Obviously I forgot to add this option to my car. One of the reasons would be charging a laptop but possibly some other things. I was thinking about buying a DC power inverter but I am not really into these things plus all this seems dangerous to me. Can anybody share more light on this subject?

The plugin option is just a built in inverter anyway.

Yes, but in case of a fire or something I am pretty sure the warranty will be lost. (maybe I am just too paranoid)

 

Any advice on inverters?

Now I have the standard, but bad experience with some chinese brands, it was deformed by the heat and the demanded power was not above specs.

As long as it's wired in properly with thick enough cable and correct fuse I can't see any problem. As blokart says, buy a good inverter, not a cheap one.

Btw, are 12v sockets live in octavia when the engine is off?

Btw, are 12v sockets live in octavia when the engine is off?

Yes

Btw, are 12v sockets live in octavia when the engine is off?

Yes, but I wouldn't wire an inverter into them as they are only rated for a few amps. If you are going to fit one run dedicated lines from the battery that can handle high amperage (whatever the inverter draws plus 10%).

Edited 31 August, 201411 yr by josedebardi

I've ordered a MK7 Golf estate with this option ticked....................either get the parts from the dealer & fit it yourself (or get them)................or get a Kufatech kit for the golf..........should fit?...linky

 

 

http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/volkswagen/golf/golf-7-5q/230v-power-supply-wiring-set-vw-golf-7-vii-variant

I've ordered a MK7 Golf estate with this option ticked....................either get the parts from the dealer & fit it yourself (or get them)................or get a Kufatech kit for the golf..........should fit?...linky

 

 

http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/volkswagen/golf/golf-7-5q/230v-power-supply-wiring-set-vw-golf-7-vii-variant

 

Thats just the cable not the inverter...

Thats just the cable not the inverter...

...opps..........................

...opps..........................

 

I can't actually find the inverter, which is odd!

Mising this is really driving me mad. I will buy my own inverter, however if I had speced this option from the start, inverter would be connected to the battery directly while this way it will go through 12v which doesnt seeem good to me...

 

Also, what is with the usb? I tried charging my iphone and sometimes it doesnt charge while the car is running. I know my usb cable always works because I use it at home all the time.

If you buy an inverter wire it to the battery directly - you will have to for anything over about 100W anyway as the cigarette socket cannot take the higher amperage.

2 options

 

1. Get a suitable AC inverter from a quality maker like RING - google like this - ring ac converter - and select AC rating you need

 

 

2. Get a suitable DC to DC converter, with the output voltage suitable for your laptop, google like this - 12v to 24v dc to dc converter

If you buy an inverter wire it to the battery directly - you will have to for anything over about 100W anyway as the cigarette socket cannot take the higher amperage.

 

Even if I manage to do this, where do I put the inverter? 

 

 

2 options

 

1. Get a suitable AC inverter from a quality maker like RING - google like this - ring ac converter - and select AC rating you need

 

 

2. Get a suitable DC to DC converter, with the output voltage suitable for your laptop, google like this - 12v to 24v dc to dc converter

 

Can you give more details on this?  (electronics is not my occupation :p)

 

I was looking at something like this:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=pure%20sine%20inverter&sprefix=pure+s%2Cautomotive%2C276

 

I want to be able to charge a laptop (while running it at the same time), plus charge some bicycle batteries, maybe ipad, portable fridge etc...

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by toni8b

Even if I manage to do this, where do I put the inverter? 

 

 

 

Can you give more details on this?  (electronics is not my occupation :p)

 

I was looking at something like this:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=pure%20sine%20inverter&sprefix=pure+s%2Cautomotive%2C276

 

I want to be able to charge a laptop (while running it at the same time), plus charge some bicycle batteries, maybe ipad, portable fridge etc...

 

You appear to growing your requirements on the fly, cars are not designed to be multy electronic chargers so you need to be sure exactly what you want. A cigy socket is normally fused at 10amps so a maximum of a 120 watts is available and if run at the max could easily blow the fuse after a short time. 

 

It appears you want to plug in and drive - not possible with the higher powered inverters without major electronic surgery and retrofitting at considerable cost.

 

From this list I doubt you will be able to satisfy your need running this powered by the cars 12v system 

 

The lower powered items you have searched for might be able to charge your Laptop - it depends on how much power its charger needs - will be listed on the charger or in the manual.

 

Higher power items are not really suitable for use in a car, more likely powered by high power batteries in a mobile home for example or powered by a generator.

 

I suggest you scale back to your minimum requirements to be powered in-car

Laptop charger uses 85watts, ipad should be way below that.

 

For the fridge, its also powered by 12v.

 

What about charging bateries, would this be a problem? We are talking about these kind of batteries:

 

http://www.dx.com/p/t6-waterproof-xml-t6-3-mode-1200-lumen-white-led-bike-light-with-battery-pack-set-82510

 

(maybe if I plug it directly on the car battery with jumper cables)