummer, just went to Halfrauds this afternoon and there's a Maplin right next door :evil:

That'd be the one in Bradford then, just off Canal Road?
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Andy. on November 12, 2004, 21:08:30: Certainly was or is Richard.

Went straight from work at 1:00pm, well i was halfway there nearly anyway :lol:
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Bush Tucker Man on November 12, 2004, 21:23:53: I suppose it's easier for you than going into their SuperStore in Leeds (on Regent Street,just the otherside of the A64 fly-over from the bus station)
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Range Rover Blues on November 14, 2004, 11:54:25: Quote from: "turtle"
They come pre-wired to go direct into the Cig Lighter socket or you can wire them direct.

Shouldn't cause any extra battery drain.

600Watt, that's about 50 amps on a 12 volt system. All this from the cigarette lighter? :-k
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Bob696 on November 14, 2004, 12:42:20: just been to towsure and they have a few 500W inverters for Ã‚Â£25 .. might be an end of line.
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: EvilEd on November 17, 2004, 15:55:45: Just remember that 150W = 15A @ 12V

I have a 600W Inverter and used winch cable to run it. that's 50A you are pulling from the battery.

I have seen a few 150W inverters that claim to run at 120w (Max 12v socket output!)

Anyone that knows Electronics... Power = Volts x Current
therefore 600 = 240 X 2.5A
600 = 12 X 50A

150 = 240 x 0.625A
150 = 12 x 12.5A

Also check that you are getting that as the steady output, not the Peak.

*Goes to take my anorak off now*

PS. Hi Bill.... Finally found your new hiding place......
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: davidlandy on November 17, 2004, 21:09:21: But the inverter wont pull those amps all the time , only if it needs them?

i have a 600w one bought from maplins last year for Ã‚Â£29.99 and thats been fine - as has been said the wires are like jump leads!
Title: Maplin special.
Post by: Wanderer on November 17, 2004, 21:14:50: Some of them talk in terms of soft start. I guess that means they won't supply more than x watts as the item fires up?

Ed