Inverter choice

[Gwylan]

The use of laptop seems to mean we need some 240v on board.

At times that seems to means a inverter. Seems to be a wide range of prices! Probably quality too.

What experience, wisdom can people offer? What size, obviously pure sine but more than that I do not know.

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Looks like this has come up before http://www.ybw.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-268016.html

Upshot is:
Laptops are now pretty resilient and can use just about any electrickery but it may be better to cut out the middle man (inverter) and find a 12V car adapter for your computer.

 

[Concerto]

There was a reiew in PBO Feb 2015 of inverters up to 1Kw. I do not have it to hand but IIRC a Ring model came top and it was under £50.

 

[Tranona]

Alternative is to get a 12v charger which comes with tip plugs for most lap tops. Preferably hard wire it into the house circuit with a 15A fuse and leave the lap top battery out so that you are only powering the machine, not charging the battery. Least drain on your boat batteries.

 

[Poecheng]

I got Ring inverter off Ebay. Secondhand. Metal ribbed box with a cigarette lead at one end and a switched mains plug the other. THink it is 500W rated - whatever it is, it is not much power. Cheap.
I use it to run/charge Macbook Pro without any problems at all.
Metal box has sharp edges so thin strips of gaffer tape line the edges.
No complaints but I rarely use it. If I need one regularly I would probably treat myself to a nice Victron one - similar smallish box.

 

[Strolls]

Someone previously recommended these vendors: http://www.power4laptops.co.uk

 

[vyv_cox]

I bought the cheapest I could find on Ebay as we rarely need one on board. It worked OK but failed entirely after we left it connected to the batteries for some time. I bought another and now disconnect it every time. 600 watts, with spring clips to battery terminals. We have been using it for a vacuum packer, which it can cope with but the clips to the terminals need to be as good as possible.

 

[nigelmercier]

The use of laptop seems to mean we need some 240v on board...

No, as others have said, get a car charger for the laptop. What make and model is it?

 

[NormanS]

My Sony Tablet can only be charged from 240v. :disgust:

 

[duncan99210]

We've got two on board, both on switched supplies to the battery. On is a 150 watt Ring, used for laptops, printers, drill batteries and the like. The other is a Maplin 1000 watt, bought because we thought we'd need one before we set off.... The only thing it's used for these days is the odd occasion when SWMBO takes it into her head that something just has to be ironed.

 

[Strolls]

My Sony Tablet can only be charged from 240v. :disgust:

If it's the Sony Tablet S then Power4Laptops have 12v adaptors.

http://www.power4laptops.co.uk/f/sony/tablet/s+series/tablet+s

 

[NormanS]

If it's the Sony Tablet S then Power4Laptops have 12v adaptors.

http://www.power4laptops.co.uk/f/sony/tablet/s+series/tablet+s

Thanks very much for that link. I wish I'd known of them before buying a second, very expensive mains charger. As it happens, they are out of stock at present.

 

[nigelmercier]

My Sony Tablet can only be charged from 240v. :disgust:

I think not. What model is it, and what type of charging socket does it have?

 

[NormanS]

I think not. What model is it, and what type of charging socket does it have?

It's a Sony SGPT 114 GB/S. I understand it needs 10.5v dc, 2.9A. Its charging socket is a slot with four contacts, and a spring retaining catch at each end.

 

[nigelmercier]

It's a Sony SGPT 114 GB/S. I understand it needs 10.5v dc, 2.9A. Its charging socket is a slot with four contacts, and a spring retaining catch at each end.

While I applaud Sony for moving away from the disastrous micro USB, using a proprietary plug is even worse. Getting the right voltage and current down the lead is no problem, but there may be other signals to consider. I'd suggest asking on a Sony forum.