A converter turns AC (wall outlet) into DC (12V like a
car battery). An inverter turns DC (12V) into AC (110V
wall outlet). A poor inverter (square or sawtooth
wave) will make the lights blink very fast.  A good
inverter (pure sine or quasi-sine wave) will work with
most AC products very well. (Most delicate electronics
will only work properly a pure sine wave as in a wall
outlet.)

If you are using an inverter to run an AC product, you
will use 10 times the shown amperage.  Ex. 110V @ 3
amps will be about 12V (power multiplied in the
inverter to 110-120V) @ 30 amps.  A string of lights
could use up to 50 amps DC You could use a 50-100 watt
inverter and be ok, although a poor inverter will not
cycle properly and will cause the lights to blink...A
heater at 1250-1500 watts would need a 2000 watt
inverter and would draw 150-200 amps continuous DC
power.  You would need a mega alternator or a bank of
deep cycle batteries.

If you are talking about a DC outlet with a converter
then just wire another DC outlet direct to the
fuseblock.  DC heaters barely work.

DC lights are available at boat stores too.  DC lights
that run on C-cell batteries are on sale this week at
CVS.

Sorry this is formatted poorly, I'm in a big hurry.

--- Troy Crivellone <cherrydad@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> I have an '80 vanagon camper.  I have a power
> converter and two outlets.
> The outlets only work if the external plug is pluged
> in to my house.  I
> would like to put christmas lights inside my car.
> How can i do this.  if i
> can't use the power converter then how can i do this
> without spending alot
> of money.  ANd this isn't just for plugging in
> christmas lights, a plugging
> in a heater for camping trips and the such.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Troy
>
> '80 Vanagon Camper  "Baby Blue Eyes"
>
>
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