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Thread ID: 136388	2014-02-24 05:28:00	Modified Sine inverter and laptop	Misty (368)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1368608	2014-02-24 05:28:00	Greetings Shortly we are going away in our motorhome . Though we have not had long when going away we have used our laptop (small screen) on our modified sine wave (not pure sine) inverter . This has worked fine . However, we have now bought a laptop with a bigger screen and a bit apprehensive about using fully (ie with screen on) . Our modified sine inverter is a Power Master and must be at least 1200 Watts (it is not one of the old modified ones) . Not sure how to compare the laptops, if that is of importance . Though can get really good profiles, and have, from Belarc Advisor . The "old laptop" is hyper-threaded . The new laptop is a 2 gigahertz AMD chip with 8 RAM, but not hyper threaded, but has 4 core . Getting out of my depth here ! :horrified Should I feel safe ? (1) for just charging (2) for using ? Cheers Jim	Misty (368)
1368609	2014-02-24 06:51:00	Jim As per the NZM&C forum :thumbs: 1 - Yes 2 - Yes A dedicated DC-DC converter is still the better option. Is the inverter input 12 or 24V ?	Scubadoo (16151)
1368610	2014-02-24 07:05:00	Most new laptops (actually - probably all) use a switched mode power supply which immediately rectifies the incoming power to DC. Therefore the wave shape of your inverter is irrelevant.	decibel (11645)
1368611	2014-02-24 08:49:00	Hi Scubadoo - in this other realm ! How can I find out whether input is 12 or 24V. The truck is 24V but that does not mean that the input is 24V necessarily, as I understand it ? Cheers Jim	Misty (368)
1368612	2014-02-24 09:19:00	How is the TV, lighting, fridge etc. powered? i.e. From a 12V separate system or via a 24V to 12V high current converter? I guess it is not too important as you can simply use the inverter without any issues. Just do it. :o A DC-DC converter would simply save some power consumption. Remember to turn off the inverter if nothing else is in use.	Scubadoo (16151)
1368613	2014-02-24 19:14:00	Hi Scubadoo The TV, lighting, (& fridge, when not on mains power, or gas) are powered by separate 12V system. Will do as you suggest and use the inverter. Many thanks :) Jim	Misty (368)
1368614	2014-02-24 22:06:00	Actually, your new laptop probably uses less power than the old one.	Agent_24 (57)
1368615	2014-02-25 04:18:00	Hi Agent_24 I presume that is because it is newer technology, and not because of lower specs ? Nevertheless it responds quicker, which is the name of the game ;) Much appreciate your comment Jim	Misty (368)
1368616	2014-02-25 05:15:00	I recommend that you monitor the temperature of your inverter the first time you use it to recharge your computer. I used one in my car to recharge a small notebook and it overheated like mad in a very short time. No harm was done to either device, but I was rather surprised to say the least! Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
1368617	2014-02-25 10:40:00	Hi Agent_24 I presume that is because it is newer technology, and not because of lower specs ? Nevertheless it responds quicker, which is the name of the game ;) Much appreciate your comment Jim Yeah, it will likely have a lower power use due to newer and more efficient technology - of course depending on the exact hardware this may be untrue but in general I would expect it to be. (Compared to the old one) I recommend that you monitor the temperature of your inverter the first time you use it to recharge your computer. I used one in my car to recharge a small notebook and it overheated like mad in a very short time. No harm was done to either device, but I was rather surprised to say the least! Cheers Billy 8-{) I wonder what would cause that? Laptop power adapters seldom go above 100 Watts AFAIK. Perhaps there was some kind of instability between the inverter circuitry and the PSU?	Agent_24 (57)
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