Charging A Laptop on 12V?
In reading about charging laptops off 12V, most people seem to advise using an inverter. However, we'd like to avoid the wasted power when converting from DC to AC and back to DC. I see some cigarett...
Forum Discussion
The inverter, inefficient it may be is still very convenient and it's one less power brick and cord set to haul around.
How much is the double conversion really costing you? A few watts for a small inverter idle maybe? The laptop off-line converter (ac to dc) is going to be VERY efficient, because of all the red tape out there on such things.
Here's a hard pill to swallow. Using the DC to DC converter might actually waste more energy. their designs are likely only be 70% efficient, especially for the cheapest unit you can find on Amazon / eBay.
The DC to DC converter is a unitasker too, ALL it can do is power a specific laptop. A small inverter is a great multitasker. Space is a premium in an RV of any size, avoid things that only have one (small) purpose.
How much is the double conversion really costing you? A few watts for a small inverter idle maybe? The laptop off-line converter (ac to dc) is going to be VERY efficient, because of all the red tape out there on such things.
Here's a hard pill to swallow. Using the DC to DC converter might actually waste more energy. their designs are likely only be 70% efficient, especially for the cheapest unit you can find on Amazon / eBay.
The DC to DC converter is a unitasker too, ALL it can do is power a specific laptop. A small inverter is a great multitasker. Space is a premium in an RV of any size, avoid things that only have one (small) purpose.
