Charging laptops when free camping

Jillie7 · Member

Charging laptops when free camping

rgren2 · Guru

A small pure sine wave inverter works for me. Just dont leave it plugged in when you have finished as they keep drawing power.

markf · Senior Member

We just decided to use a 150W pure sine wave inverter. That way we just use the existing chargers. We tried to source 12v chargers but it was going to cost more than a small inverter. We've got camera chargers, laptop and tablet charger, phone chargers, etc. And that's just the two of us...

Cupie · Guru

A quick internet search found this source of 12v Chargers for Mac book Pro ..

https://www.ebay.com.au/b/Power-Adapters-and-Chargers-for-Apple-MacBook-Pro/31510/bn_799805?_pgn=3

I used Ebay for my 12v charger for an Asus LapTop. No problems.

Try this one ..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/For-MacBook-Pro-Air-45W-60W-85W-29W-61W-87W-Magsafe-1-2-Car-Charger/163671097650?hash=item261b8ec132:m:mR9wl5vxeT0dSbm1rK1BOqw&var=463134682362

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 11th of November 2019 02:28:46 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have a 3 year old HP laptop and also can't get the right 12v fitting so just use a 300w Pure Sine Wave Inverter I have set up inside the aluminium teepee and that works fine. I only charge during the day while the solar is doing it's thing. I also charge a couple of other things that way as and use a couple of small appliances when needed, also during the day only. I unplug when finished. I set up a Anderson plug with good size cable direct from batteries with a in-line fuse. Works for me.

I used a 150w Inverter the other day and it worked on the Laptop as well. It wasn't a PSW though.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Tony Bev · Guru

I can see where you are coming from, Jillie 7

In 2017 when nearly buying a new laptop (not Mackintosh)
Noticing that it was 21 volt, I asked if they made a ciggy type 12 volt charger, and they said no, it has to be charged from 240 volt

I purchased a 300 watt inverter, from the people in the link below, which is a PURE SINE WAVE model

Lucky for me I kept my old laptop, and installed a SSD (Solid State Drive), which made it start up faster, and was rechargeable with a 12 volt ciggy plug adaptor

I can confirm that (the same model), as in the link, is a pure sine wave inverter, as my son in law is an Electrician, and used his employers tools to check it out for me

There may well be smaller, and cheaper inverters that will work, but I can only confirm that the one in the link, does work on my laptop, or phone, or cordless drill, or cordless shower pump etc
I can therefore safely say that it will work on your Mac laptop, as the specs for your laptop show less than 100 watts are required, while charging with 240 volt

I am not a techie, but what I have found over the years is that
Modern electronics, such as a laptop, like pure sine wave, and not modified sine wave inverters
As rgren2 has already said, inverters use power even when not in use, so unplug it after charging the laptop

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300W-600W-Pure-Sine-Wave-Power-Inverter-12V-240V-AUS-Plug-Car-Boat-Caravan/272368676006?hash=item3f6a702ca6:g:tRUAAOSwdoNazGjK

Hope that this info is useful to people in the future

Whenarewethere · Guru

Do you think that the cheap $76.99 inverter is 90% efficient when Victron say a maximum efficiency of 87% for their 12v 250 watt model?

https://www.victronenergy.com.au/inverters/phoenix-inverter-vedirect-250va-800va#downloads

iana · Guru

I have both the 12v to computer charger, and a 300w inverter. My experience, is that the 12v to computer charger may not give the full power required when running some programs. I would go the inverter way.

Tony Bev · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Do you think that the cheap $76.99 inverter is 90% efficient when Victron say a maximum efficiency of 87% for their 12v 250 watt model?
https://www.victronenergy.com.au/inverters/phoenix-inverter-vedirect-250va-800va#downloads

As I have already said, I am not a techi

I actually paid less than $76.99, (in April 2017), and I know nothing of efficiency, or how to measure it

I will reconfirm that the inverter in my link, is a pure sine wave inverter

I will also reconfirm that it still works

A few weeks ago, her, err us, err probably me, misplaced the 12 volt ciggy type adaptor cord, and for the six days we were at Nambung, we used the inverter to keep the laptop charged

The Belmont Bear · Guru

You can get a lead with the magna 2 connection for the Macbook pro which plugs into a 12v power socket for $75 - check them out online at laptopplus.com.au

Look under product category/laptop car chargers

Cheers

BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Monday 11th of November 2019 10:35:17 PM

dabbler · Guru

I'd buy a small pure sine wave inverter before I bought a dedicated generic 12v adaptor. It has more possible uses and isn't linked to a single technology which can (and does) change. I use an inverter to charge an older Canon DSLR battery, DeWalt batteries and my Lenovo.

Tony LEE · Guru

People assume that a 12v to say, 18v dc to dc converter is more efficient than an inverter plus regular power supply which even if it is true doesn't overcome the need to power a heap of other toys that don't have a 12v unit available - cordless drills, cordless vacuum cleaners, TV, electric toothbrush and any amount of others. Just get a 300W psw inverter and a 10 way power board and be done with it

wasn_me · Guru

I use a 300 watt psw inverter to charge whatever. I keep a 240 volt box fan under the bed. The inverter is great to run this on hot days. It draws 45 watts + inverter inefficiency.

laurieoz · Senior Member

I used www.laptop-charger.com.au for my Dell 12 volt charger
The one I got from Ebay would run the laptop but would not charge the laptop. The charger from ebay was not recognized by my lap top.
The have many many 12 volt chargers
Laurie

Relax-n · Guru

We went to Jaycar and told them we needed to be able to charge our laptop off 12v. They sold us a unit. When we tried it, none of the adaptors would fit the laptop sockets.

So we bundled up everything, went into Jaycar, laptop and all, saw they same salesman and he bent over backwards to find a unit to suit, and made sure there was a socket to fit the laptop. Everything was checked and tested, and all worked well.

It did have a couple of different settings, but it has been set for the laptop and used for nothing else. Possibly the best $78 spent.

Whether it be Jaycar, Home of 12v or a similar 12v supplier, take in your laptop, tell them what you need, and make sure it all fits and works before you buy.

Rob Driver · Guru

I used an inverter as most above have done but when I bought our new vehicle it came with an inverter fitted as standard equipment so my problem was solved. I just plug the charger into the plug in the back if we are off the grid.

Regards

Rob

DeBe · Guru

Beware of standard inverters fitted to vehicles, they are generaly not pure sine wave.

bgt · Guru

Simple question for the 'experts'. I only want to charge a laptop, NOT RUN, from a modified sinewave inverter. Any problems?

laurieoz · Senior Member

Look at the site I gave you

www.laptop-charger.com.au

If you have questions ask them

They are helpful!

I am happy with the 12 Volt charger I purchased

Laurie

bgt · Guru

Thanks. But I have numerous items that need charging. An inverter will do them all rather a charger for ever item. My main concern is the laptop charging.

Whenarewethere · Guru

The battery in the laptop is a built in UPS (uninterruptible power supply), whether you are charging the laptop or rendering 3d graphics it is the same thing.

A pure sinewave inverter doesn't cost much more, it is not worth stressing the computer to save a few dollars. Get it right the first time. It will cost a lot more recovering data if the comperter fails.

Put a RCD in the inverter first then plug in equipment.

dabbler · Guru

bgt, charging a laptop is pretty much the same as running a laptop unless your laptop will run without a battery fitted. Your charger smarts is unlikely to accept a MSW inverter. All my device chargers plus my rechargeable LED lighting baulk at MSW but my Coleman rechargeable fan is happy. Depending on the build quality and smarts of your chargers, MSW might do harm.

bgt · Guru

Thanks. Our motorhome has plenty of 12v outlets plus USB outlets that I can use. But a few of my 'toys' have hardwired 240v chargers. (CB and shaver). Thus the need for an inverter. (No inverter built in). My laptop can be charged off the 12v and USB outlets. I was just curious about charging the laptop from a modified sinewave inverter inverter.

Izabarack · Guru

A $50, 150 Watt Modified Square Wave inverter will do the job. The hint is given in the info on the charger, 100 - 240 Volt input required. That is an indication that the charger has a Switch Mode technology front end that only requires an alternating current input. Pure Sine Wave inverters are needed to run Brushed electric motors efficiently.

Iza