....one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:00:27 -0400, HK wrote:

...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

Well, seeing as how your killfile is as honest as you are, here you go:

http://tinyurl.com/2m9asj
--
John H

He won't shop there ;) but I bought a 200W continuous / 400W peak inverter
at Wal-Mart for about $25 a year ago. Plugs into the cigarette lighter
receptacle. Works fine for running and charging the laptop while traveling
in the truck. Has 2 outlets, so could also charge the phone and GRS radios
on the trip to Alaska at the same time. As to an FM radio. For less than a
$100 you can buy a nice FM/AM/CD radio.

On Jul 25, 10:00?am, HK wrote:
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?

Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

Harry,

I spent about $100 on an inverter at West Marine several years ago.

I spent a lot more on the two 6-volt batteries I installed in a
dedicated bank than on the inverter itself.

My experience with the inverter has been very good. I use it to run my
laptop when writing stories etc on the boat. We used it to power
holiday lights during the winter boat parades. We have used it to run
our
portable color TV and VCR to watch movies while on the hook.

We probably only use the inverter 25-30 hours per year, as the rest of
the time we're not running anything at anchor or we're on shore power.
We really don't have any need for AC current when underway.

Our inverter has a set of cooling fins and includes a fan. The fan can
be slightly noisy, but that's the only negative aspect of that
inverter. If you don't need to run huge AC loads and don't need the
converter (charger) functions, your $100 budget should just about get
you by.

Chuck Gould wrote:
On Jul 25, 10:00?am, HK wrote:
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?

Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

Harry,

I spent about $100 on an inverter at West Marine several years ago.

I spent a lot more on the two 6-volt batteries I installed in a
dedicated bank than on the inverter itself.

My experience with the inverter has been very good. I use it to run my
laptop when writing stories etc on the boat. We used it to power
holiday lights during the winter boat parades. We have used it to run
our
portable color TV and VCR to watch movies while on the hook.

We probably only use the inverter 25-30 hours per year, as the rest of
the time we're not running anything at anchor or we're on shore power.
We really don't have any need for AC current when underway.

Our inverter has a set of cooling fins and includes a fan. The fan can
be slightly noisy, but that's the only negative aspect of that
inverter. If you don't need to run huge AC loads and don't need the
converter (charger) functions, your $100 budget should just about get
you by.





Thanks. I was thinking of a small unit from West Marine. Did you buy a
West-branded unit or something else? My AC loads will consist of an IPOD
boom box (low current draw), my laptop (rarely), and perhaps a cell
phone or camera battery charger. That kind of stuff.

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:00:27 -0400, HK wrote:

...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

Well, seeing as how your killfile is as honest as you are, here you go:

http://tinyurl.com/2m9asj
--
John H

On Jul 25, 11:33?am, HK wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
On Jul 25, 10:00?am, HK wrote:
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?

Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

Harry,

I spent about $100 on an inverter at West Marine several years ago.

I spent a lot more on the two 6-volt batteries I installed in a
dedicated bank than on the inverter itself.

My experience with the inverter has been very good. I use it to run my
laptop when writing stories etc on the boat. We used it to power
holiday lights during the winter boat parades. We have used it to run
our
portable color TV and VCR to watch movies while on the hook.

We probably only use the inverter 25-30 hours per year, as the rest of
the time we're not running anything at anchor or we're on shore power.
We really don't have any need for AC current when underway.

Our inverter has a set of cooling fins and includes a fan. The fan can
be slightly noisy, but that's the only negative aspect of that
inverter. If you don't need to run huge AC loads and don't need the
converter (charger) functions, your $100 budget should just about get
you by.

Thanks. I was thinking of a small unit from West Marine. Did you buy a
West-branded unit or something else? My AC loads will consist of an IPOD
boom box (low current draw), my laptop (rarely), and perhaps a cell
phone or camera battery charger. That kind of stuff.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Without running over to the marina to check for sure, I'm almost
certain it was a West Marine branded item. I suppose if I'd had any
problem with it I would have paid more attention to the brand. :-)

"HK" wrote in message
...
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new boat
and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a lot of
power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio, et
cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like something
that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be directly
exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I won't
see it.


There are several nice all in one stereo units that Ipods plug into. They
run on AC and DC. Some have the sound quality of large stereo systems yet
are the size of a shoe box. Costo carries several, most under $200.

No FM or AM though.

The other option is to run Itunes through the laptop you will have on the
boat.

JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
...
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new boat
and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a lot of
power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio, et
cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like something
that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be directly
exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I won't
see it.


There are several nice all in one stereo units that Ipods plug into. They
run on AC and DC. Some have the sound quality of large stereo systems yet
are the size of a shoe box. Costo carries several, most under $200.

No FM or AM though.

The other option is to run Itunes through the laptop you will have on the
boat.




Sony, I believe, is now making a small sized, big sound, "outdoor"
boombox for ipods that includes radio.

In article ,
says...
...one I can install in a compartment in the center console of my new
boat and hardwire direct to one of the batteries. I'm not looking for a
lot of power...enough to run a laptop, a small "boombox" type FM radio,
et cetera. Clean power is important, but not current draw. I'd like
something that isn't going to corrode out on me in a season. It won't be
directly exposed to the elements.

Under $100.

Suggestions?


Oh...if you are in my killfile, don't waste your time responding. I
won't see it.

I bought a two-outlet 400W name brand at an auto supply store that ran
about $25. Hasn't failed in a couple of years of sporadic use.
Construction seems more than adequate.

Don't know what a marine version would run but, if it's anything like
the in-dash marine vs. auto radio, they don't impress me as being worth
the investment.

jps

He won't shop there ;) but I bought a 200W continuous / 400W peak
inverter
at Wal-Mart for about $25 a year ago.

Plugs into the cigarette lighter
receptacle.

Which no doubt isn't rated to handle that much draw.