Laptop Power

Re: Laptop chargers

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Laptop chargers vary between 120 - 200 milliamps output. A 150 watt invertor is more than enough.....more likely about 0.4 amp, if U like to check that's 400 milliamps.

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HP Notebooks: power input is 1.5amps @240v and 3.16amps output at 16-19volts.

Armada is older machine so probably requires more. Next piece of advice would be remove laptop battery and see if it runs on the invertor. Now put battery back - if the invertor trips then it's not powerful enough.
 
Direct input ...

Some Siemens, Tosh and Compaq jobs had the option to take out the battery and fit the power pack in its place ... or put it in the drive bay ........... made 'em heavy and many people didn't like it !!

It would appear that you have this arrangement - I assume that no one gave you the other bit you can put in the notebook when power supply is separate ?

Anyway - a 150W should be ample ... I use a 100W with 150 surge .... for those occasions when the 12v - 12v is not enough - ie when running cd's / piggy back hard drives etc. and I plug in the mains charger .... thats on a ACER that is listed as 19V in ....

So I think there is somethjing else a drift here .... mmm have to think about this one.
 
Sounds easy

but is probably more difficult than that - my first laptop charger ran @ 14volts/2amps - easy to get a direct charger.
The one I'm using currently puts out 20v/3.5amps - can only get 18 or 24 volt transformers.

The P4 Centrino CPU laptop charger operates at 19.5v but has a max rated output of 3.35amps.
 
I used to run my laptop off a 150w inverter, but it gave up the ghost after about a year. It was running hot a lot of the time. I bought a 600w one from Maplins on special offer for under £40. That one is still working ok after 4 years. However it does draw loads of current. It seems to draw almost 2 amps without a load on it (Probably due to the fans in it) and upto 6 amps when charging and using a laptop.

I ended up buying a 12V 120w convertor from Maplins again on special offer for under £15 which is really the way to go.
 
I checked the label on the Laptop & it says 110-240 Volts @ 1 Amp.

I must say that doesn't seem to square with my experience.

Martin
 
Hi Martin

Given this information then powerwise your laptop will draw something between 120 and 240 watts. An invertor delivering 300watts constant should be OK. Might get a bit hot for a while if you've got a flattish laptop battery.

Steve
 
Maplin have a 600W job going for £50. I think I'll go for one of those.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

Martin /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Some laptop power supplies do not like the modified sinewave from the cheaper inverters - the crapard hell one I've got just ticks when plugged into a Mobitronics 300w invertor ... the fujitsu and dell supplies though are fine ...
 
I have a compaq Armada laptop for navigation and use a 150w inverter with SeaPro charts.
No problems ever and 150w is more than enough. I also have a 12v DC Stepup as backup. My laptop batteries are caput but dosen't cause a problem.
First of all i would connect your invertor without the laptop and see if it operates. Then connect the laptop or even some other 230v say 40w mains tablelamp or something similar. Thenif this works connect laptop without switching on and if the inverter holds then switch on. If as you say it works at home , I assume you use a 12v battery and not a stabilised power supply.
Can't suggest an answer to your problem but has to be something simple!!!!!!!!!!
 
I had invertor and it was not OK. I take oppinion people from forum and change it for DC DC convertor and now is fine!
 
We had brand new 150w invertor (no fan inside) and it worked for a while with a dell notebook but after 3 hrs smoked and gave up.

For charging battery and running laptop you need loads a power or just take the battery out.

We decided that if the laptop needs 18-19vDC and we have 13.8 regulated from 24-12 converter (24volt boat) that trying the 13.8 would do no harm and the laptop works a treat now so no need for inverter.

M
 
My friend tried to run his inverter using a cigar lighter type socket on his boat and the inverter just stopped. If it cannot draw enough current it decides to stop. We got over this by running thick cables direct to the battery. If you ran it at home, it should have run on the boat.
 
Dear All

I have a 12v adapter that outputs various voltages up to 20v. It comes with lots of adapters to plug into the back of yer laptop except the one I needed for my Dell!

Anyone interested can have this smart-looking piece of kit for a tenner plus postage and packing. It cost £35 two weeks ago.

Pops
 
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