Comments below:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
Just got back from a shopping trip to Costco tonight and was
pleasantly surprised to find a Xantrex 400 watt inverter in the
automotive and tools department for $29.

It has several attractive features that I've not seen before on
small/inexpensive inverters:

1. A digital display that will read out DC volts, AC volts or AC
watts.

2. Choice of cigarette lighter adapter or leads with aligator clips
(all included).

3. Two grounded outlets instead of the usual one.

What the heck, the DC digital voltmeter alone is worth $29 so needless
to say it has joined my ever growing inverter collection and will
probably reside at the lower helm station where it will power a
laptop.

For those who really want to know, I have no business connection with
either Xantrex or Costco.

In Canada, Canadian Tire sells the Xantrex 200, 400 and 800 watt versions,
identical to that described, rebranded in the Motomaster name. I've an 800
watt version in my work truck, run directly off the battery with fused 2
gauge cables. I'm very pleased with it, especially considering how
inexpensive it was. Interestingly, the cooling fan only comes on once the
inverter's output exceeds a certain number of watts, I don't remember how
many, so for light loads its operation is silent.
--
Ken Heaton, Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton AT ess wye dee DOT eastlink DOT ca