earthing an inverter

Hi Al

Thanks for your information. Yes it is a fully Isolated inverter, so I will leave as is and earth only if RF noise appears.

Thanks again.

Robert

Buy a Converter to UP the 12V to whatever your lappy runs at (usually19v) and you wont have any more trouble.

No need for an inverter to up it to 240 then the power supply to cut it back again

Serendipity, I cannot see how it could be an earthing problem as your laptop power supply module would fully isolate the laptop from the inverter. Maybe an RF issue but I doubt it.

Connecting the inverter body to the camper frame probably would not eliminate any RF issue but you could try it.

Try this: Connect the inverter to the laptop via its power module and operate the computer. Try the track-pad and if it does not work, leave everything connected and leave the computer running then simply switch off the 12v input to the inverter. If the track-pad now works it suggests an RF interference problem.

But as Snoopyone says, a 12v-to-computer power module from Jaycar or Dick Smith etc may be a better solution. Or stick to simply recharging as you have been doing.

Sorry I can't be more help without actually having hands-on.

Hi Serendipity,

touchpads can be temperamental if other than the original power supply is being used.
Because they depend on the capacitive coupling between your fingertip and a virtual ground, any RF from either the non standard power supply, or like in your case from the inverter can confuse the signal generation circuit (your body acts like a receiving antenna for this RF noise).
You can try to eliminate or at least sufficiently attenuate the electrical noise coming from your fingertip by doing the following:
put some layers of thick rubber sheeting under your inverter so that it's not in close proximity to the chassis.
If that doesn't fix it, put some aluminium foil under your laptop, and touch this foil with our arm when working the touchpad.
If that still doesn't help, you can try and establish a galvanic connection between laptop ground and the foil. You could roll some foil between your hands into a thin conductor and stuff it around the VGA socket and make the other end touch the foil - keeping one arm/elbow on the foil while touching the pad should finally make it work.

cheers, Peter

Googly gloop - how do you make some so simple, so complex?

Hi Guys

Thanks for the answers. The laptop has a uni body of all aluminum housing and I only use the original OEM power pack.

The inverter is attached to a fibreglass panel in the camper with no metal connection.

It sounds like a RF issue. This has not been a major problem so I will just continue with charging the laptop and then using it.

Of course one day I will get down to JayCar and pick up a 12v supply for a laptop.

Thanks

Serendipity

Googly gloop - how do you make some so simple, so complex?

I think it takes great skill Dennis,...... and much practice. LOL

And a lot of knowledge!.

Serendipity, I went on eBay, searched for 'laptop cigarette lighter charger', with the model of my laptop in there, and got a charger (90 watt) specifically for my particular laptop. Think it was around $20. Jaycar will cost a bit more than that (maybe $90, as I saw at Dick Smiths). 90 watts is sufficient power to allow you to use and charge the laptop at the same time. Less than that may not charge the battery if you are using the laptop (ie moving map), depends on your supply requirements.

Cheers, Dave

You need at least that and about 6000ma as well.

I bought a 3500ma model and it would just power the netbook and then run out of oomph when doing anything
I upgraded to the Projecta 6000ma model and have had no more trouble

I actually took the battery out of mine as it only ever ran on the power supply