Inverter and Laptop

OK...thanks for the replies...I guess we'll be both running and charging our laptops of it....as we have solar panels and a caravan battery.
Cheers
Gerard

Thanks SARG...I was worried the puters power supply/charging unit might get indigestion and burn out or what ever they do.
Cheers
Gerard

Thanks...will wander into DS and check them out,
Cheers
Gerry

>on some laptops the 240v inverter current is ALSO going
>direct into and running the laptop

I am unaware of _any_ notebook computer with an external power supply which accepts the 240V AC supply in addition to the DC supply. If you mean that the switch mode power supply provides current to both charge the battery and run the notebook then this would usually be the case otherwise one could only do one or the other.

>However ONLY pure sine wave wave should be used where the
>current is actually used to directly run the laptop.

Why? The external switch mode power supply will convert the 240V input into a DC current at a suitable voltage for the notebook. A well designed switch mode power supply will operate from a very wide range of input frequencies, voltages, AC and DC and wave shapes – I’ve designed a few of them over the years.

If the switch mode supply is doing it’s job properly then the notebook computer will have no idea if the 240V supply has a sine wave input or a waveshape similar to the second harmonics of the 1812 Overture.

Now: having said that there have been a (very) few reports of people having problems using modified sine wave (actually they are usually triangular wave) inverters with some notebook computers and I have certainly experienced two brands of low energy lamps which burned up when powered from my 300W MSW inverter. I don’t know why.

>I use Toshiba and Dell laptops and both do require pure sine
>wave inverters, according to their respective manufacturers.

My Dell ran for about three years from my MSW inverter, my IBM is just coming up to the end of it’s first year. Manufacturers don’t like to expose their products to _any_ more risk than they _absolutely_ have to. That’s why they tell you not to use aftermarket parts on your vehicle.

Mike Harding

mike_harding@fastmail.fm

Mike Harding posted this followup-> "Now: having said that there have been a (very) few reports of people HAVING PROBLEMS using MODIFIED sine wave inverters with some notebook computers and I have certainly experienced two brands of low energy lamps which burned up when powered from my 300W MSW inverter. I don’t know why"

Mike, maybe my post above relevant to the benefits of "pure sinewave" inverters goes somewhere towards explaining the problems you have mentioned ???

>Mike, maybe my post above relevant to the benefits of
>"pure sinewave" inverters goes somewhere towards
>explaining the problems you have mentioned ???

You think so?

Give me technical rationalisation - not supposition or clutching at straws to make your pseudo technical opinions appear competent.

Mike Harding

Mike you posted;
"Now: having said that there HAVE BEEN a (very) FEW REPORTS of people having problems using modified sine wave inverters with some notebook computers and I HAVE certainly experienced two brands of low energy lamps which burned up when powered from my 300W MSW inverter. I DON'T KNOW WHY"

Mike, obviously if you don't know why, no-one else will either... L0L

Take a look at this Willie:

Site Link

Jaycar part number MP3467 if the link doesn't work.

Let us know how you go, please?

Mike Harding

Hi Mike ,
I went to the site and that converter sounds perfect . My computer power supply states it puts out 16 v at 2.5 . The Jaycar unit does 16 v at 6 amps . I s this amp difference a problem ?
There is a Jaycar place only five minutes from me .
Thanks Willie .

How's the fossicking going ?

Nope, the amperage thing is fine: it just means it can provide more power than your computer needs.

>How's the fossicking going ?

Haven't done a lot over the past few moths, Willie, what with the bush fires and the summer heat I've taken a bit of a break but I shall be starting again as soon as I can find some time - doing some work at the moment! Not on, is it! :)

Mike Harding

Thanks for that info Mike .

Did I tell you that I have booked myself in to a 14 day fossicking tagalong leaving from Marble Bar at the start of June . I am looking forward to it .

On Tuesday I am going down to parramatta where there is a fossicking type shop . I have to get a pick and ask what else I need . Any tips on gear I should have ?
( I am hiring a detector from the tagalong crowd )

Willie .

>I have booked myself in to a 14 day fossicking tagalong
>leaving from Marble Bar at the start of June

I think you said you were thinking of it. Good on yer Willie - I'm sure you'll have a great time and learn lots - you may even find some gold too :) - my offer for Vic still stands, of course.

>Any tips on gear I should have ?

Noooo... not really, a decent pick and the usual safety gear (less important in a group) - a magnet is useful for deciding what is NOT gold, a knife for scratching things to see if they gleam.... Don't need much else really except good humour :)
Have a good time Willie and let us know how you do :)

Mike Harding