Charging using inverter

just startin · July 20, 2012, 07:17:31 PM

Hi all, I have a 150w inverter (not purer sine) the question is can I charge a Laptop battery (when not in use) also a digital camera battery and a hand held UHF battery. All will NOT be in use while charging. Or will I have to buy a purer sine inverter as I have read that you can't use non sine on sensitive equipment. Thats all I have to run all else in 12v
Thanks for your help

r0ssrg · July 20, 2012, 07:34:40 PM

I would only use a Pure Sine Wave inverter.

austastar · July 20, 2012, 07:36:22 PM

Hi,
I use a Dick Smith 150W Modified Square Wave inverter to charge phones, laptops, camera and other batteries with no dramas.
The only thing that I know of that will get damaged is Laser Printers, apparently they don't tolerate the stepped wave very well.

We did buy a pure sine wave inverter to run SWMBO's electronic sewing machine though - couldn't afford to run the ri$k of damaging it.

cheers

Symon · July 20, 2012, 07:37:25 PM

Old wives tale.

The problem is some won't power up on MSW, and some will. Try it.

Tom · July 20, 2012, 07:58:13 PM

I would and I do.
No problem over 2 years in the work ute.
Cheers.
Titch

just startin · July 20, 2012, 08:20:05 PM

Thanks guys had been worried about trying it but will give it ago over the w/k end and see how it goes. Can always get new batteries before we trip off if neesd be
Thanks

Muckinhell · July 20, 2012, 09:10:34 PM

you should be fine as the ac is transformed to dc in those types of items you mention and, its rated dc voltage, its only things that may actually run from and use the 240v that could be damaged or wont run.

Estelle · July 20, 2012, 09:58:16 PM

Not sure if it is an 'old wives tale' or not. May very well be.

I think it depends on the way the equipment being fed by the MSW units handle the 'AC' it receives.

It may be OK, may not. You may not know for six months or more, then you wonder if there was something you did or did not do during that time. There may be some scientific studies done regarding MSW units.

Using a pure sinewave supply removes any doubt.

To me there is sufficient doubt about MSW devices to warrant the use of a pure sinewave inverter to use on computer and similar gear.

austastar · July 20, 2012, 10:22:51 PM

Hi,
This , or similar is where I got the info that the laser printers could have problems with MSW.

I'm not starting an argument here, just stating where I got the info, and that is what I posted.

I'm not qualified to comment any further.

cheers

HKB Electronics · July 21, 2012, 10:23:06 AM

As above, if whatever your try to run has a seprate power supply that
plugs into the device and the inverter will start you'll most likely be ok.

For any other electronic device I would only use a pure sinewave device.

Symon · July 21, 2012, 10:47:44 AM

Quote from: Muckinhell on July 20, 2012, 09:10:34 PM
you should be fine as the ac is transformed to dc in those types of items you mention and, its rated dc voltage, its only things that may actually run from and use the 240v that could be damaged or wont run.

That's not really correct. The problem is mostly with the switchmode power supplies that just about everything uses these days. Some have problems detecting the peak of the wave with a MSW unit so it either doesn't function correctly or simply doesn't turn on. It depends totally on the design of the supply and there is no reliable way of predicting if it will or it won't.

Quote from: Estelle on July 20, 2012, 09:58:16 PMTo me there is sufficient doubt about MSW devices to warrant the use of a pure sinewave inverter to use on computer and similar gear.

This has already been discussed a zillion times so I'm not going over it all again, but suffice to say I have two MSW inverters, and I have no hesitation on using them to run chargers, laptops, whatever. I would however be hesitant to run an induction motor off one.

Estelle · July 21, 2012, 02:38:56 PM

Quote from: Symon on July 21, 2012, 10:47:44 AM

This has already been discussed a zillion times so I'm not going over it all again, but suffice to say I have two MSW inverters, and I have no hesitation on using them to run chargers, laptops, whatever. I would however be hesitant to run an induction motor off one.

I have no desire to discuss it further either. I just put my point of view as you had.

Not sure why you pushed your point just to drop it.

jnik · July 21, 2012, 07:11:38 PM

It's unlikely that any damage will occur ... and extremely unlikely that anything but the power supply is at risk anyway.

I've used many MSW inverters to run many laptops and have never had a problem.

But, in my mind, the best thing to do is to see if you can get a 12v power supply that will charge the laptop directly.

I purchased just such a unit for my Acer netbook for less than $8 (including shipping). The one for my Acer laptop was also bloody cheap at $21 (the laptop one is higher current and will work with either my netbook or my laptop ... the notebook one can charge my laptop's battery but doesn't put out enough power to run it).

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/250831081552

So much easier to hook up (one end in the cig. lighter, the other in the laptop).

Bonus is that such a solution is more efficient too (not important when the engine is running, but when you're counting the AHs every bit of waste hurts).

SteveandViv · July 22, 2012, 01:25:03 AM

Quote from: jnik on July 21, 2012, 07:11:38 PM
It's unlikely that any damage will occur ... and extremely unlikely that anything but the power supply is at risk anyway.

I've used many MSW inverters to run many laptops and have never had a problem.

But, in my mind, the best thing to do is to see if you can get a 12v power supply that will charge the laptop directly.

I purchased just such a unit for my Acer netbook for less than $8 (including shipping). The one for my Acer laptop was also bloody cheap at $21 (the laptop one is higher current and will work with either my netbook or my laptop ... the notebook one can charge my laptop's battery but doesn't put out enough power to run it).

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/250831081552

So much easier to hook up (one end in the cig. lighter, the other in the laptop).

Bonus is that such a solution is more efficient too (not important when the engine is running, but when you're counting the AHs every bit of waste hurts).

Actually the power supply will be fine if it starts. it's the battery that can suffer from modified sine. I also use a 12 to 12 when I can and then have 300watt pure sine for those times I'm running the inverter as I'm charging a heap of things at one time. For that I think the inverter makes it a bot easier rather than 6 cig outlets

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Charging using inverter