For laptops, cell phones, etc. The best bet is a 12 volt adapter and adequately wired lighter sockets to support them. Next choice is a small inverter sized to match the expected load with consideration for available battery and/or charging circuit capacity. Every 100 watts will need almost 10 amps DC.

Dennis

Sent from my Windows Phone
________________________________
From: Mark Tuovinen
Sent: 11/10/2011 5:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Power Inverter advice requested

We need to add a power inverter to our van as we will be traveling and want
to be able to charge the laptop computer battery.  Would any List Member
whom has knowledge on this subject please advise/assist in helping me
choose a unit that we be sufficient for this and maybe able to handle a bit
more should need arise.  For now our primary concern is the computer but if
there is a unit that can handle more for a reasonable price I would
probably purchase it as our needs may change in the future.

TIA

Mark in AK
`87 Westy Syncro