- Powers and charges various mobile electronics: laptops, netbooks, smart phones, MP3 players, tablet PCs, e-Readers, cameras and more
- Convenient design fits into the vehicle's cupholder
- High quality cooling technology reduces perceived noise level by up to 50 percentage versus competitive products
- Can simultaneously charge three devices through the included AC outlet, DC outlet and USB 2.1 amp port
- Upgraded 2.1 amp USB port provides the high level of power for iPads, e-Readers and other power hungry electronics
For powering a laptop, the AC plug works great.
The main reason I bought it was to power a HP Touchpad, which apparently the 2.1amp USB plug still has trouble doing.
The only other complaint I would have about it is that the fan makes a quiet ticking noise. It's just loud enough to hear; if it were more like a fan noise I wouldn't have an issue with it.
Buy Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port Now
I initially was looking for an inverter with an extra 12V power outlet because I have a Soundfly Car FM Transmitter for SD card/USB/MP3 in my older car (which lacks an Aux input on the stereo), and the Soundfly occupies the 12V outlet all the time. Finding such an inverter which ALSO has a USB power port, and a 2.1A high-powered one at that, was a huge bonus. And the cup-holder form factor is very convenient. This product is brilliant; absolutely, totally perfect, or it WOULD be... And that brings us to some of the minor drawbacks.For one thing, there is no On/Off switch on the inverter. My car never turns off its 12V socket, key in the ignition or no key. The Duracell inverter theoretically will disengage if the car battery gets low, but I'd rather not find out. That means remembering to unplug the thing every time so as not to leave the inverter circuits constantly live on the battery, which greatly lessens its convenience.
For another thing, the USB port is supposed to be a high-current 2.1A variety. However, my iPad2 doesn't seem to charge at full speed on it. The iPad SAYS it's charging, and the charge percentage doesn't go down, but then, it doesn't really go up, either.
Another minor complaint, the inverter fan generates a faint ticking buzz. It's enough to be irritating if you're sitting in the parking lot listening to something quiet, but luckily, once you're underway, the fan is easily masked by engine and road noise. I rarely notice it, and honestly, the Duracell is much quieter than the last inverter I owned.
(Also, there is only one of each kind of port. One 12V, one AC, one USB. For me this is perfect, but if you need, say, multiple USB charge ports, you might need to go a different way.)
I have addressed these concerns by: Ignoring the fan noise. Using my iPad on the USB port, and not worrying about whether it's charging at full speed or not. (If my iPad is REALLY low and I need it to definitely charge FAST, I can always plug its own little white charger into the AC outlet on the inverter. Shouldn't have to do that, but it works.) And finally, I installed a heavy duty lamp cord switch on the inverter's 12V power feed wire, so I can leave the unit plugged in in my car but turn it on and off. Thus voiding the product warranty, but for me, the increase in usefulness was worth it.
Overall, this is a highly useful gadget, I use it every day and am glad it's there every day.
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This is a great little inverter for the money. It doesn't get 5 stars because of one very big problem--if you leave it plugged in, it will run your battery down if your vehicle continues to send power to the cigarette lighter even when the key is turned off. Luckily for me, this happened to me in a nice, heated garage, and I had another vehicle with jumper cables handy. Since then, I have been very careful about unplugging it every time I get out of the car. The cupholder shape fits perfectly into my car's cupholder. I love the fact that it has 3 outlets--(1) 12v outlet, (1) 120v outlet, and (1) usb charger port. I can charge my phone, listen to my mp3 player (powered by 12v), and run my GPS off the wall charger all at the same time. When I was researching to buy this unit, I spent a lot of time looking for one similar to this. There are cheaper and less expensive units out there. Very few had the size, power, and function of this unit. It's been great so far. It's never overheated (yet), and it is so quiet, I can't even hear it running, even with the car turned off. When I bought this, it was about $40.Want Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port Discount?
Road trips these days are a perpetual electronic negotiation. Do we pack the "travel kit" for the phones, or will the batteries last until we get there? Is the USB cable for the player enough? How about the spare battery for the laptop?This inverter takes out the guesswork. It will accept all three kinds of connection USB, wall outlet (grounded, even), and "cigarette lighter" and let you use and charge electronic devices in your car.
The device is very well designed. The "wall outlet" has enough space around it to accommodate oddly-shaped plugs. The cord is long enough to put a laptop in the back seat, and plug into the dash. And, joy of joys, the thing is designed to fit into the cupholder (with enough clearance around it to let the fan in the bottom of the device have airflow).
As a road test, I charged an iPhone (via the cigarette lighter outlet), a regular cell phone (via the wall-type outlet), and a Sansa MP3 player (via the USB) simultaneously. They all charged about as quickly as I would expect from a normal connection, with no problems. After 40 minutes in a warm car the inverter was very slightly warm to the touch, but not enough for the cooling fan built into the bottom of the device to go on (I expect it will when one is charging a laptop. And I wouldn't attach a washing machine to this, if you should somehow want to run one on the highway).
Our Suburu Forester has another lighter-outlet inside the center armrest, with a small compartment next to it for on-the-road electronics (I also recommend the Forester). This device will be living there.I've been driving around with this Duracell DRINVC130 130W Power Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port in my car for a few days now. So far, so good. I've charged a cell phone using the AC outlet, iPod using the USB port, and GPS using the CD outlet. I had no problems fitting any of the various cords into their respective outlets or with the cords staying in place, including the connection with my vehicle's power outlet.
The cylindrical shape fits into the cupholder as designed, which is a nice convenience and which makes access to the plugs easy. So far, this power inverter is quiet and cool, but none of the other inverters I have tried became warm or made any sound either (though both quit working after about a year).
The plastic seems thin and prone to shattering if dropped on a driveway or garage floor. The thin plastic around the various outlets seems another place that could be prone to splitting or splintering after prolonged use. So far, though, neither has proven a problem, the unit continues working well, and it performs as describes, so I upgraded my original rating to 4 stars (9/27/11).
The packaging is supposedly "green," which I think means we are not supposed to feel guilty for buying something that uses more cardboard than needed and prints instructions on the front of a legal-sized sheet of paper instead of on the front and back of a sheet half this size. (Furthermore, the instructions and warranty information could easily be edited by a third or more just by using the active voice.)
There is a three-year "limited" warranty, but as with most products, having to hold onto a dated sales receipt during that time can prove a challenge.
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