Thread: Power for laptop

I use the generic one from Jaycar. On my 3rd laptop now and never had an issue.

For ease of purchase and time, I just ended up getting an inverter, 300w.

Seems to do the job nicely, but may change that later on,, although I'm sure it will come in handy for SWMBO and hair dryers,, or is that Gav's department??

So after this...

Originally Posted by 87County

just thought I should add this - some shops will try and talk you into a 12v/240v inverter to run off your 12v cig lighter to enable use of your supplied 240v charger - knowledgeable advice I received was not to do it !

and this gem.....

Originally Posted by incisor

true sine wave inverters are fine for powering devices that also charge batteries but are dear compared to modified and square wave inverters.

many people use modified sine wave inverters and don't have a problem but i have seen many laptops that have been damaged by them

cheap modified sine wave and square wave inverters are a big no no if the device you are powering charges batteries.

..and my own personal experience of a fried laptop when using a top of the range generator/inverter, you have gone out and done this....

Originally Posted by Chops

For ease of purchase and time, I just ended up getting an inverter, 300w.

Flaming heck.....some people just love rolling the dice

.......amazing

Yep maybe he does,nt like the new lappy that much and flea bay sell 12v power supply to suit any laptop at good price,s ,
As said earlier Jaycar which there is one just up the road from chops Each to their own maybe cost and time were a factor . I my self have tempted fate with the inverter way but now have a 12v power supply for the lappy

I didn't have enough time to chase around after eBay, and yep, jaycar is just up the road, and no, they didn't have what was asked for (the unit in an earlier post),,,

So, one must do what one must do,, if it ****s itself, I'll have to wear it, but sometimes, just sometimes, you have to go the wrong way.

On my return from SA, I will have the time to hunt around for the right unit, and still have a 240v unit to run other stuff if we want.

I have a true/pure sine wave 12 to 240 inverter for my lappy + other various things.

it's only a 300W one so won't run anything big.

as said they are quite expensive compared to the modified ones.

haven't had any problems so far

one down side is the inverter uses up power converting 12V to 240V and most of the things I use on it are battery chargers so they convert it back down again...
But I have the flexibility to use high amounts of power with 260Ah of auxiliary batteries and 195-325W of solar panels on hand.

up side is I didn't need to find 12V charges for everything

I have used many diff laptops for gps navigation and have always used a 12volt cigarette socket, i would never use an inverter in the front of the or anywhere down reasoably low , just the thought of having 240 volts next to me while crossing a creek fills me with dread, i know they are fused and all that but still things can go wrong, the only place i would use one is when stationary for the day, i know im going to get hammered on this one also, i have never bothered with pure sine wave power, ive been 4wdring camping for 30 years and carried just about anything that needed power and never have i blown or damaged any item that could be affected by non pure sine wave, surely i couldnt be just lucky for 30 years

Cheers