another random enquiry by me.
I'm looking to keep my laptop charged on the move (not that I'm virtually living in the van now no no no!)
I was wondering is it worth fitting a 'proper' inverter or just getting one that plugs into the 12v cigarette lighter than PhilPacman kindly fitted?
The van already has 3 pin plug sockets fitted but they only work on a hookup.
Just wondering if anyone knew anything about these beasties?
I brought an inverter from halfords which is a 500 watt! I run laptop, 15" lcd tv, playstation, power tv aerial, phone charger, wirless headphones, freeveiw box and a dvd player. It cost me £40 and its great! It came with the croc clips which i have perminatly attatched to the leisure battery and I attached a piece sticky velcro to the unit which lays on the floor attached to the rear battery box
Last edited by timthetrader on 14 May 2007, 22:10, edited 1 time in total.
If it were me, and it was when I thought a laptop was a good thing to have in the van, I would buy a 12v to some other DC voltage transformer thinger. They plug into the cigarette lighter or indeed can be hard wired and IMHO (though someone will be here to disagree in a mo) are more eficient than 12v DC inverted to 230v AC converted back to some other DC voltage by the laptop PSU.
I payed just over a tenner each for the two I got from Maplins or some such and they have selectable voltages. Just make sure the current rating (amps or VA or Watts or watever) is the same or more on the output side as your standard PSU.
Euan
Economic migrant, cultural extremist and religious bigot.
I have used both options in the past, back when I had a real job (rep'ing) I bought a 12v charger for the laptop (I would imagine ebay has them), now I have a 500w inverter connected permanently to the Leisure battery in the camper, fixed to the back of the pass' side seat base, just inside the sliding door.
Both options will suit lap top useage, but obviously you can used the inverter for other things, I did a bit of soldering using mine the other day, kept the engine running mind!
Munnyella
My only toy now is a broken T25 and a sack full of BMX bikes. How the mighty have fallen (or got sensibler!!)
You dont say if you have a leisure battery fitted ( and I cant be bothered to search yor back post for some obscure reference)
is your cigi lighter wired to the main battery? Does it only work with ignition on?
As has been said inverters are not very efficient, so a lighter skt thing is better, but if you have a leisure battery and want to run other 240v stuff (remembering hig watage items will flatten your battery fast) then an inverter is the way to go.
T
There are 10 kinds of people. those who understand Binary and those who dont
Yup I have a leisure battery fitted - I think I may just go for the inverter as I hadn't planned on this so if I get something 'more universal' it should allow for other unexpected power usage etc
When you source your inverter it will have a rating in Watts as will the equipment you are using.
Watts is around about Amps multiplied by Volts.
So if your inverter is 500W then you will be able to power about 2 amps at 230v AC but you will be taking about 50 amps from the battery while you do it. With an 80 amp hour battery you aren't going to get much more than an hour. Fortunately your laptop should draw less than 2 amps but don't try and run your washing machine.
I think.
Euan
Economic migrant, cultural extremist and religious bigot.
Horza wrote:When you source your inverter it will have a rating in Watts as will the equipment you are using.
Watts is around about Amps multiplied by Volts.
So if your inverter is 500W then you will be able to power about 2 amps at 230v AC but you will be taking about 50 amps from the battery while you do it. With an 80 amp hour battery you aren't going to get much more than an hour. Fortunately your laptop should draw less than 2 amps but don't try and run your washing machine.
I think.
spot on......
only a water wheel is less effecient at producing elastic trickery.......
hmm its not as straight forward as I thought
I was mostly going to use it to power the laptop on the move.
I guess its a case of 6 of one half a dozen of the other!
