Jaycar inverter

[Poxy]

A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap Jaycar
inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should be OK with the
non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the power factor issues
with these supplies. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of
thing?

 

Have seen many which have lost their smoke.

I dont recomend non-sinewave models for this sort of gear.

Choose a model with listed power output quite a long way higher than
your expected requirements as I feel (from experience) that the
inverters may not be rated in "real world" Watts. Much the same as
your average $20, 1000W computer speakers.

You get what you pay for in the end, how much value do you put in your
laptop and camera???

Cheers,
Sam T


On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 00:34:39 +1100, "Poxy" <pox@poxymail.com> wrote:

A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap Jaycar
inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should be OK with the
non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the power factor issues
with these supplies. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of
thing?

 

[chris]

Poxy wrote:

A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap Jaycar
inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should be OK with the
non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the power factor issues
with these supplies. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of
thing?

Went outback camping for 2 weeks with a friend who brought a similar one
(300W) and it worked fine charging cameras. The laptop PSU's can tend to
run a bit hot and I've done some field work where the inverter didn't
like it at all (shutdown straight away) - again a cheapie 300W model,
but, granted, the inverter battery had done a fair bit of work that day
also.

I ended up using a Targus 'universal' 12V adapter for the laptop but
they're not cheap ~$150.00. I'm able to get it for my day job though so
the company pays .

HTH
Chris.

 

[Poxy]

chris wrote:

Poxy wrote:
A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap
Jaycar inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should
be OK with the non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the
power factor issues with these supplies. Does anyone have any
experience with this kind of thing?

Went outback camping for 2 weeks with a friend who brought a similar
one (300W) and it worked fine charging cameras. The laptop PSU's can
tend to run a bit hot and I've done some field work where the
inverter didn't like it at all (shutdown straight away) - again a
cheapie 300W model, but, granted, the inverter battery had done a
fair bit of work that day also.

I ended up using a Targus 'universal' 12V adapter for the laptop but
they're not cheap ~$150.00. I'm able to get it for my day job though
so the company pays .

This was for a Apple Powerbook - the 12V adaptor is $210. He ended up
getting the Jaycar 300W one on the basis that they had a money-back option
in case it didn't work. He just tried it out running both the camera and
laptop and both worked fine, however he's going to doa longer test to make
sure nothing heats up too much.

 

[Jim]

"RMD" <ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz> wrote in message
news:421d4c90.4153899@news.iprimus.com.au...

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 00:34:39 +1100, "Poxy" <pox@poxymail.com> wrote:


A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap
Jaycar
inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should be OK with
the
non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the power factor issues
with these supplies. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of
thing?


I think the main thing is to get one with more than enough power,
since otherwise it will not handle any starting surges. Jaycar do say
in their catalogue what size is generally suitable for laptops. You
may need to connect directly to the battery, since there may be too
much resistance through a cigarette lighter socket.

I've only tried one once on a TV set, and it worked fine except for
putting interference lines on the screen.

Ross


(To get email address ROT 13)
ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz

And the interference may kill any HF radio reception.

Cheers
Jim

 

[Martin]

"Jim" <jimshire1_nospammy@spamlessiprimus.com.au> wrote in message
news:421e4698_1@news.iprimus.com.au...

"RMD" <ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz> wrote in message
news:421d4c90.4153899@news.iprimus.com.au...
On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 00:34:39 +1100, "Poxy" <pox@poxymail.com> wrote:


A friend wants to run a laptop and video camera off one of the cheap
Jaycar
inverters - I'm guessing the switchmode power supplies should be OK with
the
non-sine wave output, although I have no idea of the power factor issues
with these supplies. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of
thing?


I think the main thing is to get one with more than enough power,
since otherwise it will not handle any starting surges. Jaycar do say
in their catalogue what size is generally suitable for laptops. You
may need to connect directly to the battery, since there may be too
much resistance through a cigarette lighter socket.

I've only tried one once on a TV set, and it worked fine except for
putting interference lines on the screen.

Ross


(To get email address ROT 13)
ebff_qnyl@lnubb.pbz

And the interference may kill any HF radio reception.

Cheers
Jim

I wouldn't worry about that problem, the ACA and Government are doing their
best to encourage BPL in Australia and that will wipe out any HF radio
reception far better than any inverter could!!!