Costco - AC Inverter (12V DC to AC) $7.97

[Cheapipay]

I bought this at Costco - Burnaby, BC location. $7.97.

Smart AC 100 Watt Inverter
Sustained 75 Watt; 200 Watt peak surge power
Powers: Laptop Computers, DVD Players, Cell Phones, Digital Cameras.
Link (http://www.wagan.com/htmls/detail-2348.html) to mfg website

[ShaTR]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.

[crasher]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.

If it is rated for 1.5A, it probably draws much less. Best way to find out is to put an ampmeter and test it.

[macdaddy]

yup, seen it at Innes Rd. in Ottawa yesterday for same price. I've bought this previously. Haven't tried a laptop, but works great with everything else.

[jet123]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.

don't think u can find the same/similar deal in canadian tire right now

[SCRawl]

I bought one of these (or something similar) from Costco about a year ago. A month or two after I bought it -- I used it to charge my iPod while driving -- it started to smoke. I stopped using it after that.

They were good about taking it back at Costco, despite the fact that I didn't have the receipt or the packaging.

[midget_man]

I just bought a 600 watt inverter from Zellers for $25.

Will replace my 300 watt CT one that cost me $80 a few years ago and went tits up last summer.

[willpoon]

Will replace my 300 watt CT one that cost me $80 a few years ago and went tits up last summer.

Tits up? hahahahahah

[nicolaim]

I bought this at Costco - Burnaby, BC location. $9.97.

Smart AC 100 Watt Inverter
Sustained 75 Watt; 200 Watt peak surge power
Powers: Laptop Computers, DVD Players, Cell Phones, Digital Cameras.
Link (http://www.wagan.com/htmls/detail-2348.html) to mfg website

I don't think this is enough for a laptop, but it is good enough for many lesser electronics...

[AzNCrAzYcOoLeR]

I don't think this is enough for a laptop, but it is good enough for many lesser electronics...

good enough for my lapto

15v x 4a = 7 = 60watts

[sandy99]

Works well to charge cell, video camera, digital camera batteries, and charge (not use) laptop. Used to power a blower gadget that inflates beach toys also. Enen my mechanics trouble light works with it. Very handy and automakers should install these.

[lotfi.bm]

Ho do you guys know if it's good for a laptop?

[thrifter]

Ho do you guys know if it's good for a laptop?

Hooked up my HP / Compaq laptop (1.7 Ghz) power adapter (written 90 watts on the power adapter) - with the laptop on and CPU at 100% capacity - (battery was fully charged), current draw was 70 watts. I was not spinning the DVD drive though so that might take more power.

I was checking via a UPM Energy meter picked up from Canadian Tire.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444327 9714&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672790&bmUID=1178817515470

[sonick]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.No way that your laptop draws 120v DC. Your power adaptor may take in 120v AC, but the DC coming out of it to the laptop is usually around 12-20v.

[Fritz the Cat]

I put my Dell on a meter, running a DVD drew 40 watts.

[Kwirky]

don't think u can find the same/similar deal in canadian tire right now

This would be the closest... a 175w and a 75w inverter 'combo pack' for $24.49: http://canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140847439 6672995&bmUID=1178822197425&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443293137&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

[cloneman]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.

Dude, I think you got it wrong. Laptops don't run on 120v, that's the AC voltage of the line. 180W? I think if you have 4 7950 GTX's in your laptop you wouldn't need that much.

[ShaTR]

If it is rated for 1.5A, it probably draws much less. Best way to find out is to put an ampmeter and test it.

too close for comfort



No way that your laptop draws 120v DC. Your power adaptor may take in 120v AC, but the DC coming out of it to the laptop is usually around 12-20v.

Dude, I think you got it wrong. Laptops don't run on 120v, that's the AC voltage of the line. 180W? I think if you have 4 7950 GTX's in your laptop you wouldn't need that much.

LISTEN brainiacs, I'm just stating the draw of my laptops PSU. not what my laptop is being fed. i know laptops don't take 120v directly.... thats wut the PSU is for... :rolleyes:



don't think u can find the same/similar deal in canadian tire right now

often times they have specials instore on at least one of any particular type of item. for example, i got my X-power 300w for 25 bucks a few years back and it wasn't advertised on the flyer. Anyways, most people here can hold out for a good deal on a better inverter. Unless u need one right away...

[CHIA]

Just got home from Costco in Bby, and they had them on for $7.99 each! Bought 2, great little stocking stuffer, great to have myself, can't go wrong...hmmm, maybe I'll go back tomorrow and get a couple more........

Here are a couple pics:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8888/inverter1resizeuj6.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/549/inverter2resizeia4.jpg

[majesus]

uh... 75 watts sustained... my laptop charger draws 1.5A at 120v. so rated 180w. probably wont be that much sustained, but id still go with something a little more powerfull than this.

i guess if you need it for smaller things like cell phones and such, it would be fine. FYI similar ones can be had from canadian tire now and then for around the same price.


What a confusing named product. The 100 Watt SmartAC Inverter.
Continuous use: 90W! :rolleyes:
But not a bad deal... usefull product. :)

[CHIA]

Here are the specs on the back in a bit moere detail....not that it really matters too much for $7.99.....great for the basics, like charging a battery for a laptop, cell phone, camera, etc.

This is less money than buying a car charger for my new cell....haha

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8554/inverterspecsfw8.jpg

[cloneman]

LISTEN brainiacs, I'm just stating the draw of my laptops PSU. not what my laptop is being fed. i know laptops don't take 120v directly.... thats wut the PSU is for... :rolleyes:

strange.... I almost don't believe you. If your really bored would mind taking a picture of the adapter so I can see whats written?

[plummer66]

i've used a laptop to play movies on the dvd drive on a Black and Decker 75 watts inverter that played just fine for a 4 hour road trip.
I'm sure this one would be fine. Excellent deal.

[ZestyMordant]

I bought one of these Costco inverters just over a year ago for about $9.xx, and it works really great. I charge AND simultaneously use a 17" HP lappy while plugged into this power inverter with no problems. It gets a bit warm, but that's it. I think my laptop AC adapter is rated for 90W, but I highly doubt it ever draws that much.

The first one I bought on sale from Can Tire actually seemed pretty cheap compared to this one, and it had a stupid little fan for cooling that made WAY too much noise. Even with the flex head I had trouble plugging it into my socket in my Jetta.

Oh and by the way... 12V power outlet sockets in newer cars that never had a cigarette lighter in them are a wee bit smaller than the original sized cigarette lighter sockets. (Probably cause they don't want you sticking an old style cig lighter in there).

Remember, all electronics run on smoke. If you let the smoke out they stop working.

Zesty :razz:

[Luckster]

I just picked one up at the Southside Costco in Edmonton for $7.97. There was about 10 left, sort of hidden besides the wipers.

[ShaTR]

strange.... I almost don't believe you. If your really bored would mind taking a picture of the adapter so I can see whats written?

wow, buddy, is it really that hard to believe. ur home computer uses a 400w power supply, why can't a laptop with a monitor which draw 180 from the wall. true, laptops only do take about 75watts or so in from their PSU's, but the AC-DC converstion is hardly an effecient process. ever feel how warm the adapters get??

anyways, wutever, its 10 bucks. if it fries, it fries.

[Cheapipay]

Just got home from Costco in Bby, and they had them on for $7.99 each! Bought 2, great little stocking stuffer, great to have myself, can't go wrong...hmmm, maybe I'll go back tomorrow and get a couple more........



Are you sure it's $7.99 ? (not $9.97 ?) I'm going to get mine price adjust if so..... $1.98!!!! =)

[jet123]

i want one, anyone spot one in markham costco?

[DarKnight0]

My girlfriend has a 75watt canadian tire inverter and we used it for a 10+ hour road trip powering a laptop and it worked fine, we were playing some bejeweled and worms and a movie so id say unless your planning to burn a dual layer dvd at 1X then i think it'll hold up to pretty much anythinga normal person would throw at it.

[majesus]

wow, buddy, is it really that hard to believe. ur home computer uses a 400w power supply, why can't a laptop with a monitor which draw 180 from the wall. true, laptops only do take about 75watts or so in from their PSU's, but the AC-DC converstion is hardly an effecient process. ever feel how warm the adapters get??

anyways, wutever, its 10 bucks. if it fries, it fries.

Hehe, he doesn't believe you. At first, I also thought 180W input was kinda high, but if that is what you say, sure... I mean how hard is it to look at the back: INPUT 1.5A @ 120Vac.

[Tijuana]

you need to read them very carefully. I bought the motomaster ones from canadian tire for my laptop, teh 75 watt one, when i was usn it i noticed it got VERY hot. I then read it and it said 75 watts per 5 minutes. So make sure you read how much your getting per minute.

[lhsonic]

Tits up? hahahahahah

Dude, I just have to say this:

This is an AMAZING coincidence but I JUST heard that phrase after watching MI:III a few minutes ago. LOL, that was funny.

you need to read them very carefully. I bought the motomaster ones from canadian tire for my laptop, teh 75 watt one, when i was usn it i noticed it got VERY hot. I then read it and it said 75 watts per 5 minutes. So make sure you read how much your getting per minute.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think watts is measured per minute :S

[zipnvw]

With the current promotion at zellers for 50% off B&D, I picked up a 200Watt inverter that had a second 12v (cigerette lighter) port for $10. Its bigger, but less worries.

[burnaby]

Have a 100w charger that couldn't run my 9.6v Dewalt battery charger. Darn 1hr chargers sucks lots of juice.


think the dude was referring to duty cycle unless the electrons in your neighborood is real slow.
Dude, I...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think watts is measured per minute :S

[burnaby]

Do you have a pictures or the dimensions?
With the current promotion at zellers for 50% off B&D, I picked up a 200Watt inverter that had a second 12v (cigerette lighter) port for $10. Its bigger, but less worries.

[Tijuana]

Dude, I just have to say this:

This is an AMAZING coincidence but I JUST heard that phrase after watching MI:III a few minutes ago. LOL, that was funny.



Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think watts is measured per minute :S

It said right on it that it outputs 75 watts per 5 minutes lol, so don't look at me :p

[silva95teg]

I use inverters at work to power my laptop, The time when it is super hard on the inverter is when my battery is dead and i am using the inverter to power the laptop and charge the battery. If my van isnt running sometimes the inverter will go into a warning state. Thats a 400watt, i had a 300 and it does the same thing. To the poster that mentioned the drill battery .... if i charge 2 milwakee 18v batteries ... my van battery will be dead.

[develop]

Went to Costco twice, could not find it, which section did you guys find?
Is it available at Costco website? What is the item number?
Thanks.

[CHIA]

Went to Costco twice, could not find it, which section did you guys find?
Is it available at Costco website? What is the item number?
Thanks.

Might be all sold out, as this is a few days old now. In my Costco, they were near the remotes, and CD/DVD, and hard drives, etc....peripherals & small accessories in the tech section.