Inverter capacity
Submitted: Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:20
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Navigator 1 (NSW)
Computer: Output 19v 6.32A
I have just tried a borrowed 600w modified sine wave inverter with my lap top.
The inverter beeped when I started the computer so I
unplugged it and let the computer start on
battery power. The inverter was happy when I plugged it in again and even ran a DVD OK.
Is it normal for the inverted to beep when the lap top is started?
Should I buy a pure sine wave inverter.
I dont understand electronics so keep it simple please.
Robyn
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:27
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:27
Go to Dick Smiths or Jaycar or even Hardly Normal and buy a
CONVERTER
These up the car voltage from the cars 12v to what your laptop uses
They are adjustable up to about 21volts and come in various wattage capacities .
A 6 amp one should do you.
Much safer than having 240 volts in a vehicle which if it gets wet
It may literally "light up your life"
AnswerID:
360039
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:29
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:29
If you are worried you can run most lappies with the battery removed Just dont turn the power off if you are doing anything important.
FollowupID:
627934
Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 22:48
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 22:48
Not as simple as it sounds :-(
My laptop (Toshiba) has the same specs i.e. 19V 6.32A. I have a 120 watt Targus 6Amp converter, and it won't run the laptop. It will charge the battery if the laptop is switched off, but if the laptop is running, the battery will run down as if it's not plugged in to a power source.
This same converter runs two other lower powered laptops fine.
I have not found a converter rated higher than 6 amp, so an inverter might be your best bet.
Cheers
Glenn
FollowupID:
627963
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 09:17
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 09:17
Seems strange however as the original poster did not specify what brand he was using it may not apply.
his may
well be ok on a converter.
IT does help when asking for help if ALL the relevant information is provided.
EG The make of the gear. What programs running etc.
We try to help but cant if only vague questions get asked.
Cheers
FollowupID:
627985
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:24
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:24
The beginning of my post did state ...
Computer 19V 6.32A. Sorry I left out 'Toshiba'.
The operating system is Vista
Cheers
Robyn
FollowupID:
627995
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:49
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:49
Didnt mean the operating system.
Meant stuff like Photoshop or Itunes or programs like that.
Some processor intensive programs cause the machine to use more power and therefore the converter cant keep up.
If you are doing graphics editing it will make it sneeze a bit but if only reading forums or general browsing it wont make it run hard.
I was running my Compaq Presario 2.6 on a 150 watt inverter but had to start it on the battery.
I then tried a 3 amp converter which would run it but got pretty hot when it was working so changed it for a 6 amp and it works fine.
FollowupID:
628006
Follow Up By: Rossc0 - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 11:33
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 11:33
The Targus converters aren't much chop.
I have a 70w and 90w targus and my laptop will not run with either of them if the battery is less than 80% capacity. They will charge the battery up if the computer is off.
The 90w from Jaycar (MP3474) has no problems. charges the battery with the laptop turned running so long as there is sufficent
battery power for the computer to turn on.
If I was buying a new one for the price the 150w from Jaycar would be what I'd get.
Cheers
Ross
FollowupID:
628013
Reply By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 19:31
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 19:31
G'day Robyn, I just use a converter too.
It just seems a bit of a waste converting 12v up to 240v and the computer converts it back to 19v.
OK if you want to use the inverter for other things as
well though, it is worth having.
Dave
AnswerID:
360051
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 20:40
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 20:40
Hi Dave,
With the converter...
* Can you watch DVD on the lap top?
* Can I plug into our 10amp socket which is wired directly to the deep cycle battery
OR
* can it only be connected to a battery with battery clamps?
* Does modified sine wave or pure sine wave come into consideration with a converter?
Thanks for you help,
Robyn
FollowupID:
627947
Follow Up By: Dave B ( BHQ NSW) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:13
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:13
Robyn, my old lappy doesn't have a DVD,only CD, but everything works OK when I plug it into the cig lighter socket in the CT or the car.
My converter has quite a few choices for the voltage because different laptops use different voltages.
Mine also has quite a few different connector plugs so that it can be used on different brands of laptops.
As far as I know you only need a pure sine wave inverter to make sure the voltage is an even 240v, but I may be wrong there.
There is no problem with the low voltage stuff as far as I know.
Dave
FollowupID:
627952
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:38
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:38
Get on the Dick Smith website www.dse.com.au and look up the converters and you will see what the are like and how they connect.
Search product no M9694or M9695
Normally you just whack it in the fag socket
Computers always draw a bit more when they fire up and also use more when you are doing things on them.
Interestingly I heard on the radio today that a Playstation left on all the time uses $150 worth of power per year.
AnswerID:
360068
Reply By: GerryP - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:45
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 21:45
Hi Robyn,
A 600w inverter should easily feed your laptop. I suggest it is beeping because the 12 volt wiring to the socket is too small and causing a voltage drop when the computer starts up. I assume it is a lighter socket.
I used to have the same thing happen in my car until I ran a heavier cable and installed a dedicated socket for the inverter - no more problems after that.
As for a pure sine wave inverter, unless you have some fancy electronics, you probably don't need it. I have several modified sine wave
inverters and have not had any problems with any laptops (have had 3 so far) or any battery chargers etc. If you're worried about output voltage fluctuations, get one that regulates a constant output, irrespective of input fluctuations or power draw. They cost a tad more, but still much cheaper than a pure sine wave.
Cheers
Gerry
AnswerID:
360070
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:30
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:30
Hi Gerry,
'I assume it is a lighter socket'
I am plugging into a dedicated 'lighter socket' which has 10amp wiring directly connected to the deep cycle battery.
Thank you for information on pure sine wave.
Robyn
FollowupID:
627996
Follow Up By: Patrol22 - Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 20:28
Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 20:28
I agree with Gerry, Robyn....I just fitted a 500w inverter to my truck today and reading the handbook that came with it...it says.. not to run anthing in excess of 150w from the cigarette lighter connection. I've hardwired min in using some spare battery cable I had around the shed so don't need to worry about this problem.
FollowupID:
628206
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Monday, Apr 20, 2009 at 10:01
Monday, Apr 20, 2009 at 10:01
Hi Patrol22
As stated above your followup, i am plugging into a dedicated socket with 10amp wiring (not the usual 2.5amp cigarette lighter.
My last reply in this post lets you know that i have solved the problem with a Belkin Laptop Power adapter. FANTASTIC!
Thanks for your help
Robyn
FollowupID:
628284
Reply By: Maîneÿ . . . (WA) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 05:49
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 05:49
I will "keep it simple" as you suggest
*inverter manufacturers & suppliers* recommend using 'pure sine wave' 240 Volt electricity with various hi-tech items, a laptop being one of these items.
They give reasons why not to use lesser forms of inverter power supplies, stating a pure sine wave inverter supplies the 'purest' form of 240v electricity, the other types being less...
...it's fully explained on inverter websites and very easy to comprehend :-)
Our 'ExplorOz' Link: "
inverters "
Mainey . . .
AnswerID:
360086
Reply By: Zebra400 - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 07:17
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 07:17
Robyn
Your laptop is drawing a lot of power. It doesn't surprise me that your invertor is bleeping. I run a Dell laptop which only uses 4.62 amps .i.e. 90 watts and it bleeps all the time when I ued to start it up with my 300W invertor.
I decided to purchase the Dell laptop 12v power supply. It steps up the voltage to 19.5 volts, but it reduces the watts from 90 to 60. Dell says that 90 watts is to powerful for running the laptop from 12 volts.
Although my laptop runs a little slower, it is fine for running my navigation software. I now also do not have any power issues with bleeping noises.
Laurie
AnswerID:
360091
Reply By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 08:00
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 08:00
Navigator1
Not all manufacturers and sellers of
inverters say only use Pure Sine Wave.
There are two types of Inverter High Frequency and Low frequency and the high frequency has a basically no realisable surge capacity where the low frequency has the surge capacity to allow higher powered start ups.
Hence the dings on your borrowed unit.
You have proven that your computer runs on other than the pure sine so all you need is to up the size slightly to cover the start up.
Modifed sine is cheaper to run than pure sine as they use less quiescent current.
A lot of modern equipment uses pulse width modulation technology and therefore is quite happy running on other than pure sine wave.
Regardless of the above if you do not need an inverter for any other pupose the most efficient use would be by DC converion direct to your computer.
Ian
AnswerID:
360097
Follow Up By: Wahroonga Farm - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 13:54
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 13:54
Yup.
There's a lot of twaddle written about modified sinewave
inverters.
For the appropriate application they are theabsolute bees knees as Ian has explained.
They love resistive loads. Old absorption fridges without 12volts are an excellent application (despiiteit appear thousands of paramedics being electrocuted :)).
They like feeding switchmode power supplies (most laptops use them) and they like feeding smart battery chargers because the income AC signal is immediately rectified then chopped again and they like feeding low energy fluorescents (makes for a very simple camping light ... mount them in a clear plastic peanut butter or similar screw top container).
They don't like reactive or inductive loads ie motors and transformers, standard ballasted fluorescent lights etc.
FollowupID:
628027
Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 09:40
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 09:40
The inverter should run your laptop fine, but the power supplies in most such gear are very demanding on startup. In fact they are very close to a short circuit for that initial fraction of a second. Changing to a pure sine wave inverter won't change that.
As others have said, the best solution, for several reasons, is to use a 12V power supply to provide the (usually) 19V required by the laptop. It simply plugs in in place of the usual 240V external supply. These are readily available, with optional voltages and pinouts to suit many computers, so if you feel challenged by getting it right, take the laptop to Jaycar, Dick Smith, etc and get them to actually set it up for you. Expect to pay less than $50, far less than the cost of a decent inverter, and much more energy efficient.
HTH
John | J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein
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AnswerID:
360108
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:40
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 10:40
Thanks to all for your help.
I'm now off to Jaycar to get a 'DC converion direct to my computer.
Robyn
FollowupID:
628003
Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 13:08
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 13:08
Robyn
Put an "s" in conversion dont copy my spelling as my fingers do not follow my thoughts or was you having a shot at me.(LOL).
Ian
FollowupID:
628023
Follow Up By: Navigator 1 (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 20:50
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 20:50
No shots, I just can't spell.
I visited Jaycar and did no good. Followed up with a visit to Harvey Norman and purchased a Belkin Laptop Power adapter. It plugs into 240/12V/socket supplied in aeroplanes.
Before plugging the lap top in I ran its power down to 17% - I really wanted to try it out. The DVD played and the
battery power continued to increase.
I'm very happy with the results.
Thank once again to everyone for the advice.
Robyn
FollowupID:
628073