DC to AC invertor for laptop

aLteR1 · 27th January 2008, 1:12 PM

Anyone use a DC to AC invertor for plugging in their laptop to the car to charge up. I'm thinking of doing this, but i'm uncertain about reliability of this, and can it damage my car.

Any brand recommendations, i was just going to go to DSE and grab one (about $70).

HeXa · 27th January 2008, 1:24 PM

why go DC to AC and then back to DC? perhaps just get a DC power supply to suit your notebook

unless you plan to use the inverter for other 240V devices besides the notebook

Quadbox · 27th January 2008, 2:18 PM

It'd be both cheaper and much more power efficient to get a suitable dc-dc powerconverter than to use an inverter and an ac adapter.

Jaycar sell a range of dc-dc converters one of which would probably be suitable.

If however you want an inverter for multiple purposes, the needs placed by a notebook are pretty trivial. Have a look at your notebook's power brick, get the current requirements from it. Aim for double the power capability at least just as a margin. There's really no need to spend extra money on a true-sinewave inverter just for an ac adapter, but it can come in handy for other applications

EDIT - This one, for example, dc-dc converter wise

CAPT-Irrelevant · 27th January 2008, 2:42 PM

I've been told to go for true-sinewave as modified sinewave can fuck up the battery, so take note of this if it's true.

timochy · 27th January 2008, 7:50 PM

i do it with my inverter no worries. shouldnt be a prob

Quadbox · 28th January 2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAPT-Irrelevant

I've been told to go for true-sinewave as modified sinewave can fuck up the battery, so take note of this if it's true.

A load of garbage. it's going through a regulated powersupply. The battery isnt seeing any difference whatsoever whether it's modified sine-wave, sine-wave, or even saw-tooth. At the *absolute* most if you've got a particularly poor ac adapter on your notebook a little bit of extra ripple might make it all the way to the charging circuit, where it gets regulated *again* before it goes into the battery.

Oxley · 28th January 2008, 9:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadbox

A load of garbage. it's going through a regulated powersupply. The battery isnt seeing any difference whatsoever whether it's modified sine-wave, sine-wave, or even saw-tooth. At the *absolute* most if you've got a particularly poor ac adapter on your notebook a little bit of extra ripple might make it all the way to the charging circuit, where it gets regulated *again* before it goes into the battery.

Then care to explain why my toshiba power supply went up in smoke?

Tobes1990 · 28th January 2008, 9:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxley

Then care to explain why my toshiba power supply went up in smoke?

There are such things as faulty products and coincidences.

thebranded · 28th January 2008, 10:58 AM

am using a Jaycar DC-DC car laptop PSU thing. works fine on dell and HP lappies, as longa as the wattage is eqaul or higher than the standard AC PSU your all good.

I know i tried a DC-AC invertor then the normal AC PSU for the lappy and then lappy did not work. the AC PSU did not like the invertors power.

Quadbox · 28th January 2008, 1:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxley

Then care to explain why my toshiba power supply went up in smoke?

There are many reasons why a psu might go up in smoke. Modified sine-wave vs sine-wave aint one of them

27th January 2008, 1:12 PM	#1
aLteR1 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Geelong,Victoria Posts: 126	DC to AC invertor for laptop Anyone use a DC to AC invertor for plugging in their laptop to the car to charge up. I'm thinking of doing this, but i'm uncertain about reliability of this, and can it damage my car. Any brand recommendations, i was just going to go to DSE and grab one (about $70).

27th January 2008, 1:24 PM	#2
HeXa Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Canberra, ACT Posts: 4,816	why go DC to AC and then back to DC? perhaps just get a DC power supply to suit your notebook unless you plan to use the inverter for other 240V devices besides the notebook __________________ -=ShadowLight =- Australia's Largest FREE Lineage 2 Server run by ex-SuperFly/MDC/iiNet GMs WTS: [ACT] assorted Dell/IBM P3 rackmount servers - 6 pack of beer each WTB: [ACT] decent Socket 939 HSF (pickup)

27th January 2008, 2:18 PM	#3
Quadbox Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane 4065 Posts: 4,886	It'd be both cheaper and much more power efficient to get a suitable dc-dc powerconverter than to use an inverter and an ac adapter. Jaycar sell a range of dc-dc converters one of which would probably be suitable. If however you want an inverter for multiple purposes, the needs placed by a notebook are pretty trivial. Have a look at your notebook's power brick, get the current requirements from it. Aim for double the power capability at least just as a margin. There's really no need to spend extra money on a true-sinewave inverter just for an ac adapter, but it can come in handy for other applications EDIT - This one, for example, dc-dc converter wise Last edited by Quadbox; 27th January 2008 at 2:21 PM.

27th January 2008, 2:42 PM	#4
CAPT-Irrelevant Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 887	I've been told to go for true-sinewave as modified sinewave can fuck up the battery, so take note of this if it's true. __________________ P6T-SE \| i7 920 + Zalman CNPS 10X \| 6GB XMS3 C8 \| Sapphire 5870 1GB \| Seagate 7200.12 500GB + 1TB \| Antec 900 \| CoolerMaster 1000W \| ASUS 2014LT DVD RW DL \| G15 (v2) \| W7 x64 Ultimate \| Creative I-Trigue 3400 Laptop = Y530-400 WoW toon - Phyrus (Nagrand OC)

28th January 2008, 10:58 AM	#9
thebranded Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,129	am using a Jaycar DC-DC car laptop PSU thing. works fine on dell and HP lappies, as longa as the wattage is eqaul or higher than the standard AC PSU your all good. I know i tried a DC-AC invertor then the normal AC PSU for the lappy and then lappy did not work. the AC PSU did not like the invertors power. __________________ Windows XP Pro, AMDx2 4800+, K8NF-9, 2GB RAM (4x512) 1x1.5tb+3x500gb (data), 160gb (os)

27th January 2008, 7:50 PM	#5
timochy Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Adelaide Posts: 199	i do it with my inverter no worries. shouldnt be a prob