At 19:21 8/9/2000, Scott Semyan wrote:
>I am looking to get a small inverter for my Van to be able to run my digital
>camera. Most products are listed as outputting modified sine wave AC. Will
>this harm my camera?

Of course I don't guarantee it, but no.  Is this really a battery charger
for the camera?

>  How is modified
>sine wave different from normal grid power?

It's really a modified square wave...ordinary square wave goes *bang* from
full negative to full positive.  "Modified sine wave" goes from negative to
zero, then to positive, etc. and the peak voltage is closer to what a sine
wave would give.  Has lots of harmonics and high-frequency energy, but will
run most things without complaint.  Transformers tend to buzz a bit, video
monitors often will show some annoying interference, audio gear often gets
a buzz in it; but none of these things are hurt by the power.

To my knowledge there are no small sine-wave inverters, and the big ones
cost a lot and may be inefficient compared to the others.  Short of a
motor-generator set you're kind of stuck with the "MSW"
inverter.  Square-wave inverters may be available but are inefficient,
unsuitable for electronics, and have a high idle current (I had one 125
watt, drew 1 1/2 amps at idle).

>  Any suggestions on what inverter
>to get? I don't need much power (<200 watts).

Statpower 145 or Statpower 300, available from West Marine for $50/$80 --
145 draws about 60 ma at idle, 300 is more like 100 ma.  Efficiencies in
the 80-90% range with reasonable loads.  Read the instruction leaflet and
carefully understand the description of a specific type of equipment that
can hurt the inverter, or be hurt by it -- unlikely you have this, but be
sure before buying.

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"