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Which 12V Power Ivnverter? Which 12V Power Ivnverter?
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  #1  
Old 9 Nov 2007
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Which 12V Power Ivnverter?
Hi all,

We will be needing to charge our laptop, cameras etc on the road. Can anyone recommend an inverter for these applications?

Thanks,

Bruce
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  #2  
Old 10 Nov 2007
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Depending on how long your going for and what future plans you have, you should 100% look into getting a 12 volt adaptor for everything unless you have very large batteries and a large solar panel.

I have a 12 volt adaptor for my powerbook (easy to google for your brand of lappy) and places like Jessops sell 12 volt chargers for all manner of batteries for cameras etc

As I said, if you have decent plans get 12 volt adapters for everything as using an inverter really sucks the battery quickly.

I have a pure sine wave inverter from Maplins - it was about £30 on sale and it has worked fine the few times I have used it (for firewire external hard disks) but I'm lucky if I get an hour out of the batteries with it on.

So use 12 volt for everything and just buy a cheapo inverter for anything else etc

Thats my 2p anyway!
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  #3  
Old 10 Nov 2007
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I believe the 150w version is enough for your needs: Maplin > inverter

Tim
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Old 10 Nov 2007
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I've had very good service from Xantrex inverters ,I don't know if they are available in the UK , but they do make them for other companies who then brand them with their own name .[ In Canada they make them for Canadian Tire for instance ] .
But if you can , just try charging with 12 volt chargers , it's more efficient .
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Old 10 Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodger View Post
just try charging with 12 volt chargers , it's more efficient .
Totally disagree. I have a battery charger that operates on 240v ac, 12 v DC and 5v DC (USB) and the fastest is 240v, the slowest is 5v. Battery inverter to 240v is the way to go if you can charge whilst driving.

Tim
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Old 10 Nov 2007
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It's more efficient for your vehicle batteries - you can charge your stuff and not flatten your battery (as the inverter itself sucks power, hence it's not efficient - nor is using 240 volts to charge a 7 volt battery). Obviously chucking 240 volts at it rather than 12 will be quicker ;-)

You can do it whilst driving, but you won't drive every day and even with a solar panel you will discharge your vehicle batteries too quickly by using a inverter when parked up.

But it depends on how serious you need to be - for the price of a good inverter you can buy the 12 volt adapters you need and have the best of both worlds.
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  #7  
Old 11 Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
Totally disagree. I have a battery charger that operates on 240v ac, 12 v DC and 5v DC (USB) and the fastest is 240v, the slowest is 5v. Battery inverter to 240v is the way to go if you can charge whilst driving.

Tim
Maybe I should have made myself clearer , charging from the VEHICLE'S alternator directly to the transformer charger on the appliance is more efficient than :
Alternator - 12v to 240v Inverter- 240 volt transformer - appliance .
And as a bonus you have the facility to charge with 12 volt solar panels when you are parked .
Batteries are DC devices and are charged accordingly , there is no point in converting DC to AC and then back to DC for charging batteries .
The rate of charge will be dictated by the power of the transformer charger that comes with the appliance .
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Last edited by Dodger; 11 Nov 2007 at 07:07.
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  #8  
Old 12 Nov 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghenk View Post
Hi all,

We will be needing to charge our laptop, cameras etc on the road. Can anyone recommend an inverter for these applications?

Thanks,


Bruce
Products like these below have served my needs when on the road and in the bush.
Available from Camera and Electronic shops.
Regards.
Ted's Camera Stores Australia - Inca Smart Charger

Jaycar Electronics

Jaycar Electronics
Last edited by ivanll; 12 Nov 2007 at 04:30. Reason: One More Adapter
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  #9  
Old 12 Nov 2007
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Inverter
Get a 500w, decent make and u will have no problems, that is if you have a dual battery system. We were 4 up and all of us had laptops, all had cameras and all had cell phones and we charged all the time. We also never ever disconected the 70l fridge either. We only ran the battery dead once when we camped for 2 nights! We also tried to start off that battery!!! not very clever.

It will drain no doubt, but be efficient, clever with your timings and u will have loads of power.

Good luck
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  #10  
Old 12 Nov 2007
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Thanks All,

That has given me more than enough food for thought!! I like the idea of having everything 12v, however I will probably take a 150w inverter for charging the laptop while driving. I can see that using it when parked up, while running a fridge and light etc would be sucking too much juice.

Thanks again!

Bruce
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