Inverter Help

Submitted: Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 17:24
ThreadID: 42908 Views:4662 Replies:8 FollowUps:5
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GDay,
Can ya tell me if a 300 watt inverter will be ok to run my lappy and charge my digital camera battery etc, ( It is NOT a pure sine wave )
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Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 17:34

Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 17:34
Yeh no worries, a 300w would charge dozens of them
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AnswerID: 225236

Reply By: On Patrol (Aust.) - Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 17:38

Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 17:38
dj Patrol,
that would be fine, my computer guru said that if you run it through a dc converter that can do all thats nessisary to send good power to the Laptop/Notebook etc.
Colin.
AnswerID: 225237

Reply By: furph - Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 18:05

Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 18:05
dj My 350w (peak surge) runs a 3/8" drill or a 4" angle grinder with no fuss.
Also used for the laptop, digital camera battery and any other odds/sods.
I am also going to use it to run a 10a. battery charger in the van whilst we are moving. Overcomes 12v. voltage drop the the van battery.
furph
AnswerID: 225247

Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 18:51

Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 18:51
We got an additional inverter for the laptop - 300w which is more than adequate, but pure sine wave - I would not risk the laptop on anything else. The old 500w square wave is fine for charging the small batteries and re-chargeable power tools.

We haven't taken the laptop with us yet - it took 12 months of replacing components after a power brown out before it was working again; too late to take with us on our trip. I certainly would only use a pure sine wave inverter. Got ours fairly cheap off eBay, and the two a fitted side by side. Very handy having 2 if we need to charge phones and camera batteries in a hurry.
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AnswerID: 225256

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:39

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:39
Yes,
but use a P U R E sine wave inverter

Ask your computer geek / shop techno person to inform you of the "technical" difference between pure and UN-pure sine wave inverters.

Most often the 240v runs the computer directly, not indirectly through the computer battery, hence the pure sine wave inverter which is 'cleaner' power without any chance of the damaging power bursts is safer.
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FollowupID: 486347

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 19:11

Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 19:11
I've used a $90 Jaycar 300watt inverter for the past couple of years for both laptops and chargers - no problems.
AnswerID: 225264

Reply By: Mike - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 00:00

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 00:00
I just purchased a 300watt inverter from Dick Smith for $86.00 works well, up to 150 watts needed plug it into the ciggy lighter, if you want to use more than 150 watts connect it to the battery terminals.
AnswerID: 225326

Reply By: PhilZD30Patrol - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 08:37

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 08:37
Hi

I am running my new laptop OK on a 150 watt modified sine wave inverter but it gets very warm so I plan to buy the Dick Smith $89 300 watt one on my next shopping trip.

I cannot work out why some people insist on a pure sine wave inverter as I have not heard of any problems with the modified sine wave inverter on modern laptops.

Both types of inverters must have adequate constant wattage and a significantly higher short term surge capability.

Cheers
Phil
AnswerID: 225349

Follow Up By: Mal58 - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 14:18

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 14:18
Hi Phil,
Sorry to break the bubble, about 15 months ago I had a 150 W (Jaycar) modified sine wave inverter to run a laptop.

The laptop pulled approx 60 watt. After about 1 hour the inverter would alarm and shut down due to overheating.

I thought I had a dud inverter, so did some tests and plugged in a light (60W) and let the inverter run for several hours, no problems.

I checked current draw (12V side) and in each case (laptop / Light Bulb) the inverter was pulling approx 5 amps.

I took the inverter back to Jaycar and explained the problem. Despite the advertising in their catalogue, I was advised "dont use a modified sine inverter" for equipment with switch mode power supplies, which of course a Laptop has.

It "stresses" the inverter and also the switch mode power supply. Interestingly, the laptop power supply died approx 2 months later, and it was a short on the 240Vac side.

I exchanged the modified sinewave inverter for a pure sinewave unit and have not had any problems since.

Cheers,
Mal
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FollowupID: 486313

Follow Up By: PhilZD30Patrol - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 15:20

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 15:20
Hi Mal

Thanks for your response and you have broken my bubble so to speak as my inverter is a 150 watt Jaycar about 2 year old. I must admit that I have not run my laptop on the inverter for more than about 15 minutes a time, and as mentioned previously it seems to get very hot for the time running. I have not measured the amps while it is running but the laptop specified max load is 4.1 amps which should not cause significant overheating.

I will now investigate buying a pure sine wave inverter for my laptop because your advice has convinced me that the cost savings for a modified sine wave inverter are not worth the risk.

Once again thanks for your advice

Cheers
Phil
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FollowupID: 486330

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:05

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:05
I have and do run any combination of four of the following, fridge/freezer, plus computer, plus Energiser 'rechargable' battery charger, plus mobile phone charger, plus Coleman light recharger, off a 300w Pure sine wave inverter - without any hassles, since March 2006.

It does not overheat, maybe because it's fan cooled and not 'cheap-n-nastie' lol

I use a 4x outlet 240v power board, plugged into the Inverter, it allows 4x 240v products to run/charge 24/7

Note;
I run the fridge/freezer on 240v only when camped out of the sun (no solar) for long periods because it will independently recharge the AGM Aux battery system :-)
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FollowupID: 486353

Reply By: TerraFirma - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 15:28

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 15:28
Yes the cheapy inverters will need to be used in an area with plenty of ventilation however that goes with all inverters because they are air-cooled.
AnswerID: 225441

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:14

Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:14
The budget priced inverters use a 'heat sink' without a fan

The (better quality) more expensive inverters still use a form of heat sink - but also use 'fan forced ventilation' to remain running cool.

Mine has never cut off, however I have some times heard the fan go on /off during the day.
The inverter stays on 24/7 when away because there is always some battery or light that needs charging or power.
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FollowupID: 486357

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