Inverters
- Thread starter Patriot
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jgcertified
New Member
The ticking noise is the inverter cutting off from overload. I used to have a 120 watt inverter in my car, and when i ran a laptop off it (HP laptop, adapter needed 200-ish watts) the inverter would squeal
BUSHNUT
Well-Known Member
In regards to inverter, i would say that it may not be cranking enough juice to do what you are asking of it. I got one of those cheap Waecos 9 coke can Variety, it infers you can run a laptop on it, but it gets bloody hot, on asking around it indicates that it maybe allright for recharging batteries of the laptop but not running it direct. There is an old saying " It's generally cheap for a reason "
80landcruiser
New Member
James
I don't have an inverter, but I do understand that you need an inverter with a sine wave. Whats a sine wave you ask? with any generators or power devices that produce electricity, it produces in "waves", if one was to graph it, it would look ike this high - low - high - low - high - low, like a roller coaster. These highs and lows can vary dramatically. With laptops, however, they require a constant, reliable flat line with very little variations.
Sherif
I don't have an inverter, but I do understand that you need an inverter with a sine wave. Whats a sine wave you ask? with any generators or power devices that produce electricity, it produces in "waves", if one was to graph it, it would look ike this high - low - high - low - high - low, like a roller coaster. These highs and lows can vary dramatically. With laptops, however, they require a constant, reliable flat line with very little variations.
Sherif
aaronb
New Member
It generally doesnt matter if its pure sine wave or not, as the transformer in the laptop power pack will still throw out the required voltage to run the computer. One thing to check when buying one is the watts, you need to make sure that this will run your power pack. With my laptop the input is 240v at 1.5 amps. Convert this to watts by multiplying the voltage by the current eg. 240x1.5= 360watts.
Just reverse it to work out the amps an inverter will throw out. eg. DAZ's unit 1200watts /240v= 5 amps
Just reverse it to work out the amps an inverter will throw out. eg. DAZ's unit 1200watts /240v= 5 amps
tektrek
Banned
ticking noise from the power supply
Without getting to technical, all computers (laptops, notebooks & desktops) have switched-mode power supplies to run all the various components within like disc drives, motherboard, monitor, modem etc. Switched-mode supplies run at efficiencies of 85% or better especially if the input voltage (220-240vac) is sine wave in frequency. Modified square wave/quasi wave power inverters have at best an efficiency of 60% due to their linear circuit design. They are cheap to manufacture, cheap to buy and should only be used for lighting, soldering irons and other resistive loads and power tools without electronic gear boxes. These inverters are rarely used in the UPS industry as they are considered too messy in output and unreliable for backup power systems especially with computers. They also interfer with anything containing a clock like microwaves, VCRs, DVD players/recorders, digital alarm clocks and so on.
The ticking sound you heard is most likely due to insufficient power entering the power supply from the inverter - ie the inverter doesn't have enough grunt and as the power power supply needs squeaky clean AC power it will go into overload trying to cope with the AC from the cheapy inverter. The overload is caused by the power supply circuit trying to start up to supply power to the laptop.
The simple solution is buy a sine wave inverter rated to at least 150 watts. This type of charger is kinder to your charger/power supply which could burn out if used with an inferior cheapy modified square wave inverter which you seem to have tried .
If you need more info PM or email me. I have been involved with DC-AC power inverters for over 20 years and use them in solar power systems I design and supply.
Good luck.
Hi all,
I bought a cheapy invertor to run my laptop which needs 65 watts. I've plugged it in and all I get is a quiet ticking noise from the power supply
Does anyone have an suggestions/experience on a decent inverter?
Thanks
James
Without getting to technical, all computers (laptops, notebooks & desktops) have switched-mode power supplies to run all the various components within like disc drives, motherboard, monitor, modem etc. Switched-mode supplies run at efficiencies of 85% or better especially if the input voltage (220-240vac) is sine wave in frequency. Modified square wave/quasi wave power inverters have at best an efficiency of 60% due to their linear circuit design. They are cheap to manufacture, cheap to buy and should only be used for lighting, soldering irons and other resistive loads and power tools without electronic gear boxes. These inverters are rarely used in the UPS industry as they are considered too messy in output and unreliable for backup power systems especially with computers. They also interfer with anything containing a clock like microwaves, VCRs, DVD players/recorders, digital alarm clocks and so on.
The ticking sound you heard is most likely due to insufficient power entering the power supply from the inverter - ie the inverter doesn't have enough grunt and as the power power supply needs squeaky clean AC power it will go into overload trying to cope with the AC from the cheapy inverter. The overload is caused by the power supply circuit trying to start up to supply power to the laptop.
The simple solution is buy a sine wave inverter rated to at least 150 watts. This type of charger is kinder to your charger/power supply which could burn out if used with an inferior cheapy modified square wave inverter which you seem to have tried .
If you need more info PM or email me. I have been involved with DC-AC power inverters for over 20 years and use them in solar power systems I design and supply.
Good luck.
BUSHNUT
Well-Known Member
rollywheeler
New Member
A majority of 12/24v problems can be attributed to inadequacies in the supply lines and earth returns.
Voltage drop over undersized wires and poor connections can be quite considerable. There is often some confusion in the industry descriptions of wire sizes, e.g. an 'automotive' 6mm cable can have a core diameter of less than 4mm since the 6mm refers to the size of the total diameter inclusive of the insulating material. It's the cross section of the conductor that counts and a 50% reduction in diameter can produce huge voltage drop over relatively short distances.
Your average inverter is programmed to provide an audible warning when the input drops below a preset voltage and to shut off entirely at a slightly lower one.
Voltage drop over undersized wires and poor connections can be quite considerable. There is often some confusion in the industry descriptions of wire sizes, e.g. an 'automotive' 6mm cable can have a core diameter of less than 4mm since the 6mm refers to the size of the total diameter inclusive of the insulating material. It's the cross section of the conductor that counts and a 50% reduction in diameter can produce huge voltage drop over relatively short distances.
Your average inverter is programmed to provide an audible warning when the input drops below a preset voltage and to shut off entirely at a slightly lower one.
Nickj
5th Annual Victorian Gathering member
James, I got a big assed one (1500w / 3000w peak) off ebay for under $200! It's not the perfect one, but it runs my laptop, phone chargers, electric drill down the paddock, even ran a 2000w angle grinder without cutting out. I have BIG power cable running to the back of the car for it.
If you have a Jaycar store handy, they have heaps of them. Hmmm, you could claim electronic parts on the business......
Nick
If you have a Jaycar store handy, they have heaps of them. Hmmm, you could claim electronic parts on the business......
Nick
Lost 2
Member
Hi,
Forgive me if this sounds dumb!
If you have an inverter,whether pure wave or not,should or can it be used while the engine is running?
Just curious.
I have a 300watt and have only used it for phone/camera charging and found it fine.
Yet to try it on my laptop which i don,t want to harm,hence the engine thing.
All my charging has been done while stationary.
All the best
Lost 2.
Forgive me if this sounds dumb!
If you have an inverter,whether pure wave or not,should or can it be used while the engine is running?
Just curious.
I have a 300watt and have only used it for phone/camera charging and found it fine.
Yet to try it on my laptop which i don,t want to harm,hence the engine thing.
All my charging has been done while stationary.
All the best
Lost 2.
Grumpy
Moderator
Well I dont know about others but I havn't had a problem even with starting the car while it's running.
Lost 2
Member
Thanks for your info.
I normally use mine off the second battery direct,rather than using the cig lighter attachment.
I am debating whether to mount it inside the cab as a permanent fixture(eg-under seat) and then hard wire it to the battery.
Always there and if need be run a 240v extension for outside use if required.
Any feed back would be good from those with a bit more knowledge or experience than myself.
All the best
Lost 2
I normally use mine off the second battery direct,rather than using the cig lighter attachment.
I am debating whether to mount it inside the cab as a permanent fixture(eg-under seat) and then hard wire it to the battery.
Always there and if need be run a 240v extension for outside use if required.
Any feed back would be good from those with a bit more knowledge or experience than myself.
All the best
Lost 2
I have been using a 150 pure sine wave watt inverter i got from Jaycar.
A mate of mine worked at Jaycar and gave me the inside word on what was what with inverters.
Biggest issue he saw was inverters being returned for simply failing, the quality of a lot of inverters these days is quite variable.
Mostly use it for charging camera and video camera batteries but also runs my laptop charger perfectly.
Currently it runs from the ciggarete lighter plug but will hardwire it with a single 240 volt GPO at some stage soon. Its not the can type inverter its a "proper" looking one with heat sinks and proper mounting points the lighter plug it came with just makes it easy to use and portable.
I use apple laptops and they have a 45 and 65 watt chargers and the 150 runs them perfectly.
I know 150 watts seems low but i don't have anything else to run from it
Cheers
Justin
A mate of mine worked at Jaycar and gave me the inside word on what was what with inverters.
Biggest issue he saw was inverters being returned for simply failing, the quality of a lot of inverters these days is quite variable.
Mostly use it for charging camera and video camera batteries but also runs my laptop charger perfectly.
Currently it runs from the ciggarete lighter plug but will hardwire it with a single 240 volt GPO at some stage soon. Its not the can type inverter its a "proper" looking one with heat sinks and proper mounting points the lighter plug it came with just makes it easy to use and portable.
I use apple laptops and they have a 45 and 65 watt chargers and the 150 runs them perfectly.
I know 150 watts seems low but i don't have anything else to run from it
Cheers
Justin