When you need to quickly charge your smartphone while commuting in your car, your vehicle’s music system can do a fair job. But what if you are running out of power on your laptop? Well, you have to look for a power point at home or office. But you do have an option to charge and use your laptop in your car itself. Adding a simple accessory like a power inverter can help save your day. Targus recently announced the APV018AP, an AC automotive 200W power inverter, which is a worthy must-have for all vehicles. All you need is a vacant cigarette lighter port and you have enough power to even run an entertainment setup within your car.
The Targus AC Automotive 200W power inverter features a very simple, yet convenient design. It fits into your car’s cup holder and accommodates the use of up to two devices simultaneously. An onboard USB port can help charge smartphones and tablets with a 2.1A power output, while a power socket can connect to conventional appliances that require AC 230V. The device has two indicator LEDs that allow you to read the status of the device, a power switch and a fuse for safety. The inverter is a well-built cup-sized unit with a plastic body, well ventilated for prolonged use. The inverter has a base ventilator too, which allows cooler air to be sucked up by the internal fans to keep the internal components from heating. The inverter also features additional protections against over-temperature, surge and over-current
The Targus inverter can supply 200 Watts of continuous AC power by converting your car’s 12V battery using the cigarette lighter port. In cases where additional power could be the need, the inverter can be use with a peak power output for almost 400 Watts, but we would advise against exceeding the recommended power usage ratings. Though the inverter is made keeping laptops and gadget chargers in mind, you can also use the inverter to power smaller electrical appliances such as small vacuum cleaners, mini electric kettles, shavers, air purifiers, and alike. However, make sure the power rating of the appliance does not exceed the inverters output rating.
We used the Targus inverter for almost a week in the vehicle and found that the inverter came in handy to charge our cameras and laptop when out for long and outstation shoots. The inverter marginally heated up during use, but that was because we did not use the air conditioner alongside. While using the AC, we found the heat almost negligible. Using the power socket was a bit of a pain as it involves
We would definitely recommend the power inverter by Targus if you are frequently on the road and need your laptop, smartphone or other devices to charge while on the move. The Targus not only helps you recharge device batteries, but also helps in using other smaller appliances when travelling longer distances. The Targus 200W inverter is priced at an MRP of Rs 3,450 and is available for a street price of Rs 2,500 (taxes extra).
USB fast charging port — Cup holder Style is designed for the mobile professional or recreational user. It provides a power source for most electrical devices in RVs, cars or boats. It is designed to conveniently fit into most standard cup holders. Simply plug the inverter into the cigarette lighter plug and power or charge up to 2 devices including notebooks, mobile/smart phones, PDAs, video consoles and many others. It features one 230V ± 20V AC plug, one USB port (2.1A). The APV018AP can deliver 200W of continuous and up to 400W of peak power. It is safe to use and features over-current, over-temperature and surge protection. The APV018AP is targeted for mobile professionals or recreational users looking for a power source that won’t take up a large amount of space.
