Aldi super thread

[BurnieM]

Even if it is soft, how well does it insulate ?

This is one area where you don't want to skimp
.

[Bigem]

I have a pic of the inflated mat, my camera lense needs cleaning!!

[sharkey]

Originally Posted by Dukehunt

get an Exped. Best mattress I have ever owned.

Not wanting to threadjack, but yes, those things (Exped Downmat) are just amazing.
A smidge more than $30, though ...

-----sharks

[Rossco]

I'm taking the Aldi mat back tomorrow, see if I can get a refund. It's a crap bit of kit, as stated previously the top and bottom aren't laminated to the foam core, so when you lay on it pockets of air shoot to the side and you sink in and touch the ground.

I have purchased a few gadgets from aldi in the past and generally they are reasonable value, but this one is a dud in my opinion.

[Groomspa]

I've just spent 2 hrs on mine in front of the idiot box. I didn't slip around or fall off the side. I did feel a little pressure on my hip but nothing like my old one. I will probably only use it a hand full of times a year so I think it will be OK for my needs. If I was going on an extended trip something better would be on the shopping list. Let's face it, the meal I bought at the local pub cost me more than $30.

[Bigem]

I'm planning on catching a few Zs on mine over the weekend.

Then if its no good, I'll take it back.

So far it seems okay.

[GodSilla]

Just in case anyone here could use one of these, I just picked up a 12v - 240v 300W inverter from ALDI this evening for $49. Good for charging phones, radios, camera batteries, running laptops, etc. It's not exactly fit-in-your-hand size, but not too bulky either.

FYI.

[vOOdsy]

Any idea on the size? a coke can? or a keg of beer?

[GodSilla]

The box is the size of a large book, the unit is maybe 8 x 4 x 2 inches (200 x 100 x 50 mm).
I'm guesstimating here, I've only looked at it once .

[viz]

Originally Posted by GodSilla

Just in case anyone here could use one of these, I just picked up a 12v - 240v 300W inverter from ALDI this evening for $49. Good for charging phones, radios, camera batteries, running laptops, etc. It's not exactly fit-in-your-hand size, but not too bulky either. FYI.

Sounds like a modified sine wave or square wave inverter (which are cheap) and such would not be good for a laptop, which needs a pure sine wave inverter (a lot dearer). I understand that some laptops have power adapters that can cope but you would need to check first.

viz

[GodSilla]

Thanks Viz, I wasn't aware of that.
It is indeed a cheap unit, I bought mine for running chargers for phone, UHF, and camera batteries. Handy when you're off the beaten track for a while, but it is perhaps a bit bulky for bike use. I just thought there might be some demand for a cheap inverter somewhere eh.

[viz]

Originally Posted by GodSilla

Thanks Viz, I wasn't aware of that.
It is indeed a cheap unit, I bought mine for running chargers for phone, UHF, and camera batteries. Handy when you're off the beaten track for a while, but it is perhaps a bit bulky for bike use. I just thought there might be some demand for a cheap inverter somewhere eh.

No probs - I was made aware at a caravan and camping show one day, when I had a nice cheapy square wave tucked under my arm and about to pay for it - the guy at the counter asked what I was going to use it for, and when I said laptop, he asked what sort, I said a Mac, he said you use that you will wreck the hard drive for a start...

So I had to put it back on the shelf and spend money on a pure sine wave one at more than twice the price - but which works real well...

viz

[slowbike smallpenis]

Originally Posted by viz

Sounds like a modified sine wave or square wave inverter (which are cheap) and such would not be good for a laptop, which needs a pure sine wave inverter (a lot dearer). I understand that some laptops have power adapters that can cope but you would need to check first.

viz

Bandpass filter should fix that.

I'm pretty sure if Dick Smith doesn't stock them they are a fairly easy build.

Suggest you drop a message to Dirtwanabee.

[Happy Snapper]

I have a modified sine wave inverter (Dick Smith) that runs my macbook pro.. 2 years now and no problems. It won't wreck the hard drive... the power supply for the laptop is designed to run on 110 - 240 volts and the modified sine wave is not a problem for it.

I also use it to charge my camera batteries (I'm a pro photographer) and the chargers work just fine plugged into it.

My wife also uses it to charge her mobile eftpos machine and Acer Laptop... using their appropriate plug pack chaergers.

They work fine.

Cheers

Mark Taylor

[Professor Longhair]

I have one and used it to play dvd's on my laptop on a sailboat I used to have, it worked fine except for a annoying whine over the speakers when the volume was turned up.

That said, my battery on the laptop did pack it in early......