Given that cls are becoming more popular as we try to find that but more peace and quiet - we would like to try sites with no hook up and wondered how long an 85ah battery would last running a 150w inverter - the laptop charger needs 65w. Would it cope with maybe an hour a day over a 7 day period. I'm sure there is a formula for this type of stuff. We don't watch much telly but it comes in handy for weather forecasts etc and keeping up with the news.
running a laptop (to watch tv) from an inverter
- Thread starter Robfooty
- Start date
Hi Robfooty,
I would be inclined to say no.
We have a 110AH battery and just about managed a week at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year.
All we used it for was the water pump, toilet flush and an occasional light. We chose to sit in the dark most evenings and the battery just about lasted - though we were getting nervous and constantly checking the gauge!
So, I would say no - not a chance!
Sorry.
I would be inclined to say no.
We have a 110AH battery and just about managed a week at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year.
All we used it for was the water pump, toilet flush and an occasional light. We chose to sit in the dark most evenings and the battery just about lasted - though we were getting nervous and constantly checking the gauge!
So, I would say no - not a chance!
Sorry.
If you want a more scientific approach, though:
Power (Watts) = Volts x Amps
so, Amps = Power / volts
=> 65 / 12 = 5.4A
So, in theory your 85AH battery should last for 15.74 hours just running the inverter.
However, if the inverter is using 150W regardless of the load (charger) then it will be drawing 12.5A, and your battery should last for 6.8 hours (in theory).
That's assuming your using no other electricity and everything's performing with 100% efficiency - which it won't be!
I have a feeling that the battery gets less efficient as it discharges and is technically flat long before it's completely drained. (I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will put me right on this!)
Hope this helps.
Power (Watts) = Volts x Amps
so, Amps = Power / volts
=> 65 / 12 = 5.4A
So, in theory your 85AH battery should last for 15.74 hours just running the inverter.
However, if the inverter is using 150W regardless of the load (charger) then it will be drawing 12.5A, and your battery should last for 6.8 hours (in theory).
That's assuming your using no other electricity and everything's performing with 100% efficiency - which it won't be!
I have a feeling that the battery gets less efficient as it discharges and is technically flat long before it's completely drained. (I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will put me right on this!)
Hope this helps.
Hi Robfooty, As Rupert says you will only last about 2 days. We took three yes three 85Ah batteries to last a week,these ran a 150w invertor which was only used for the telly and our battery would only last 7 days.
Our set up at present is still 3 batteries with a 300w sine wave invertor running telly, laptop, toothbrush/phone charges, etc.but now have a 50w solar panel which gives us unlimited staying ability if the sun shines for 2/3 hours a day. Highly recommended.
Our set up at present is still 3 batteries with a 300w sine wave invertor running telly, laptop, toothbrush/phone charges, etc.but now have a 50w solar panel which gives us unlimited staying ability if the sun shines for 2/3 hours a day. Highly recommended.
rob
Why CL's without hook ups?.
We use CL's al the time, all have electric. Also carry an 150w inverter, this runs our tv and humax, but only if we have a power cut.
Had two last year, one due to an electrical storm, took out the nearby pylon with a lightning bolt, actually blow it up!.
The other was due to site being full(non cl) and main breaker tripping.
Why not carry a spare laptop battery, charged off course.
Why CL's without hook ups?.
We use CL's al the time, all have electric. Also carry an 150w inverter, this runs our tv and humax, but only if we have a power cut.
Had two last year, one due to an electrical storm, took out the nearby pylon with a lightning bolt, actually blow it up!.
The other was due to site being full(non cl) and main breaker tripping.
Why not carry a spare laptop battery, charged off course.
What about using the car to share some of this load when on a non electric hook up? Assuming the car is used regularly this will keep its battery charged and you can say run off the car overnight and have the odd light on. Even run the TV on the inverter if required. We have only ever done a few nights without electric but have survived fine with Fridge and hot water on Gas 24 hours, and using lights and running a car DVD player in the 'van for the child. Even had power for the motor mover when we get home.
Charging the laptop from the car seems a good idea - we might then get an hours worth a day if the laptop battery is fully charged - also a solar panel is worth a look. It's not that we don't want electric but we'd like to try some different locations if they have electric that's fine.
The site we were at this weekend had no tv signal unless you had a monster of a aerial or satellite dish, 3 days without tv was actually quite pleasant.
The site we were at this weekend had no tv signal unless you had a monster of a aerial or satellite dish, 3 days without tv was actually quite pleasant.
Why dont you buy a dedicated 12v laptop charger,with an inverter you are putting in 12v it boosts to 240v then back down to around 9v via the laptops transformer using up valuble energy.
Cut out the middle man?
Cut out the middle man?
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