<span class="highlight">GENERATOR</span> OR INVERTER

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 15:14

ThreadID: 86767 Views:3187 Replies:9 FollowUps:5

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Inverters

This article discusses how Inverters work and why they are so desirable to many travellers. It explains the difference between modifed sine wave inverters and pure sinewave inverters; contains a

chris a

Gday everyone
I have a lap top computer and would like to charge the battery in it , while travelling around .
the little genny i have is a cheap two stroke 750-850w
can i buy something to go in between the genny and the charger to prevent dammage to the battery or computer the charger reads imput 100-240v -1.7a / 50/60hz out put 8.5v 3.5a 65w any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated thanks

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Reply By: Member - Wayne N (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 15:19

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 15:19

Neither.

Get a 12v to 19V (or whatever your lappy needs) computer charger from the likes of Dick Smith.
Much more efficient too.

Wayne

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AnswerID: 456451

Reply By: Member - John and Val - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 15:33

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 15:33

Chris,

As already suggested, go for a car laptop supply. Readily available from Jaycar, ebay etc. Suggest have a look at the Jaycar site and search on "car laptop". It will bring up a range of them. I'd get the supplier to set it up for you too - it's not impossible to get that wrong and it could be very expensive if connected up with the polarity wrong!

Think your post may include an error - the output of your laptop charger is probably 18.5V, not 8.5V.

Cheers

John

J and V
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AnswerID: 456453

Follow Up By: dbish - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:10

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:10

2 things you can do one is always run a 150Watt light on it to stabilise the voltage & engine RPM & use a Surge protector. Thats what i use & never had any problems. Also do not let it run out of fuel while there is any thing conected to it. Ive never had any problems & iv also used it to run a Hitachi auto washing machine with Computer control panel with no adverse effects when theres a power outage.

FollowupID: 729524

Reply By: chris a - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:37

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:37

Thank you men
Its a brand new computer and i certainly dont want to dammage it in any way .
I run everything through a serge arrester when using the genny ,
Would the 150w globe be placed in between the serge protecter and the battery charger , thanks guys

AnswerID: 456458

Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:48

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 16:48

Hi Chris

I was running a laptop from a pure sine wave inverter in the caravan but it died. Best thing it ever did. On advice from EO members, I got a power supply from a Jaycar outlet (Leading Edge in Roma). They asked me to bring the laptop in to ensure they sold me the right power supply. It now runs direct from the 12 v via cig plug which is so much easier than plugging it into the inverter. My modem is USB so needs no outside power source. I would risk a computer on a cheap genny.

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 456461

Follow Up By: chris a - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 17:17

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 17:17

thanks motherhen
are you saying you do away with the computer charger alltgether ,

FollowupID: 729532

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 17:53

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 17:53

Hi Chris - If i am reading your question right - A laptop plugs normally into mains power with a black box converter to take the 240 v down to 16 v, 19 v or what ever your computer needs, whether you use it like this only for recharging, or like me tend to use it plugged into power all the time. The 12 v power supplies are a substitute black box which goes direct from 12 v via cig plug and have a dial to select the voltage your computer needs so takes it from for example 12 v to 19 v. They have a series of adaptor pins to plug into the different computers. Some brands of computer have their own specific power supplies for this rather than the generic multi fit ones from Jaycar and the like stores. Much more efficient than using an inverter which takes 12 v to 240 volt then your laptop black box taking it back to the lower voltage again. Much easier to use too.

Mh

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Follow Up By: Member - Paul P2 - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:12

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:12

Buy A belkin charger workers off the cigerette charger will also do phone and GPS's best charger and when you back at home it will run on 240 volts
Had a gREAT TRIP

FollowupID: 729594

Reply By: ABR - SIDEWINDER - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 18:17

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 18:17

Hi Chris

The simple solution is a 12V laptop power supply.

As mentioned I think you have a typo... 18.5V not 8.5V.

They look like this and come with assorted tips to match.

Some like ours have a USB output which is also handy.

Try eBay, Jaycar, DSE and ABR

Regards

Derek

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AnswerID: 456472

Reply By: Member - The Bushwhackers -NSW - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:18

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 19:18

G'day Chris

I went through the same thoughts about 18 months ago. I ended up going on eBay, typed in "Compaq Pressario CQ61 laptop car charger", hit search, and found a cigarette lighter type charger for my Compaq laptop for $19 plus reasonable postage... and yes, it does work. It is 90w, so it allows the computer to be used and still has sufficient output to charge the battery at the same time.

Cheers, Dave

AnswerID: 456486

Reply By: Echucan Bob - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 20:47

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 20:47

Chris

I am biased against portable petrol generators. Your vehicle already has a perfectly good generator for making electricity.

It produces some 13.4 volts DC. By using inexpensive converters this can be changed to lower or higher DC voltages for most portable equipment.

If you really need 240V AC for some chargers etc inverters are also very cheap.

Choose equipment that runs on 12V (displays, radios, computers, TVs etc) where possible. Or computer power supplies as described above.

Some claim they need a generator when they camp for prolonged periods and need refrigeration. Solar is cheaper, lighter, more reliable.

The real cost of generators is the intrusive noise, the extra weight, and the need to carry petrol.

Those cheap Chinese generators have no place in the Australian outback travellers vehicle.

Bob

AnswerID: 456500

Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 22:15

Sunday, Jun 05, 2011 at 22:15

I don’t have a cheap Chinese generator but I do have an expensive Japanese one, plus solar panels. They all have their advantages.

FollowupID: 729576

Reply By: chris a - Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:50

Monday, Jun 06, 2011 at 10:50

I have heard a lot of bad things about my $ 89 cheap genny
mine is traveling around Aus for the third time now, I do use a serge protector Yes it is a little noisy,
I run all the lights and my didgical TV
May be it dose not know its is a bad genator

AnswerID: 456556

Reply By: Member - Serendipity(WA) - Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 18:40

Tuesday, Jun 07, 2011 at 18:40

I think you could go with a pure sine wave inverter better than a dedicated power supply from your car. These are good so no problems but they only charge you laptop. If you went for an inverter you could power up all sorts of devices.

I purchased a pure sine wave inverter and I use it to run almost anything. Not large items like power tools and microwaves but smaller stuff.

Pure Sine Wave 1000W(2000W Max) 12V-240V Power Inverter

Cheers