Inverter for charging a laptop

[weeds]

What do I need to look for to protect the laptop??

I used to plug laptops into old inverter years ago but they were work laptops so never really thought about it

My bride need to continue with some uni assignments while we are on moreton for two week...she now has a flash brand new computer

I have an old dick smith 800w inverter
- high grade thermal protection
- overload protection
- battery low shutdown (wonder what this is set at)
- peak power surge capable

Is there protection I can plug in inline??

Not sure this oldie is particularly efficient either........I only have 200amp/hr of battery running the camper trailer for two weeks....oh and a solar panel

[jboot51]

Your inverter is probably a modified sine wave = not really suitable long term for the power supply.
Pure sine wave is what is really needed.
or
take your laptop to jaycar and see if one of these will plug in.
150W Car Laptop Power Supply - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3472)

[87County]

IMHO that Jaycar one is both good and economically priced, I measured the dc output voltage on ours and it is exactly what it is set to, engine off or on.

Our laptop requires 18v.

I couldn't see the point of converting 12v to ac through an inverter and then back to dc .

[weeds]

Awesome....thanks guys

[LandyAndy]

I have one of these hard wired(via anderson connection to use it elsewhere) in the back of the D2.It was my boys for powering up his laptop/playstation etc when travelling(2 hr trip to Perth) Never had any issues frying any sensative electronics.
300W (1000W Surge) 12VDC to 230VAC Electrically Isolated Inverter - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MI5104)
Andrew

[weeds]

I have one of these hard wired(via anderson connection to use it elsewhere) in the back of the D2.It was my boys for powering up his laptop/playstation etc when travelling(2 hr trip to Perth) Never had any issues frying any sensative electronics.
300W (1000W Surge) 12VDC to 230VAC Electrically Isolated Inverter - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MI5104)
Andrew

Thanks Andy......it's an option.....if I do go with an inverter I think a mate of my mates might disapprove if I even considered hard wiring it or have it running while driving......they are fire fighters and they are starting to get concerned with not only inverter ls but I believe some cars now come standard with 240v outlets

I understand it quite common to have a inverters running while moving along

[Blknight.aus]

take a double adaptor and an incandescent light thats ~10-20% of the rated output of the inverter.

bad for the battery, good for the load.

advise your missus that shes better off using this cycle for the laptop to prolong the vehicles battery

vehicle off use the laptop on the inverter and keep the battery at 100% with the economy settings on, preferably during the day while the panels have sun.

if you know you are going to go for a drive run the laptop on its battery and charge the laptop while you are driving. (if you can use it while your driving even better)

Charging the battery takes the lions share (or last time I did any checking of it) of what goes into the laptop.

[weeds]

Your inverter is probably a modified sine wave = not really suitable long term for the power supply.
Pure sine wave is what is really needed.
or
take your laptop to jaycar and see if one of these will plug in.
150W Car Laptop Power Supply - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3472)

I brought one today......although the bride has to take her old laptop as the new one pulls 6.3A @ 19V, the jaycar unit is only good for for 6A

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Why run through the inverter when all laptops charge off DC anyway?

A universal laptop charger should do the trick: Amazon.com: Universal Laptop Power Adapter Kit -for Automobile: Computers & Accessories (http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Laptop-Power-Adapter-Automobile/dp/B000EXVRSM)

(first one on my google search, probably 1000 other types at varying price ranges)