What size inverter to charge a laptop?

[Johnstons]

Hi just wondering if anyone could please give any advice on how to choose an inverter to charge our laptop eg: size, wattage, brand etc.
I know I need a pure sinewave inverter but not sure how big.

Cheers

 

[Capt. Gadget]

Hi Johnstones It would depend on how many amps you power supply draws mine draws 1.5 amps at 240v so it should require 360w
A x V=W but best to add a bit to that too as some things use a bit more power when they 1st start up. So for me I would get a 600w that way I would have more than enough to run mine.

 

[bigman0510]

I just bought a 12v to laptop power supply from jaycar.... works great

 

[Johnstons]

Thanks Captn Gadget.
Bigman, did you just buy a 12 volt plug that goes straight into your computer? Do you not use an inverter to be safe?

 

[Mike7]

Hi guys,

My 10c worth, dont use an inverter if you are only going to use it to charge a laptop. Going from 12v to 240v then thru your laptop power supply for another voltage change is not very efficient and you are wasting energy.

As Bigman says grab a jaycar "car" 12 volt power supply and you are only converting voltage once, they work well.

Not having 240v is safer than having 240V


Cheers
Mike

 

[bigman0510]

just bought one of the below, has 12v cigarette lighter and other end has multiple ends for different laptops.

 

[Johnstons]

Thanks Mike for your input, is this safe for your computer plugging straight into 12v or do you get spikes in currency?
Big man that looks like a great idea.
We are going up to the camping show in Melborne on the weekend and just wanted to have some idea before we got there.

Is anyone else using anything different or the same as these fellas?

 

[chartrock]

We just use the 12v car plug that has a USB socket on the back. The iPhone and my Dell tablet happily take power from the 12v socket in the van.

 

[Xpandafan]

Same here (as Chartrock) phone, tablets & cameras all charge fine.

 

[Johnstons]

Thanks everyone for your input, once again you're a wealth of information!!!

 

[Mike7]

Gday mate, its not a straight 12 volts thats going into your computer. The power supply will probably up the voltage from 12 volts to the laptop as most laptops will require slightly higher than 12 volts so you do have a power supply between the battery and laptop that should sort out any spikes. Have a look at the power supply that you have now,ie the 240v supply, and it will have the output voltage written in the specs, match this up with the jaycar 12v supply and you are good to go. Or as above there are automatic jobbies.

As others have said, I have been charging iphones and ipads etc for years out of a 12v car charger and no problem.

Cheers
Mike