Thread: Different invertor - Via Epia M

Hi, I'm looking to set up a similar system, let me know how your inverter setup turns out.

Great awsome find by the way, i havent seen one of these yet but digging around in there site they seem to be comming out with a 150 watt version soon too...

http://www.4lots.com/power_inverter/...xPower_175.htm

I ordered the 75 watt one and it shipped today, Ill let everyone know how it works out...i figure if it dosent work out for my car puter then I can find a 100 other uses for it and its pretty cheap so well see.

Sam's Club (www.samsclub.com) carries the exact same one for $15. I ordered one to use with my laptop (non-standard, can't find a DC-DC converter). I have yet to use it though...

I ended up purchasing the Rayovac Mini Power Inverter, it has 75 watt normal use and 150 peak. I got a better deal.

Thanks for the Sam's club tip, that's a great deal. I might pick one up there too. I wonder if it's available in their stores too?

I also purchased a Radio Shack DC regulated Power adapter (12-27 volt selection) 60Watts (not an invertor). This is the only universal laptop adapter I could find that had a 12 voltage selector, all others were 15 volts and up. They put one up every few days on ebay under radioshackoutlet user ID. It retails for $79.99, I paid about $38 after shipping.
If you guys know of another universal 12 volt > laptop adapter, let me know.


I'm going to try both out when I receive them and report back.

Nice samsclub find I would have never thought to look there, maybe Ill cancel my order as there is a sams club right up the road...

I did go look at the local Sam's Club, and did not find it in the store. (I needed it fast for a road trip in the company van). I wound up buying a heavy duty unit, which will now go in my trailer.

UPDATE:
(1st test - Power invertor)Rayovac invertor 75w/150watt max.

Plugged it in, powered using the supplied 60 watt castronic A/C adapter, light came ON in the adapter, turned ON computer 2 seconds later...COMPUTER POWER LOSS.....I'm looking into what may be going wrong. It doesn't make sense but seems to be a power overload.

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(2nd test - Radio shack 60 watt/12-27 volt in car universal notebook adapter) set to 12 volts.

Plugged in directly to castronic 2699R case, powered up and 2 seconds later - same power loss problem - I checked the inline glass fuse in the DC adapter and it was blown. I think the castronic power supply is drawing too many amps.

Could someone explain to me why you can't use a standard DC/DC PSU w/ the Epia M?

Originally posted by Skippman
Could someone explain to me why you can't use a standard DC/DC PSU w/ the Epia M?

If you're mean the DC-DC power boards that come with the Casetronic cases? You can, but don't try to connect it to the directly to the car power line, because you're most likely going to fry your equipment. You're car's 12 volt power is unregulated, it can go as low as 8 volts to as high as 16 volts. You need a good power supply designed for the car so as to compansate for the power fluctuations.