Anyone used a cheap inverter from flea bay

[Travis]

Thanks a lot loads of info there. It looks like a job I could do, I need to fit a new CD so I could do it at the same time.


One last thing though. The bar that the inverter is attached to is in the cabin behind the glove compartment yes?

So the four gang plug runs down behind the glove compartment into the passanger foot space yes?

I might use a longer extension lead and run it to the back,

Many thanks I may get back though

Travis

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks a lot loads of info there. It looks like a job I could do, I need to fit a new CD so I could do it at the same time.


One last thing though. The bar that the inverter is attached to is in the cabin behind the glove compartment yes?

So the four gang plug runs down behind the glove compartment into the passanger foot space yes?

I might use a longer extension lead and run it to the back,

Many thanks I may get back though

Travis

I'll try and take a pic or two and pop them up on here, but I was amazed at how easily a 1m lead ran across the console out of view.

If you remove the glove box door (from memory you open it and press sides in to get the end stop lugs to release the door) you can't miss the steel tube above it that runs across the car.

[mikeonb4c]

OK - nipped out and took some pics. Self explanatory I hpe. You can see the white gang lead cable running from the 13amp plug on the inverter (not in view) into the centre tunnel area. It all v. easy. The only bit I had trouble with was I tried initially to fix the inverter to the tubular steel bar with gorilla tape, but it didn't hold fast and crept round until it stopped the glovebox door from opening (the inverter needs to stay on top so it doesnt foul the glovebox door). The lagging and copper wire allowed me to (I think - should have checked) just wege the inverter in there where its stayed firmly lodged since installation 2 yrs back.

I'd go for something beefy if you can afford it - say 500W min (mines 300W but price at that time made me stop there). Its not that you can run 500W worth of stuff with the engine off (joke!), but it may allow devices (like the PS2?) that may draw a higher (start-up) current and thus trip the inverter overload cutout. One annoyance with mine I found was it won't power the 240v/36v charger for my electric bike batteries and I'd have liked it to do that as then I'd have been able to wild camp but with a means of getting around during stopovers cos it would have recharged the electric bike battery whilst travelling.

Click on thumbnails

[Travis]

Thankyou thats really helpful, I will let you know how I get on.

I am picking up the Bongo on Friday and my first trip will be too Maplins

Travis

[Travis]

Just wondering how you turn the inverter on and off, if its tucked out of the way.

I suppose it would be a waste of storage space to keep it in the glove compartment.

I was thinking of using a 4 gang plug with an on/off switch on as well

Travis

[mikeonb4c]

Just wondering how you turn the inverter on and off, if its tucked out of the way.

I suppose it would be a waste of storage space to keep it in the glove compartment.

I was thinking of using a 4 gang plug with an on/off switch on as well

Travis

Next to the 13amp socket (you can just see the gang lead plug plugged into it in one of the pics) is the on/off switch for the inverter. You open the glove box, reach up and flick it on. A bit tricky from the drivers seat while driving (i.e. don't!) but the passenger can do it easy enough. Generally of course, you put it on before you drive off.