Which inverter?

[webcraft]

To run a P4 IBM laptop?

I assume 150W is more than ample, but are they all the same, or are some makes better than others? Has anyone got one running a newish laptop that they can recommend?

- Nick


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[rickwat]

150W should be plenty but as I understand it there are sine-wave and non sine wave units. My previous laptop ran off a cheap non sine wave unit but my present Sony VAIO kept tripping out on it and it got hot. After a great deal of exasperation I stumped up for a Victron Energy Phoenix 225W pure sine wave unit which cost around £200(from memory)which is pure class. My advise is to try or borrow a cheap unit for a few hours at least if you can and if all's well get a cheap one but if there's any problem - pointer dancing round on screen, tripping out etc -
go for a proper sine wave unit but consider if you might want more power for other things in the future and get one unit to cover such requirements.

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[webcraft]

Do you mean the Vaio got hot, or the inverter?

- Nick



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[Guest]

I bought a 150W cheapie at 49.99 from mail-order ........ runs my Maxdata fine .......

It also charges my gsm / video camcorder etc.

I always start PC first then plug in other bits as that way I don't risk surge cutout ....... but thats only a thought - not actually happened.

I thought about larger capacity - but decided not to go higher - as then you are only sucking life out of batterys .....



<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Added to what has already been said, I bought a £40.00 invertor from maplins worked well with just my IBM laptop. But as I wanted to use it with my SSB receiver it was noisy as hell. I have now bought a laptop power supply from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.eurobatteries.com/>Eurobatteries</A> which works just fine.

The invertor has come in useful for many other things, not least running my soldering iron during my re-wire.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/TC_minicruise_2003_01.html>Cardigan Bay Cruise</A>

 

[rickwat]

It was the inverter that got hot. It only cost £30 at London Boat Show a few years ago. It's a 150/200W Cherokee and for other applications is excellent. The non sine wave units do get quite hot anyway as I understand it but for some reason it was OK with a 1998 Toshiba Satellite. As a point of interest the Toshiba inverter for the Satellite wouldn't work with the Sony either and Sony have stopped doing one - unbelievable considering their commitment to mobile computing.

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[Avocet]

Have just bought a Sterling 150w modified sinewave. It ran my laptop all day the other day with no bother.

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[rickwat]

By "tripping out" I mean the inverter shut down - the computer switched back to its own batt power. I doubt there was any danger to the computer.

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