In a message dated 96-05-04 20:10:12 EDT, AJAX668873@aol.com writes:

>I have a deep cycle RV battery that I store in a plastic case under the rear
>seat of my 87 Westy to power a portable 9" tv/vcr combo.  I just connect the
>+ and  - poles to a BASIC DESIGNS12-volt cord (alligator clips and cigarette
>type lighter adapter) and then plug in the tv 12-volt cord.  Well I just
>tried this with the BASIC DESIGNS power shower and fried the cord!  Nearly
>started a fire!  Was this just because the BASIC DESIGNS alligator clips
>which connect to the battery are so "wimpy" or is this inherently dangerous?
> I don't want to fry my tv.  Worse I don't want a fire.  Any suggestions? I
>try to avoid using the dashboard lighter plug for obvious reasons
>
>

I'd get rid of those aligator clips and attach some real battery clamps,
heavy gage wire, a heavy duty cigarette lighter socket and most importantly a
FUSE.  Having a correctly sized fuse can usually prevent the type of trouble
you have had.

Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg