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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / RVs / July 2006DC to AC for laptop
I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of power converters that have sufficient wattage for my needs and that plug into the lighter or accessories socket. My question is: can the square wave (modified sine-wave, as the package says) damage the computer or the battery charger inserted in between the converter and the computer? Thanks >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Thanks No it will not in anyway harm the switching power supply that your laptop uses. A 150 wat unit would be more than enough to do the task and run cool while doing it too. ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Yes it COULD damage the charger part of your power supply. Suggest you get a true sine wave inverter that plugs in the lighter on you dash. Check here for information. http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html  SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop > powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks All laptops have a 12 volt car charger. Order the one for your model and don't worry about it. And yes, if you use the wrong imput power, your battery can explode, you can fry your system bd, and no, it's not covered under any PC warranty. Dumnassidness is not covered. SignatureMoParMaN---Remove Clothes To Reply --SCUD Coordinates 32.61204 North: 96.92993 West-- > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > MoParMaN, I don't know how I missed this post, but it is the best advice in the thread. After all we get adapters for charging the cellphone in the car all the time. Some of us even buy dc tv and why not an adapter for the laptop. SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, Short Bed 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K,Slider. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. two 6volt AGM Trojan Batteries, 1500watt Vector Inverter Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >computer or the battery charger inserted in between the converter and >the computer? It is funny when you get answers that indicate using a modified sine wave to power the AC input to a laptop's power supply is anything but normal, done everyday, not to be worried about. There are thousands and thousands of laptops charged that way, with nary a concern. All of the concern resides in those who are afraid to try it. It is also normal to power full-sized computers from modified sine wave. There are some things that don't work well with modified sine wave, one of which is a typical UPS battery backup. It sees the modified signal as under or over voltage, and will usually not go into charge/pass-through mode. Occasionally you will run into motorized products that have a hard time with modified sine wave (blenders, etc.) Switching power supplies used for computers just don't belong in the "don't do it" picture here. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net > > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >"don't do it" picture here. > Let's take this thing step at a time. First when you say . "There are thousands and thousands of laptops charged that way, with nary a concern. All of the concern resides in those who are afraid to try it." We know for certain you are not in a position to know this information. It is contradictory to information provided by the industry. _Do I need Modified Sine Wave, or Pure Sine Wave?_ *Advantages of Pure Sine Wave inverters over modified sine wave inverters: * *a) Output voltage wave form is pure sine wave with very low harmonic distortion and clean power like utility-supplied electricity. * *b) Inductive loads like microwave ovens and motors run faster, quieter and cooler. * *c) Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent lights, audio amplifiers, TV, Game consoles, Fax, and answering machines. * *d) Prevents crashes in computers, weird print out, and glitches and noise in monitors. * *e) Reliably powers the following devices that will normally not work with modified sine wave inverters: * * *Laser printers, photocopiers, magneto-optical hard drives * * *Certain laptop computers (you should check with your manufacturer)* * *Some fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts * * *Power tools employing "solid state" power or variable speed control * * *Some battery chargers for cordless tools * * *Some new furnaces and pellet stoves with microprocessor control * * *Digital clocks with radios * * *Sewing machines with speed/microprocessor control * * *X-10 home automation system * * *Medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators* *We carry a full line of Pure Sine Wave Inverters here at DonRowe.com, though most of the inverters we carry are Modified Sine Wave inverters. Modified Sine Wave works well for most uses, and is the most common type of inverter on the market, as well as the most economical. Pure Sine Wave inverters (also called True Sine Wave) are more suited for sensitive electrical or electronic items such as laptop computers, stereos, laser printers, certain specialized applications such as medical equipment, a pellet stove with an internal computer, digital clocks, bread makers with multi-stage timers, and variable speed or rechargeable tools *(see "Appliance Cautions <http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html#appliancecautions>" below)*. If you wish to use those items with an inverter, then choose a Pure Sine Wave inverter. If you mostly want to run lights, TV, microwave oven, tools, etc, a Modified Sine Wave inverter is fine for your needs. * *We often are asked if computers will work with Modified Sine Wave. It's been our experience that most (with the exception of some laptops) will work (though some monitors will have interference such as lines or a hum). However, if you have any doubt about any appliance, tool or device, particularly laptop computers and medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, we recommend that you check with its manufacturer to be sure it is compatible with a Modified Sine Wave inverter. If it is not, choose one of our Pure Sine Inverters instead.* *The difference between them is the Pure Sine Wave inverter produces a better and cleaner current. They are also considerably more expensive. You might find it practical to get a small Pure Sine Wave inverter for any "special need" you may have, and also a larger Modified Sine Wave inverter for the rest of your applications.* http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html To tell some one that their equipment will not be damaged is not the best information available. Of course it can be a good gamble that you are correct, but that should be the decision of the person that will sustain the loss. That is the reason I advised them that it COULD be damaged, I did not say it WILL be damaged, as well I did not give him the false advice as you did that it WILL NOT be damaged. Do your research before you provide such poor advice. I do not endorse this company, have never used their products. This is one of many web sites available when I Goggled for inverters, nothing more and nothing less. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Radio+shack+true+sine+wave+inverters&bt nG=Search SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG >Let's take this thing step at a time. First when you say . > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >It is contradictory to information >provided by the industry. Actually, I'm in a better position than most, and it is not biased by trying to sell either modified, or pure sine wave. I run a website populated almost exclusively by thousands of people who travel in RVs with a much wider-than-normal range of electronics. Computers, routers, modems, dish controllers are common to every one of them, and most have a lot more (as do I). Ultimate rolling geekdom. Powered to a very high extent from modified sine-wave inverters, with nobody ever reporting a problem. All of these types of equipment are powered by switching power supplies, and none get their "real" power (what runs teh electronics inside) from the AC side. The DC they get does not know, or care, about whether the power was modified sine wave or not. Now that's not to say I wouldn't really like to have a 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter instead of my 2000 watt modified sine wave. The reason is simple - I hate not being able to run a UPS, and dealing with occasional problems when there are switches from generator-to-shore-to-battery. I have only two things that won't run right on modified sine wave: My UPS, and a digital clock. And I have a LOT of electronics, chargers for battery-powered tools, HDTV (including receiver/DVR and another dish controller), you name it. That experience is consistent with that of others, plus as I mentioned some motorized appliances that others (not I) have experienced problems with. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net > > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > I will repost my statement: To tell some one that their equipment will not be damaged is not the best information available. Of course it can be a good gamble that you are correct, but that should be the decision of the person that will sustain the loss. That is the reason I advised them that it COULD be damaged, I did not say it WILL be damaged, as well I did not give him the false advice as you did that it WILL NOT be damaged. Do your research before you provide such poor advice. Your persisting to provide what information about how what you have has not sustained damages so any thing any one else has will not be is irresponsible. Suggest you not try to provide advice here any more. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG >Suggest you not try to provide advice here any more. Hmmph. Having been exposed to your "advice" on many topics over the past couple of years, suffice it to say that I will ignore your suggestion. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Some peoples problems are that they cannot accept the fact that I provide URL documentation to my advice where it is definitive. If I am waging it as you and many others do I at least indicate that. Sorry if I cut your ego down but your advice can be destructive to some electronics and cost folks money. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG > Some peoples problems are that they cannot accept the fact that I > provide URL documentation to my advice where it is definitive. Your URL documentation site sells inverters. I doubt that they can be a trusted source of unbiased information. Plus, in your own post of the information from donrowe.com the part that you quoted: "*e) Reliably powers the following devices that will normally not work with modified sine wave inverters: *" Notice that it doesn't say 'damage' anywhere in their documentation you provided. Only that it may not work. As far as Don's assumption that thousands and thousands of laptops are powered with a standard inverter, I would assume that it is true. I know of at least 30 people in my own circle of friends and family that do this. This being the case I'm sure there are many, many others doing it. One person is my uncle, a retired electronic engineer. My brother and I both have B.S.'s from Indiana-Purdue, Ft. Wayne in Electronic Engineering Technology and we both use standard inverters to power our laptops. I decided to email sales@donrowe.com and they responded that a few laptops will not work with a modified sign wave inverter (although they couldn't provide me with any specific brands when I responded) but they did say that they would not be damaged; just that they wouldn't work correctly. Furthermore, they agreed that thousands of people use standard power inverters to power their laptops. >>Some peoples problems are that they cannot accept the fact that I >>provide URL documentation to my advice where it is definitive. [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Of course you are aware that you nor I carry credentials for our own self to show on the news group but that is the reason I usually produce a URL that will support what I say. Now you make a claim that you e-mailed a company that I used to support what I said, Actually I stated what they provided me in their website. Now here you come claiming that you have sent that same company an e-mail and received an answer no less. But still could not post with full header so as to support your bull sh.t. So if you can post with out a url so can I, note the word "damage" in the following paragraph. *MODIFIED SINE WAVE *is a sales term used for a modified square wave type of AC power which is not quite the same as power company electricity. Modified wave inverters <http://www.backwoodssolar.com/Catalogpages2/InvModSine.htm> are lower cost, slightly more efficient, and almost all appliances work fine with them, though some may hum louder. But a few sewing machine speed controls and some Apple computers have difficulty on modified SineWave. It can also damage photocopy machines, laser printers, and some cordless tool rechargers. Recently we found the first TV that would not run on any modified wave inverter. Battery chargers in the DR model modified waveform inverters may require the highest quality generator (about $3000 and up) to charge effectively. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >*MODIFIED SINE WAVE *is a sales term used for a modified square wave >type of AC power which is not quite the same as power company >electricity. Modified wave inverters Actaully is is not a sales term as you suggest, it is a electrical term that has been used in sales too. Early inverters had squarewave output that is not transformer freindly so the came up with a modified squarewave output called a modified sine wave. The quailty of the wave on some units can be quite good but the nature of the wave is not important unless you are powering devices that have transfomers in the power supply or induction motors (these need a modifed square wave) Before inverters they was Dynometers that used DC power to run a samll altenator for desired output. THey were not very effiecent.. ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com > your advice can be destructive to some electronics > and cost folks money. I will say that advice to buy more expensive inverters than necessary costs folks money too. I have experienced NO problems running my laptop on a modified sine wave inverter for over 5 years.... URL's to back up what you say mean no more than a comment here...I can generate a URL saying anything I wish... URLs that are generated by sales organizations are especially suspect.... My Opinion, Barrie B >b b <Barrie@juno.com> wrote: >> your advice can be destructive to some electronics >> and cost folks money. >> >I will say that advice to buy more expensive inverters than necessary >costs folks money too. I have experienced NO problems running my laptop >on a modified sine wave inverter for over 5 years.... In four years of full-timing with modified sine wave inverters 24/7, we have been charging and operating several laptops, several cell phones, AA/AAA battery chargers, televisions, radios, satellite receivers, VCRs, DVD players, every kitchen appliance known to man, vacuum cleaners, a camera, blah, blah, blah. The only appliances that can apparently tell the difference have been our microwaves. They heat at about 50% of the normal rate when running on the inverter. That's OK--the microwave sucks so much power that we almost never try to run it from the inverter anyway. It takes a lon-n-n-g time to replace the battery capacity consumed by two minutes of microwave use. If the OP is going to take somebody's advice, I recommend Don Bradner's. Or Barrie's. SignatureDD >>b b <Barrie@juno.com> wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > Fortunately the OP got the message and is following good advice. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com snipped > Your persisting to provide what information about how what you have has > not sustained damages so any thing any one else has will not be is > irresponsible. Suggest you not try to provide advice here any more. WTF don't you keep your yap shut when someone who KNOWS what they are talking about posts. Don has probably forgotten more than you have ever learned. Hugh > snipped > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ever learned. > Hugh All you have to do is check most any web site about the real information, dont stick your head in with your mouth open could get your mouth full of XXX. _Do I need Modified Sine Wave, or Pure Sine Wave?_ *Advantages of Pure Sine Wave inverters over modified sine wave inverters: * *a) Output voltage wave form is pure sine wave with very low harmonic distortion and clean power like utility-supplied electricity. * *b) Inductive loads like microwave ovens and motors run faster, quieter and cooler. * *c) Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent lights, audio amplifiers, TV, Game consoles, Fax, and answering machines. * *d) Prevents crashes in computers, weird print out, and glitches and noise in monitors. * *e) Reliably powers the following devices that will normally not work with modified sine wave inverters: * * *Laser printers, photocopiers, magneto-optical hard drives * * *Certain laptop computers (you should check with your manufacturer)* * *Some fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts * * *Power tools employing "solid state" power or variable speed control * * *Some battery chargers for cordless tools * * *Some new furnaces and pellet stoves with microprocessor control * * *Digital clocks with radios * * *Sewing machines with speed/microprocessor control * * *X-10 home automation system * * *Medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators* http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html#modified SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com We have run our Gateway from our 1500w Heart inverter for many days at a time, and with equal success have run it via a "Powerline" 75w Chinese gadget that plug into the cigar lighter. Will Sill "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." William James >We have run our Gateway from our 1500w Heart inverter for many days at >a time, and with equal success have run it via a "Powerline" 75w [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >William James > I have no doubt that many or maybe almost all electronic and electric appliances will work on most any inverter. But there is information out there that indicate some components will not. Some information implies that some components may be rendered defective. What I am saying is that the decision to place these components in jeopardy should be the individuals that could sustain the monetary loss. And that they are not advised that there would be no expectations of component damage when there actually is the possibility. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >Some information implies that some >components may be rendered defective. Now that's a definitive statement! Some people feel that every possible thing that can go wrong with a product, no matter how unlikely, must be disclaimed. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net >I have only two things that won't run right on modified sine wave: My >UPS, and a digital clock. And I have a LOT of electronics, chargers >for battery-powered tools, HDTV (including receiver/DVR and another >dish controller), you name it. I would not be so general here. The only devices or chargers that may have trouble with this is divices that use transformers in the power supply. IT is not by the type of device but the nature of its power supply. If it is a modern switching power supply or charger it will not have any problem with it. Since some wall adaptors on some devices still use transformers, they could have issues (you can kinda tell by the weight of them) Pehaps you have had some experaincan with HDTV's not working properly but that is because of the quailty of the power supply in the TV not because it is HDTV. This started out as a simple question on a Laptop adaptor and it just ran away. ----------------- The SnoMan www.thesnoman.com > Pehaps you have had some experaincan with HDTV's >not working properly but that is because of the quailty of the power >supply in the TV not because it is HDTV. No, my post was to make it clear that I do NOT have any experience of an HDTV (or for that matter any other TV) working improperly on modified sine wave. It was interesting to note that, in one of Boyd's references to a site selling pure sine wave they noted that they finally found 1 TV that wouldn't work right on modified sine wave. I'll bet they looked pretty hard to find that to prove their point, and note that there was no implication that the TV was damaged. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net >> Pehaps you have had some experaincan with HDTV's >>not working properly but that is because of the quailty of the power [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > hard to find that to prove their point, and note that there was no > implication that the TV was damaged. ----------------------- Don, Don Sanford here. I do not post very much for reasons best left unspoken, but do read most all post unless we are totally out of phone range. I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. I have a 500W "Power on Demand 500 W , 1000w Surge on Demand" unit I bought from Best Buy. I replaced a 400W, 800 surge with this unit when I could not run either TV. The TVs are a 1993 JVC 20" #AM 20CV4 and an identical looking JVC that is standard in our 2003 Georgia Boy MH. (The only difference is a set of AV inputs on the front). I do not have the model # - it is a pain to get it out of the cabinet. I have the power unit wired with about 6' of #6 cu. directly to the 2 house batteries with proper inline fuse. I have run our HP laptop & 20.5" LCD monitor for our DeLorme GPS, HP desk top and external hard drive, DTV, DVD, VCR, HP all in One printer/scanner/copier but no joy on the TV. I must be very unlucky to have 2 that do not work and have not replaced one yet. I am open to suggestions for a replacement or a better solution "MAKE IT WORK" for me. I did find that a small 15" we have runs perfectly. Thanks for letting me blow steam about this. I have spent an exorbitant amount of time on this and am very frustrated. Don >I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. Does "will not work" mean "won't even turn on" or is it an interference situation? SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net >> I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. > > Does "will not work" mean "won't even turn on" or is it an > interference situation? I sort of wonder for the turn on part, if it overloads the inverter when the degausing circuit kicks in... I have seen that happen much more often than interference... > > Does "will not work" mean "won't even turn on" or is it an > > interference situation? > > I sort of wonder for the turn on part, if it overloads the inverter when the > degausing circuit kicks in... I have seen that happen much more often than > interference... My 19" TV overloads my 300 watt modified sine inverter two or three times on startup. I just need to press the "on" button again until it stays on.... No big deal...it runs fine once it starts, until I turn it off. FWIW, Barrie B > > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >Barrie B > Try turning on the inverter, plug in the TV and wait just a few minutes before turning it on . SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. > > Does "will not work" mean "won't even turn on" or is it an > interference situation? Don, a few months ago I tried three of Wal-Mart's inverters. I was going to use it to power the Sat receiver, and maybe the lcd TV in the BR. The first was a lighter plug-in unit. Filtered. It worked for a couple of days on the sat receiver and the fan quit. I tried another and the pix quality was affected in both places. The third was about the same. I quit trying until I can justify a decent inverter. They all worked and none damaged anything. Maybe I expect more than "it worked" and "it didn't damage anything". Ron >>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. > > Does "will not work" mean "won't even turn on" or is it an > interference situation? ------------- Don, I should have said the TV on light flashes on and immediately off and the power supply goes to overload. I am sure the degaussing coil is drawing enough power to trip it off. I thought the 1000 W peak would be enough to handle the surge but evidently it was not. I have seen several posts that say TVs work with the modified sine wave power supplies. I think it would be reasonable to expect a 120W standard brand (JVC) TV would work using a power supply with 500W/1000W capacity. Data from other users would be very helpful at this point, what TV with what size power supply. I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new TV. Thanks, Don >>>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >Thanks, >Don What you describe has nothing to do with the modified sine wave and everything to do with the power supply not having enough surge capability to handle the load. SignatureFrank Tabor >>>>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. >>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > everything to do with the power supply not having enough surge > capability to handle the load. -------------- Frank, I was simply identifying the equipment I was using and as you can see, I thought the 1000 W peak would be enough to handle the surge but evidently it was not. The 6' of #6 Cu., carrying aprox. 80A for 1000W, connected directly the 2 house batteries may also have sufficient IR drop to cause the supply to go into fault. I would really like to see what other people use. Thanks, Don > > [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > > I have a Samsung 21" CRT flat screen TV/DVD/VCD, indicates it will draw 130watts, it will operate on my 300watt mod sine inverter as well as the larger inverter in the rv. That is all functions of the set, VHS tape, as well as a DVD. That TV in the storm room that would not operate on it, is an older set and might draw a lot more power. I did not put the meter on the dc system and it also might be low causing the inverter to shut down when you load it with the tv. I'll check tomorrow when I can. Signaturehttp://limasite85.us/construction_4.htm -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >> >> [quoted text clipped - 70 lines] > inverter to shut down when you load it with the tv. > I'll check tomorrow when I can. OK I have it! I checked the battery in the storm room, it is up ok. I connected the smart ship to shore charger and let it charge any way. After the meter on the charger indicated charged, I disconnected the charger and connected the inverter, plugged in the TV and "SPLAT!" red light on the inverter. I plugged in the TV to house power and checked that it works alright. Reconnected to the inverter, turned it on again, same results, BUT!, BUT!, BUT!, I had not even turned the TV on this time, HA! it was still on from when it was plugged in to house power. I did not know this TV, unlike others I have will not turn off with the loss of power. SO making sure it was off I reconnected to the inverter and let it set a little while with the inverter on. Turned on the TV and it came up fine, picture was not as good as when it was on house power, but it was working. Conclusion, (WAG) the degaussing function or some other circuitry takes power while the unit is off but connected to power. What ever it does, it completes after a while, allowing all available power to be used to turn the set on. I verified the wattage draw is indicated to be 75 for this little Sony 15 inch color set. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Conclusion, (WAG) the degaussing function or some other > circuitry takes power while the unit is off but connected to power. > What ever it does, it completes after a while, allowing all available > power to be used to turn the set on. > I verified the wattage draw is indicated to be 75 for this little Sony > 15 inch color set. That's probably not a degausing problem, it sounds more like the instant on/keep the filaments in the CRT tube powered and warm so it can start working right away. Instant on is another power hog... Like degausing, when a set is plugged in, stuff in an instant on set has to be warmed up before the power drain drops... Just an aside, if the TV is the instant on type, it will use power 24/7 even if the set itself is turned off... Bad news for boondockers.... >Conclusion, (WAG) the degaussing function or some other > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > As I read your post, I looked over at my 21" LCD Panasonic TV, setting on top of the VCR I intend on boondocking with, yep there is that little red light telling me power is going to it. But I don't think it would be bad news for boondocking, because the inverter would be off when the tv is off. Unless I use the whole system connection to the inverter. I have a 30amp receptical in the front side under the overhang that I can plug the shore power cable in to the inverter. But I run a checklist to remove all items of heavy power draw off, Refrigerator, converter, water heater, all chargers, Belkin computer battery back up off. This system was developed when I had a pure sine inverter, and I had plans of using Direcway for computer connection, but that is on hold. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > Frank, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks, > Don Don, try immediately turning the TV on again after the inverter restarts again when the TV overloads it. Several tries like that are necessary to get my 19 inch TV going, but after everything gets charged up, the TV only takes 30 watts from the battery to power it through my 300 watt inverter. To clarify, the inverter is on and running, the TV is turned on, overloads the inverter which shuts down, turning off the TV. The inverter then restarts automatically as the overload is gone; I then turn the TV on again. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 tries, but the TV always comes on and runs well eventually. I've been doing this for 5 years with the same TV and inverter...no problems. Try it. HTH, Barrie B >>>>>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > Thanks, > Don ------------------- All I made an error in reporting the power supply failing. The light on the TV flicks on and off at the push of its start button but the supply does not go into fault. The supply DOES NOT shut down. I did try leaving the TV on for more than 10 min., as suggested, but with no success. I apologize for the miss information - old age and CRS. Thanks for all the replies to my request. This seems to be a bit more prevalent than it first appeared Thanks again, Don.. "Don sanford" <donandmary@atlantic.net> wrote in news:KIAvg.10680$YC3.10674 @newsfe23.lga: >>>I do have 2 TV's that will not work on a modified sine wave supply. >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Thanks, > Don If these are standard CRT-based TVs, you may need even more power than the 500W unit. [Those big picture tubes pull >a lot< of current.] While you can, of course, go to new LCD-based TVs (if so, get 12V units) a good-sized inverter has its own benefits. By good-sized, I'm talking about 1500 - 3000 Watt units. These can be had at various truck stops for under $200. For example: <http://www.flyingjestore.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=showitem&PRODUCT_CODE=EL239&ITEM_NUMBER=5&SKU=100> is described as "Cobra 1500 Watt Power Inverter Thermal Shutdown Remote On/Off Capable Dual Cooling Fans Low Voltage Alarm 1500 watts continuous/3000 watts surge 3 AC receptacles 1 Year Warranty" and it's only $139.99 right now. > > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > It can surprise you just how much power a CRT TV requires. I have a small, maybe 16" CRT TV in my storm room, I just took my 300watt, modified sine, inverter out there to check if it would operate it, it would not. I just hooked it up to my 21" , LCD, here in the 5er, it operated it fine. One other thing I have found is the weight of CRT sets, both for pc monitors as well as TV. I have started changing out all the CRT sets I have that might be tagging along with me and Dog when we get on the road. Of course I do have the 1500watt inverter in the rv system that I can use, just have to go around disconnecting every thing that I do not want on a modifies sine inverter. SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, Short Bed 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K,Slider. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. two 6volt AGM Trojan Batteries, 1500watt Vector Inverter Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > One other thing I have found is the weight of CRT sets, both for pc > monitors as well as TV. I have started changing out all the CRT sets I > have that might be tagging along with me and Dog when we get on the road. > BILL P. > 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Just Me and Dog Bill, I see you've expanded your usual .sig. It's no longer just you and your dog...It's just you, your truck, it's specifications, your RV, it's specs, your Hondas, and your dog. And with that bigass truck with it's bigass diesel and such, you should be able to handle the weight of a few CRTs... <G> > > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Well I do have a weight problem, you see I like Shiner Bock Beer and you cannot get it just every where. It is made in a little town just east of San Antonio Texas, it took a lot of persuading Wal Mart to sell it. But not in all stores, so how many cases of beer is there to a CRT, can be several. Hell that Gateway CRT Monitor I had, I could hardly lift. I have no problem lifting a bottle of Shiner Bock, you see you don't have to lift the entire case at the same time, just bottle at a time. And, as I have said in the past I know little about computers, So I'll be damed if I was going to take that monitor apart just so it would be lighter to move. So I replaced it with a 19" LCD and then replaced that with a 34" LCD, HDTV with PC Ready connection. Now let me tell you what, if you think a computer screen that is 34" looks weird, just try looking at it after a few Shiner Bocks. http://www.shiner.com/ SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, Short Bed 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K,Slider. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. two 6volt AGM Trojan Batteries, 1500watt Vector Inverter Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > Well I do have a weight problem, you see I like Shiner Bock Beer and you > cannot get it just every where. You're making me thirsty. Remember when I made the faux pas about "excess beer"? Well, now I understand what I meant...it's when your beer is too much weight for your rig. May I suggest dumping your fresh water tank? Or are you already keeping bock in it... > > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Cut a hole in the floor and put a ice compartment trap door, like in a boat for a bait well. Fill it with Shiner Bock then add the ice, if it gets worm, just imagine you are in a pub in Newfoundland. SignatureBILL P. Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > boat for a bait well. Fill it with Shiner Bock then add the ice, if it > gets worm, just imagine you are in a pub in Newfoundland. "bait well". "worm" (again! Tee-hee...). Look, I'm damn well doing a lot of fishing this weekend. Why ya gotta tease me on Wednesday? > It can surprise you just how much power a CRT TV requires. I have a > small, maybe 16" CRT TV in my storm room, I just took my 300watt, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > use, just have to go around disconnecting every thing that I do not want > on a modifies sine inverter. My 19 inch Daewoo CRT TV that came installed in our motorhome is rated at 60 watts on the nameplate, but takes only 2.5 amps (measured) off the 12v battery to run it from my 300 watt inverter. This is only 30 watts, yet the TV will refuse to start on the inverter until it has been turned on two or three times. Something in the TV takes a huge startup surge that overloads the inverter on startup until it charges up, but then I'm quite happy with it. It doesn't draw too much current for us to use it on battery when we're boondocking. I'm not going to switch out that built in TV which fits in the RV in a hole in the dash for something that needs another place to be. There may be lower power 19 inch TV's available, but the hassle of switching and living with one more thing to be put somewhere is not worth it to me. I was looking for a 12v TV to save power, when I measured the power drain of the one I have...it was as good as a smaller one I was going to buy, and then have to move around to store. FWIW, Barrie B > My 19 inch Daewoo CRT TV that came installed in our motorhome is rated > at 60 watts on the nameplate, but takes only 2.5 amps (measured) off the [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > as good as a smaller one I was going to buy, and then have to move > around to store. What's taking all the power is the Heater in the Picture Tube and the capacitors in the power supply. The Picture Tube uses a resistive element that soaks up quite a bit of power initially. [In this age of "instant on" - ie. always powered up] TVs, many forget the "warm up" requirements. The capacitors in the power supply also suck up a lot of "juice" at first. > > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > I guess that is right, back when they had vacuume tubes in the place of transistors, they had filament heaters in them. I had thought the heater concept was discontinued when they departed, but the crt would have heaters also and like you say they are on the instant on concept. That is if they have power to them. I'll bet the 75watt power requirement is considered in the two stages, power on with tv off and power on with tv on might come up to a lot more power than 75watts, as a 300watt inverter wont crank it up from cold start. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >What's taking all the power is the Heater in the Picture Tube and the >capacitors in the power supply. Ram, What's taking all the power is the "DEGAUSS" coil that is located around the outer edge of the picture tube. It's job is to "clean" the "shadow mask" or "Aperture grill" of stray magnetic fields that have been placed on them. The "DEGAUSE" coil is powered from the raw 60 cycle AC input through a temperature sensitive solid state switch. When the TV is initially turned on and the temperature switch is cold, the total AC power is directed to this coil. The current is in the tens of amps range but only lasts for several cycles because of the switch warming up because of the current flowing through it. Only after this "ZAP" does the TV receive enough power to start turning on. I solved the problem with my motorhome TV by adding a switch in series with the coil and leave it open when running off the inverter. Vince http://webpages.charter.net/vincewirth/ >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >computer or the battery charger inserted in between the converter and >the computer? The timing of this post is downright spooky. I sit here waiting (almost literally) for a replacement power supply ("brick") for my three-month-old laptop. Fortunately, I have an extended warranty -- which includes accidental damage -- so it won't cost me any more. I went on a day trip last Saturday, culminating in picking up my wife at the airport that night. During the afternoon, as I have done once or twice before, I left my laptop plugged into an inverter to keep the battery charged. (The computer was on standby most of the time, not actually "on.") I got home late Saturday night, brought the laptop in, and plugged it in to check e-mail -- and the NG, of course <g> -- and realized the battery was run down part of the way. I thought this was strange, since it had been plugged in all afternoon. But then I realized the AC power wasn't working. I checked it and found zero voltage out, although normal house current was going in. I called my warranty service company Monday morning, and they're arranging to have a new brick and cables sent to me ASAP. I sure don't claim to know what caused the problem. But it seems suspiciously as if running it all day off an inexpensive, plug-in (150w?) inverter may have cooked it. Nothing else out of the ordinary happened to the computer, and it was powered up just fine that morning before I left home -- and up to a point during the afternoon, as well. I suppose I'll never know for sure. But it sure does change my plans for using my computer in my van. GB in NC >>I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >>powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > GB in NC Mine discharges too while on an inverter and the computer is running. It will charge fine on an inverter if the laptop is off. Weird eh? Jim > Mine discharges too while on an inverter and the computer is running. It > will charge fine on an inverter if the laptop is off. > Weird eh? Sounds like it runs on more power than your inverter will provide. The battery can be charged slowly. For the OP, I recommend a DC power supply. I bought a generic universal one for my craptop, but for a more worthy laptop, I'd buy one manufactured or recommended by the laptop's manufacturer. OTOH, for the same price, an inverter might be useful to have for running other stuff too. >> Mine discharges too while on an inverter and the computer is running. It >> will charge fine on an inverter if the laptop is off. >> Weird eh? > > Sounds like it runs on more power than your inverter will provide. The > battery can be charged slowly. The computer power supply is rated 2A at 120V input. The inverter is supposed to output 400W. Maybe my problem is that I should hardwire the inverter to the battery. If I'm pulling 2A AC from the inverter, the inverter is probably pulling 25A from the cigar outlet. That's probably overloading it. What do you think Rick? Jim > The computer power supply is rated 2A at 120V input. The inverter is > supposed to output 400W. Maybe my problem is that I should hardwire the > inverter to the battery. If I'm pulling 2A AC from the inverter, the > inverter is probably pulling 25A from the cigar outlet. That's probably > overloading it. > What do you think Rick? I think your math adds up properly. I imagine that if your inverter was actually able to pull 25A, it would do so, and blow a fuse...but I don't know enough about electricity to say that for sure. It's certainly worthwhile to use dedicated, fused, heavily wired circuits for loads like that. Google for charts, but I imagine that 14 or 12 wire would do. Don't forget to fuse it! Anybody who knows more than me who can weigh in here? > > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I don't have any thought of knowing more than you, but I have an inverter that size. I have a PP300AC Whistler 300watt modified sine power inverter. It came with an adapter wire set about a foot long with sprang clips on one end and dc receptical on the other. The inverter has a 24" cord with with a dc plug on it, appears to be a awg 12 or 14. The inverter has an auto type fuse 35amp located on the dc input end. The clips are for connecting direct to a higher power source rather than a cigar lighter that usually does not have a very big wire running to it. I have in the past used this inverter in a MH running a TV while going down the road, but had to connect to the rigs pdp. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG > >>The computer power supply is rated 2A at 120V input. The inverter is > >>supposed to output 400W. Maybe my problem is that I should hardwire the > >circuits for loads like that. Google for charts, but I imagine that 14 > >or 12 wire would do. Don't forget to fuse it! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > with a dc plug on it, appears to be a > awg 12 or 14. The inverter has an auto type fuse 35amp located on the dc Wow, that sounds awfully heavy for 300 watts. If that's not over-spec'd, then some really ballsy wire will be necessary to run the 400 watt inverter in the cab connected directly to the battery. > input end. The clips are for connecting direct to a higher power source > rather than a cigar lighter that usually does not have a very big wire > running to it. I have in the past used My 1980 Buick, whose lighter I got quite intimate with in a project last weekend, has approximately 12 wire, and the fusebox says 20 amp. That's not huge, but pretty big. I suspect that modern power outlets, not expected to be used for actual fire lighting, could be rated for less. > >> Mine discharges too while on an inverter and the computer is running. It > >> will charge fine on an inverter if the laptop is off. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > What do you think Rick? > Jim My computer brick for my Dell Inspiron 4000 wants 130 to 170 VA at the input. I used to run it the first year from the inverter plugged into the lighter, but later wired it direct to the battery so I could run a TV. I've had no problems either way in 5 years. I do not leave the inverter on when I am not actively using the computer....I shut it down to save RV battery power. I would not hesitate to use modified sine wave on a laptop...but I don't understand what happened to GB's brick.... Wondering, Barrie B > > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >Barrie B > See how I miss things when there are a.s holes around. This is what I am looking for, now we can add the Dell Inspiron 400 to the ones that will work on a modified inverter. I appreciate your input and I apologize for catching it so late. SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, Short Bed 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K,Slider. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. two 6volt AGM Trojan Batteries, 1500watt Vector Inverter Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >GB in NC > GB, dont they have adapters that allow you to plug in to the lighter outlet in your van and operate your laptop. I only had a laptop for a short while and I gave it to my brother. I had a Radio Shack adapter that I think was nothing more than a true sine inverter. Out looking, I found this one, it would be big enough for your lap top. But I need one that will carry my Belkin back up. As long as I have the desk top unit I will rely on Generators if need be. If I get another laptop I'll get something like this little one. http://lindelectronics.com/cgi-bin/store/shop.cgi/!ORDERID!/other/INV1215US1P/db x_gen_detail_product SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG > > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >GB in NC > I found an air/Auto adapter that I think is what I had. http://www.laptoptravel.com/Adapter.aspx?ID=349&t=1 SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG > I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop > powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > computer or the battery charger inserted in between the converter and > the computer? Since everyone wants to weigh in here but haven't said whether they have specific knowledge about electronics, it's my turn as a Purdue graduate in Electronic Engineering Technology and 30 years of working in the field: I have never personally known anyone to have a problem with a standard "inverter" for their laptop. It is an inverter you need and not a converter as they do the opposite of each other. My company has provided me a laptop computer since they became available many years ago. I originally built my own inverter, which is no different from a standard inverter you can buy now. I've powered laptops from every vehicle I've owned and never had a problem. I also own 3 of my own laptops and have had no trouble. My company will also supply a standard inverter to field sales people if they request it. Someone quoted a website that supposedly said it could damage your power supply to use a modified sign wave inverter, but actually the website says that certain laptops may not work. I read all of the page he quoted and 'damage' was not mentioned. I've have seen many laptop power supplies damaged over the many years of working on computers but most, if any, were not used with an inverter of any type. In fact most of them I've seen were made by Dell and were faulty from the factory and were replaced for free. We had several dozen burn up where I work before Dell finally admitted they had a problem and recalled thousands of them. >> I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >> powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > thousands > of them. But this does not refute the sage advice of Mr. Boyd that SOME laptops MAY be damaged. He took a bold step and said they MIGHT be damaged. It takes a lot of balls to go out on a limb and have that kind of conviction. > > [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Yep! one thing is obvious here, that you have not bought with your money a very expensive piece if electronics because if you had you would not be so ready to plug it in a power source that is questionable. I have and I am a little squeamish when two or three thousand bucks of my money is at stake. SignatureBILL P. 2004, 2500 SLT Quad Cab, Dodge Ram, SLT, SWB, 2WD, Short Bed 5.9 HO Turbo Diesel, 48RE Auto Trans, Anti-Spin 3.73 Dif.Rhino Liner, Husky 16K,Slider. Voyager Controller 2005, 27RL Wildcat, DT/PC Wi-Fi. two 6volt AGM Trojan Batteries, 1500watt Vector Inverter Dual EU2000i Hondas Just Me and Dog -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >Yep! one thing is obvious here, that you have not bought with your >money a very expensive piece if electronics > because if you had you would not be so ready to plug it in a power >source that is questionable. I have and I am a little squeamish when two >or three thousand bucks of my money is at stake. I have a Toshiba Satellite Laptop and unhesitatingly plugged 'baby' into a power wart connected to a 400W inverter. It has operated for 2 1/2 years without a hiccup. I also run a DVD/VHS recorder/player, 2-TVs and a Satellite receiver from the same supply. Except for the darn degoosing koyle, They all work nicely. > I have a Toshiba Satellite Laptop and unhesitatingly plugged 'baby' > into a power wart connected to a 400W inverter. It has operated for 2 > 1/2 years without a hiccup. I also run a DVD/VHS recorder/player, > 2-TVs and a Satellite receiver from the same supply. Except for the > darn degoosing koyle, They all work nicely. Damnit, you just confused the scientific study. Jim reported that his Toshiba Satellite would not work on his 400 watt Delco. Is your's a Delco? If so what year, month, week, store and credit card was it purchased with. :-) Signature"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry http://www.bobhatch.com http://www.tdsrvresort.com The ones Walmart sells work just fine. Get the 175w cig plug unit and forget it. SignatureSteve Barker >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop > powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop >powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Thanks Your success in charging from an inverter is not so much a problem with modified/pure sine wave output as with the matching of your components. The only way to know if it will work is to plug it in. I had a Dell laptop that wouldn't work on a cheap Vector inverter. The inverter thought it saw some sort of ground fault and switched off every time. Then I bought a Prowatt, and it worked just fine. Later an HP laptop charged just fine on the Vector. Take your laptop to the store and plug it in. If the little light comes on, you are in business. I have been charging up with a variety of square wave inverters for years now, and without problem save for that one Dell. Bob http://www.arcatapet.net/bobgiddings Thanks everyone. I have Emailed the manufacturer of the laptop and asked. I will let you know if and when they reply. Thanks again > Thanks everyone. I have Emailed the manufacturer of the laptop and > asked. I will let you know if and when they reply. Thanks again Don't worry. We'll keep arguing about it long after you get the reply from the manufacturer. <G> > Thanks everyone. I have Emailed the manufacturer of the laptop and > asked. I will let you know if and when they reply. Thanks again Though not a bad idea, I would assume the information they pass on to you will be very conservative in that they would discourage any use other than what is in the manual. Like Boyd said,, it MIGHT cause damage. > Thanks everyone. I have Emailed the manufacturer of the laptop and > asked. I will let you know if and when they reply. Thanks again If anyone is still interested in the original question, the manufacturer said that if the inverter can satisfy the power requirements of the computer, all should be OK. However, they also added that they had not tested plugging their machine into an inverter, and therefore could not tell me that the computer could not be damaged!! I guess that's par for the course, and is as I should have expected. BTW, the computer is an Acer 3624. Thanks everyone, as usual, it was interesting reading. > > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > I was down at Office Depot looking at new laptops. The Air Auto power adapters they have do not say that they are pure sine wave inverters but their price does. I intend on looking in to those as a power source for my computer. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG >I was down at Office Depot looking at new laptops. The Air Auto power >adapters they have do not say that they are pure sine wave inverters >but their price does. Do you actually think that a DC-to-DC converter has sine waves, pure or otherwise? Think about it just a wee bit more! SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net > >I was down at Office Depot looking at new laptops. The Air Auto power > >adapters they have do not say that they are pure sine wave inverters > > Do you actually think that a DC-to-DC converter has sine waves, pure > or otherwise? Think about it just a wee bit more! I was going to post something to that effect, but I couldn't identify which particular adapters he's talking about. I thought maybe he was looking at inverters to run his DC devices... BTW, I suspect that any laptop would be okay on any inverter, specifically because they run on DC, and their power supply will either convert or not...but I still think it's an entirely better idea to just get DC-to-DC power. After all, it will be more efficient, and drain your batteries less. I have a friend with a plastic bass boat, a trolling motor, and only one battery, who wants to run his fish finder on an inverter. His fish finder runs on 12v. I tried to tell him that it's wasteful and that he needs as much power as possible just to get back to shore. He's also going to use a 40 pound piece of LVL lumber as a console...I have a similar boat, and while it's very good at handling overloading, I wouldn't want to put 40 pounds of lumber on it when something lighter could be just as pretty. >I was going to post something to that effect, but I couldn't identify >which particular adapters he's talking about. I thought maybe he was >looking at inverters to run his DC devices... It is the "Air Auto" that gives it away. Most that Best Buy has are made by Technuity, the Energizer battery folks. Always specific to a particular laptop because of particular voltage, current, and connectors. SignatureDon Bradner donb (not don) at arcatapet dot com www.arcatapet.net > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Not really, I was just commenting about the price being comparable to a true sine inverter. Might as well buy an inverter and have more uses for it. The auto/air things are specific for some laptops and not for others. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG >>>I was down at Office Depot looking at new laptops. The Air Auto power >>>adapters they have do not say that they are pure sine wave inverters but [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > an inverter and have more uses for it. The auto/air things are specific > for some laptops and not for others. Yyyyepp. They are called 'computer grade' UPSes. They claim to output a sine wave that is really a 'dirty' square wave. Why? Because computer power supplies are some of the most resilient electronics. Whereas that square wave output might be destructive to some small electric motors, that same square wave is perfectly acceptable for computers. Other electronics sometimes have a problem with 'the most dirtiest' electricity from a 'computer grade' type inverter. Therefore electronics may not start leaving some to assume the inverter is too small. Others erroneously assume computer grade outputs are cleaner. But a computer must be constructed to make irrelevant even more 'dirty' electricity from computer grade UPSes and other 'dirty' inverters. BTW, any connection from computer to vehicle should be via a unit rated to handle load dump. Some cheaper units do not provide protection that meets SAE or ISO standards for load dump. > I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop > powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks >I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop > powered up. It has a 3.5 hrs battery only. I have seen a number of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks Went to Florida last winter, driving a 2000 caravan. Had a cheap inverter, maybe $20 to run my laptop for the DVD for the kids. 20 hours running going down, and 20 more on the way back to RI. No problem. > > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Now what did we learn from this bit of information. a 2000 caravan, dont know how this will be of any value to us. Cheap inverter, we can guess considering modified sine inverters are cheaper than true sine ones. Laptop no model or brand to go by, just laptop, not much in that bit. DVD for the kids, now was this DVD one of the ones with it's own battery, plugged in to a cigarette lighter or what, not much information that can be used here either. Dave, I hate to say it but there is hardly any thing here that can help any body. SignatureBILL P. Just Me & DOG > >"jtminqc" <jtminqc@gmail.com> wrote in message > >>I will be travelling in a rented Class C, and need to keep my laptop [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >>computer or the battery charger inserted in between the converter and > >>the computer? > >Went to Florida last winter, driving a 2000 caravan. Had a cheap inverter, > >maybe $20 to run my laptop for the DVD for the kids. 20 hours running going > >down, and 20 more on the way back to RI. No problem. > Now what did we learn from this bit of information. a 2000 caravan, dont > know how this will be of any value to us. Wha? 12v is 12v, whether it's in a 2000 caravan, a rented class C, or a 1980 Buick. > Cheap inverter, we can guess considering modified sine inverters are No need to guess if it's cheap. $20 is cheap. > cheaper than true sine ones. Laptop no model or brand to go by, just OP didn't ask about a specific model or brand. > laptop, not much in that bit. DVD for the kids, now was this DVD one of > the ones with it's own battery, plugged in to a cigarette lighter or WTF? It's a disc. It's round, about 5 inches in diameter, about 1/8" thick, it's got a ~5/8" hole in the center, and is probably silver on one side and maybe printed with the movie's name on the other side. Running t |
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