Thread: 12V - 240V power inverter

I have a 300w inverter from Jaycar.
It doesnt like running my macbook pro charger for too long if my Mac battery is nearly flat it runs ok if the battery is charged and you keep the inverter on.
1.5 amp AC current draw at 240V.
To be on the safe side to run a lap top charger i would suggest a 450W inverter or possibly a 600W.

Originally Posted by RR P38

I have a 300w inverter from Jaycar.
It doesnt like running my macbook pro charger for too long if my Mac battery is nearly flat it runs ok if the battery is charged and you keep the inverter on.
1.5 amp AC current draw at 240V.
To be on the safe side to run a lap top charger i would suggest a 450W inverter or possibly a 600W.

Good to know.


To run the various many electronic devices we end up taking with us, I actually built my own direct DC setup.

It seems rather inefficient to go: 12v battery -> 240v inverter -> DC laptop power pack (between 12v-19v). Both the inverter and power pack are unlikely to run at more than 80% efficiently. So a lot of power is wasted!

I have a 60W DC variable voltage regulator with a dial and LCD screen to show voltage. Turn the dial to adjust output voltage to 7V-30V. Plug in DC device skipping all power packs and inverters. 60W is enough to run laptops, where as using an inverter you need 300W+ rated converters.

For fun we also have xmas lights (not flashing) that come with a DC power pack and about 15m of lights. I cut off the power pack and we hang them all around the camp site for ambient lighting. They create enough light to show all the ropes and poles and stuff you trip over... Plus you can see the campsite from a mile away!!

Originally Posted by bee utey

a manually operated circuit breaker of around
70 amps should suffice to isolate it

great! noted.

Originally Posted by RR P38

I have a 300w inverter from Jaycar.

It doesnt like running my macbook pro charger for too long

good to know indeed... but is a 600W really the answer or does it suck too much power

Originally Posted by Judo

I have a 60W DC variable voltage regulator with a dial and LCD screen to show voltage. Turn the dial to adjust output voltage to 7V-30V. Plug in DC device skipping all power packs and inverters. 60W is enough to run laptops, where as using an inverter you need 300W+ rated converters.

oh dear...... another option to look into. And I thought I was so close to making a decision
but it actually sounds interesting - especially considering I don't have a dual battery set up as of yet and again, just intend to keep those batteries going.
so how did you hook up the voltage regulator? same as an inverter - battery one end, socket the other? (excuse my electrical half knowledge )

Originally Posted by Discovery-94

oh dear...... another option to look into. And I thought I was so close to making a decision
but it actually sounds interesting - especially considering I don't have a dual battery set up as of yet and again, just intend to keep those batteries going.
so how did you hook up the voltage regulator? same as an inverter - battery one end, socket the other? (excuse my electrical half knowledge )

I bought this kit (although I swear mine is 5A). You have to solder this kit together by the way...

FK809 Variable Voltage Regulator

You connect this directly to your car battery, and your laptop/whatever directly to the output (after setting correct voltage!). I.E. You don't use the laptop AC power pack at all.

The trick to most regulators (including this one) is they can only reduce the voltage. By itself, this kit will give you variable voltage 0-12V. If you want 12-30V range of voltages, you need to feed in a higher input voltage. For that I bought this:

DC/DC Converter Regulator 12V Step Up to 24V 5A 120W | eBay

And that's my solution! Rather complicated compared to walking into jaycar and buying an inverter, but I like building things.

or buy one of these (or similar):

0.7" LCD 100W Universal Laptop AC/DC Power Supply with 8 Connectors (AC 110~240V/DC 12V) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

Camera batteries, gps, phones etc can be charged via USB which can be simply integrated into the car or via a cigarette lighter socket charger

- my first post in about a year! too long since my landy moved... but it is happening... slowly!

Originally Posted by EchiDna

or buy one of these (or similar):

0.7" LCD 100W Universal Laptop AC/DC Power Supply with 8 Connectors (AC 110~240V/DC 12V) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

Camera batteries, gps, phones etc can be charged via USB which can be simply integrated into the car or via a cigarette lighter socket charger

- my first post in about a year! too long since my landy moved... but it is happening... slowly!

Wow that's cheap for what it does... For that price, I'd sure give it a go!

Originally Posted by Judo

Wow that's cheap for what it does... For that price, I'd sure give it a go!

Upon searching ebay, something like this could work too:

100W laptop Power Adapter Car Charger Dell Asus Lenovo | eBay

Cheap, but is it cheap for a reason....

I have been trying to source an inverter to run my 240v induction cooker.

As there is no gas flames etc it would be ideal to use in the camper.It is 1800 watt highest setting so thinking one of those 1500-3000 type would be ok.
It is excellent and will boil a full billy of water in6 Mins.Would mainly be used for short periods of time,the morning coffee and toast or poached egg etc.
Any suggestions for this set up would be very helpful.
Thanks,
Mary