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Inverters: Safe to run laptops, devices and charge batteries?
Posted on 8/26/16 at 10:38 am
Posted on 8/26/16 at 10:38 am
I've heard it said that inverters don't supply the proper type of current that laptops and other devices need that use A/C adapters - the current is inconsistent and the devices might choke. Fact or fiction? Are there certain types of inverters that are considered "safe"? This would include battery chargers that use A/C adapters. T.I.A.
5
Posted on 8/26/16 at 10:49 am to tigerpawl
i ran a tv and PS2 off an inverter in 2002.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 11:03 am to tigerpawl
If the inverter's capacity is enough to support that of the device, it will work.
A larger laptop could run 100 watts when charging. Your inverter will need to support that. If so, it will work.
A larger laptop could run 100 watts when charging. Your inverter will need to support that. If so, it will work.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 11:07 am to tigerpawl
As long as you have a pure Sine wave inverter and not a modified Sine wave inverter.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 11:12 am to tigerpawl
quote:
I've heard it said that inverters don't supply the proper type of current that laptops and other devices need that use A/C adapters
Any blanket statement like this should always be discounted as nonsense. Every solar power system uses inverters, every UPS system uses inverters. Do some cheaper inverters produce sloppy AC? Sure. So do a lot of portable generators (in terms of frequency, specifically).
quote:
don't supply the proper type of current that laptops and other devices need that use A/C adapters
Current is current, there are really no "types" of current. If you are using and inverter rated for 1 amp and your laptop reqyires 2.7 amps, you"ll have issues, just make sure you buy a big enough inverter.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 11:18 am to DeoreDX
quote:
As long as you have a pure Sine wave inverter and not a modified Sine wave inverter.
I would think so long as the wave form adequately matches the alternating peaks, a power supply would have no real issues, since they primarily convert the AC back to DC for the electronic circuitry. Possibly AC motors may be a little more problematic, depending on the wave form.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 1:01 pm to mdomingue
quote:
I would think so long as the wave form adequately matches the alternating peaks, a power supply would have no real issues, since they primarily convert the AC back to DC for the electronic circuitry. Possibly AC motors may be a little more problematic, depending on the wave form.
Certain types of battery chargers can have problems with a square wave form and will even burn them up. Little Wal Worts often have overheating problems. Might have some extra noise in anything with a speaker. If you get a pure sine wave inverter you don't have to worry about it.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 1:30 pm to DeoreDX
quote:
Certain types of battery chargers can have problems with a square wave form
True but I didn't read that to be what the OP was talking about, typical power supply for a laptop wouldn't blink about what you get out even the cheapest inverters, nor would most phone chargers that essentially power a USB port. I don't think you'll find many (if any) inverters for one of the big box stores that put out a square wave these days, maybe if you buy one from one of the online sites selling Chinese goods.
quote:
If you get a pure sine wave inverter you don't have to worry about it.
Definitely true, no arguing with that.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 3:17 pm to mdomingue
This is very informative.I was about to order a modified sine inverter. $10 extra gets you pure sine.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 4:10 pm to tigerpawl
quote:
$10 extra gets you pure sine
$10 dollars well spent.
Posted on 8/26/16 at 8:31 pm to mdomingue
Sounds like your laptop adapters and other "wall wart" devices are using DC power anyway, perhaps look into DC-to-DC converters?
Some of these devices will take the 12V and step it up to 19-20V power many laptops need.
Not having to convert to AC not only saves your 12V battery life, it also reduces risk of the dirty signal caused by some of the cheaper modified sine wave inverters (although I hear most of that concern is perpetuated by marketing -- it seems that most UL-approved electronics can handle even the dirtier modified sine waves just fine).
A good technical review of this can be seen here:
LINK
Some of these devices will take the 12V and step it up to 19-20V power many laptops need.
Not having to convert to AC not only saves your 12V battery life, it also reduces risk of the dirty signal caused by some of the cheaper modified sine wave inverters (although I hear most of that concern is perpetuated by marketing -- it seems that most UL-approved electronics can handle even the dirtier modified sine waves just fine).
A good technical review of this can be seen here:
LINK
This post was edited on 8/26/16 at 8:33 pm
Posted on 8/27/16 at 5:29 pm to DeoreDX
quote:
Sine wave inverter and not a modified Sine wave inverter.
I found that the transformers run hotter when using the modified vs when I switched to a pure sign wave.
Posted on 8/28/16 at 10:25 am to tigerpawl
I have a pure sine wave inverter in the RV and it runs everything except for the AC. It even is able to run the microwave, hot water heater, etc
Posted on 8/28/16 at 3:46 pm to LC412000
quote:
I have a pure sine wave inverter in the RV and it runs everything except for the AC. It even is able to run the microwave, hot water heater, etc
Link please?
Posted on 8/28/16 at 10:41 pm to Pepperidge
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