anyone have an inverter setup they've had good luck with?

**Amax** · 03-03-2005, 04:25 PM

What inverter/controller/regulator power supply do you guys find that you like.

**Amax** · 03-04-2005, 11:21 AM

Guess not

**wizardPC** · 03-04-2005, 11:27 AM

being old school, I used a 300w inverter for years before going DC-DC. You'll be much happier with the Opus and it's actually cheaper when you add a shutdown controller and a tank circuit to the inverter to get the funcionality of the opus.

**KyferEz** · 03-04-2005, 04:13 PM

No, The Opus is still more expensive, and doesn't offer quite as much.
Inverter - Coleman PMP400 400wRMS modified. $50
Power Controller - CarPC EZ. $60
Tank - Tank EZ. $20
Tank batt - 12v 7AHr. $22
-------------------------------
Total $152

Opus 150 $195

Benefits of useing inverter with CarPC EZ:
1) 120 v for anything else that may need it
2) Much more flexibility with timers and settings
3) Control more than just your PC
4) More features on the SDC
5) Faster, more powerful PCs >3GHz are easily possible
6) Depending upon several things including your wiring job, inverter, starter, and car battery, you may not need the tank circuit or tank battery to survive crank, which brings the total down to $110.

Benefits of using Opus:
1) All-in-one, easier installation
2) Longer run-time off of car battery

Feel free to add to the lists, I would like to see what others think belong in that comparison.

KyferEz

**J187** · 03-05-2005, 10:47 AM

Actually an inverter is potentially much cheaper considering it allows you the flexability to use a reg dvd and a reg HDD instead of the slimline alternatives that are much more expensive usually.

**TimmyM** · 03-05-2005, 11:22 AM

Agreed. I'm very happy with my inverter. Which I can run other things if I have to, I.E. battery chargers for my cordless tools.

I have a 150W/300W peak inverter powering a 200w PSU. I can't quote price on it since I got it in a trade from a friend. Made my own shutdown controller based on Laidback's design. Think I've got $25-$30 into that.

The only disadvantage that I can see is the size. If you're limited on space, fitting a inverter in somewhere could be a problem.

**WebDog** · 03-05-2005, 11:41 AM

If you went with the M1-ATX it would be even cheaper, its like $70~ and survives crank down to 5.7 volts.

**TimmyM** · 03-05-2005, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by WebDog

If you went with the M1-ATX it would be even cheaper, its like $70~ and survives crank down to 5.7 volts.

Certainly a good possibilty. BUT with the loss of being able to run other AC stuff and it's only 90W. Not sure if that would be enough for a full size MP/CPU setup.

**WebDog** · 03-05-2005, 11:47 AM

well it depends on his setup.

**KyferEz** · 03-05-2005, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by WebDog

If you went with the M1-ATX it would be even cheaper, its like $70~ and survives crank down to 5.7 volts.

Yes, but we are trying to compare devices that allow similar setups. Using the M1-ATX you can't even get close to the PC specs that are easily achievable with an inverter.

KyferEz