Jennifer,

I can only tell you what I have at work in my co. truck and it is very
simple:
transformer connected to fuse panel to make 18?-24 volts for my Panasonic
toughbook. However it does create a high pitched but quite noise.
have never had problem w/ leaving it on for a few hours along w/ other
assorted phones/ fans etc.
About the inverter route:
just saw a super small one (75 watts)that is just a little bigger than the
cigar lighter plug-in itself w/ two 120 volt a.c.outlets on it that you
could plug your small electronics into.  Found at F.L.A.P.S. about $30 and
problem solved.

chris c

----- Original Message -----
From: "jennifer dumpert" <undine@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2003 12:35 AM
Subject: Power Source: Westfalia as mobile office

> As a consultant, I do most of my work from home, or in cafes, or in my '86
> Westy, which I drive down to the beach so I smell and hear the ocean while
I
> work. Idyllic, for an office.
>
> My big problem, however, is that the battery on my laptop only runs for
> about two hours. To really make my Westfalia a reasonable mobile office, I
> need to be able to power the computer (24 volts, 1.875 amps) for at least
> five or six hours at a time. I have considered getting a deep cycle
battery
> (like the ones folks use on boats) and wiring an inverter to it to plug
the
> computer into. I think that would work fine when I'm just leaving the
house
> for the day, but I would have to charge the battery frequently so I would
> have to come back home every night instead of taking small road trips
while
> I work. I also thought about a quiet generator, but that would have to run
> outside the van and those seem a bit bigger.
>
> Does anyone have advice/experience about this?
>
> Jennifer Dumpert
> '86 Westy, "Baby"
>
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