Inverters Tested

October 2007

Portable electronic devices such as laptops, phones and MP3 music players are great companions in the car – until the batteries run out.

You could buy 12V chargers for them, but that will come at considerable expense, so the easiest way to revive them while on the move is with an inverter. Plug one in to the lighter socket, and it turns the car’s DC current into 230V AC mains power. They all come with a three-pin plug socket, but some also boast USB outlets, which are ideal for MP3 players and phones.

However, don’t think you can use an inverter to power drills or heaters in the workshop, as they have limited output and are really only intended to work with electronic gadgets.

So, which is the best piece of kit to plug your PDA, Bluetooth headset or DVD player into? We put six to the test to find out.

How we did it
The main focus of this test was to find out how much power each unit packed. To measure this, we used a series of lights to load each inverter up to its maximum rating and checked what current was going in at the lighter socket and coming from the plug. This allowed us to assess if a unit provided the power it claimed or whether it lost efficiency. The current drawn with the inverter plugged in on standby was also measured, as well as how the unit coped with power surges when kit was turned on. Extra marks were given for USB sockets, long power leads and value for money.

Verdict

It’s the cheapest inverter on test, but Ring’s MP75 is very efficient and has enough current to power most of the accessories you would use in a car. A well deserved Best Buy. Laser’s 4193 and Ring’s E:Can both boast USB sockets and similar 230V outputs. But the Laser’s compact size and better electrical performance mean it pips the innovative E:Can to second place.

Top 3

1. Ring MP75
2. Laser 4193
3. Ring E:Can

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