Question. Can you run a machine with the power from a car battery?

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Question. Can you run a machine with the power from a car battery?

Sorry if this is a stupid question... I recently started putting games in a storage unit and was wondering if a Portable Power Inverter plugged into a cigarette lighter would power up a game?

Any other suggestions to get power to a game in a storage unit?

Thanks
 

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Sorry if this is a stupid question... I recently started putting games in a storage unit and was wondering if a Portable Power Inverter plugged into a cigarette lighter would power up a game?

Any other suggestions to get power to a game in a storage unit?

Thanks

Maybe but I doubt it. I think I have one of those and it was struggling to play a cd on a portable radio. If your storage unit has an incandescent light fixture I believe they sell a screw in adapter that makes it into an electrical socket.
 
It would work fine. Not sure how long you would go, but at some point probably between 15 minutes and an hour (just guessing), you might want to make sure your engine is running so as not to drain the battery completely.
 
Most storage places I've seen have an electrical outlet somewhere around the storage area. Even if its just one per building. A long extension cord would probably do it.
 
Yes you could, but you'd want a bigger inverter than the one in the picture you attached. One that has battery clamps in addition to the cigarette lighter plug would be good.
 
You'd probably want the car running so the alternator could keep the battery juiced up.
 
I have a few apc ups 1400w power supplies I use to protect my home electronics. The battery will run my computer for about 1 hour (21" crt + pc). It has 2 12v 18ah batteries in it..

I usuallly take one with me when I am going to see things in someones storage unit.. Probably would be smarter to get something like that B&D thing... You have to replace the apc batteries like every 3 or 4 years at $60-$70 a pop it adds up..
 
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That small cigarrete lighter inverter will barely power a cell phone charger. There is no way it will power an arcade game for more than a few seconds. Go with the 400 watt one described but you'll have to keep the motor running or your car battery will drain fast.
 
That small cigarrete lighter inverter will barely power a cell phone charger. There is no way it will power an arcade game for more than a few seconds. Go with the 400 watt one described but you'll have to keep the motor running or your car battery will drain fast.

It has a low battery shutdown warning to keep the battery from draining too low. I do leave the Jeep running. :)
 
If powering from your car is your best option, go with a real power inverter that connects directly to your car battery. The cigarette lighter thing is just asking for trouble.
 
That inverter is way too small. I had a 200 watt one that I was going to try it with and it did not even have enough juice to run a box fan. You will need a way bigger one.
 
This is what I use at my storage unit. Picked it up cheap at a Goodwill store.:)

http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/PI750AB.aspx

Actually I think I have the 400 watt one...

http://www.blackanddecker.com/power-tools/PI400AB.aspx

Heh, I own both of those. The 400w one is in my wife's vehicle and is good enough for a couple notebooks... only problem with it is it's picky on what you plug into it. One of our notebook's power supply will make it trip off(looks like a short to it for some reason).

The 750w one is nice. I have both a cigarette hookup for low wattage loads and I also have a jumper cable hookup for when you need more. This one doesn't seem as picky as the 400w one with what you hook up to it either.

400w is ~3.3A so that should be fine for most games... only problem may be inrush current when you turn it on.

BTW, if you have a B&D Outlet near you you can buy both of these for cheap. I was shocked at how much they knock off for crushed packaging. :)
 
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