Customer Reviews

Vector VEC 024B 400-Watt D/C to A/C Power Inverter with Power Level Meter

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I bought the Vector MAXX 400 watt inverter because it was about the highest wattage inverter available that still plugged into the cigarette lighter and I am not displeased. The unit comes with both a cigarette lighter cord and alligator clips which can be attached directly to the battery. These are color coded and connected to the unit by the user. I just leave the cigarette lighter cord attached as it still fits in the convenient hard-shell carrying case in that configuration. The unit has audio alarm for low power, a circuit breaker, and a fan which is not too loud.

I found it easy to use - just hook up the cables, plug it in and run my stuff. I mostly use this to power a laptop running navigation software or recharge a cell phone and it works great. (I probably do not need this much power for these tasks but you never know when you will need the extra juice for other usage.) It powered the laptop on a 12 hour drive from Chicago to D.C. with no problems. I do use a surge suppressor for the laptop but that is just me and to the best of my knowledge, the Vector MAXX has never triggered the surge suppressor.

My only (mild) complaint is that the cords are a little short. Overall, I find it easy to use and pretty handy to have around. I recommend it.

I was disappointed to read in the manual that you can only pull 80 watts when this unit is plugged into a cigarette lighter. Many cars have 15amp fuses on the lighter, which is 180 watts. I own two "smaller" inverters that deliver 150 Watts from the lighter. If the 80 Watt limitation had been mentioned in the ad copy, I wouldn't have purchased this item.

This invertor works very well. It replaced a burned out invertor I have on a mobile emergency cart-based power backup. I live in the Sierra foothills where PG&E power outages are more frequent than normal. The cart has a 12v deep-cycle battery and two 400 watt invertors mounted on it. It easily runs a couple of CFL lamps and a fan for several hours.

I have a 5000 watt gas generator, but that is too much work for short duration outages and the mobile cart fills the need just fine without all the noise.

I bought this back in February 2006 in a local store but I'm glad to see they're still for sale. I've used it on every long trip I've taken since then and it has earned its spot in my console. I can't remember what I paid for it but $100 would still be a good value. Its great for camping and other situations where power isn't guaranteed. I've run and charged two laptops simultaneously off it with no problems. Friends and family ask where they can get one and I'm glad I can direct them here. Two issues are the fan noise is a bit loud and you can get feedback through the stereo when charging certain devices.

It powered laptops, cell phones, and other battery chargers well on a cross country road trip I went on recently. The whine of the fan was a little annoying at low speeds, but the highway noise was enough to cover it up if you stick it in the back seat for interstate driving in the toyota corolla that I was riding in. I was hoping something of this apparent build quality would have a quieter fan, or only use the fan once it got hot. I consider that a nitpick though. Overall I'm satisfied and I'm glad I've got one of these now.

I would actually give this product less than 1 star.
I had minor problems with it after about 3 months.
The cooling fans would start to screech and it wasn't producing all the power it could.
My computer ran out of power even though it was plugged into the inverter and the inverter showed it was working.
In less than 1 year the inverter died and I've been using one that I purchased at Wal-Mart because I needed an inverter immediately.
I would not recommend this inverter at all.
I am in the process of purchasing another inverter and it will NOT be another Vector.

Believe it or not, I found the Vector 400-watt D/C to A/C inverter on the side of the road. I was out for an exercise walk in a steady rain last month, and picked up this odd red device. I figured that it had been thrown out by some motorist who had it fail on him. On the odd chance that there was nothing wrong with it other than a blown fuse, I brought it home with me, and set it on a shelf in my garage. I let it dry out for over a month (it had been found laying half-submerged in a creek bed, and was quite soaked), and then I remembered it just this morning. I dusted it off, examined it, and sure enough; the factory fuse in the housing of the cigarette light plug was blown. I replaced the fuse, plugged the Vector into the cigarette light socket of my Subaru Baja, turned the switch on, and voila, the thing works great. I plugged a house lamp into it, then a small box fan, and then finally a guitar amplifier. It works just fine, and the guitar amp (a 15w Fender practice amp, pushing the sound of my Gibson Les Paul) sounded fantastic. Two thumbs up, I highly recommend this item!!

I too found the fan noise excessive. My feeling is that at low current levels, like charging a cellular phone, the fan is not necessary. Many other inverters with a little lower watt capacity do not even have a fan. Consider that the fan itself also draws additional current - not a good thing when charging a device without the engine running. But when the full 400W charging is needed it is essential to have a fan on such a small inverter. So, a thermostaticly controlled fan would have been great. I actually spent some time and added a switch on the converter's panel which manually turns on or off the fan. I leave the fan off for low draws, so it is up to my discretion when the noisy fan is needed. Otherwise for the size and price this is a good quality and powerful inverter.

I had no real complaints with the functioning of the unit until it died (and I actually repaired!). I used it on occasion, not very often. However, there is absolutely no excuse for the way this unit is built. It's as if Vector wants the unit to be easily destroyed.

Who puts the protection fuses inside an Inverter casing and permanently solders them with heavy solder to an electronics board? The whole point of a fuse is to protect a component and to be easily replaced. If you saw the inside of this thing you would know Vector Does Not Want The Fuses To Be Replaced. You pop a fuse you destroy the Inverter! Perhaps it is an easy way for them to get paid repair service or paid swap outs.

Either way, whoever designed this thing was crazy. >Definitely Check The Casing Of Any Inverter You Buy And Confirm It Has External Replacable Protection Fuses< If it does not, do not buy. Too bad Vector, I modified the one I have so the fuses may be replaced, although still not easily. They may have changed this since I bought mine but I doubt it.

The inverter is quiet and works well, except for the A/C power cord. It overheats welds itself together, and the spring between the nipple and the fuse collapsed after 2 hours of use. I threw it away and replaced it with a heavy duty A/C plug from my old Radio Shack inverter which had a broken fan. To the manufacturers of Vector, please beef up your power cord. If the cord was heavy duty and didn't fail, I would have rated 5 stars.