Computer power while boondocking?

westend wrote:
I'd recommend the Morningstar 300 W inverter as it is fanless and the company has a solid reputation.

X2

The Morningstar unit is the best of the best.

Hi Naio,

They may be one of the lucky souls who have an unlimited hotspot.

Naio wrote:


Why are you using a separate hotspot instead of using your phone as a hotspot?

I would charge the computers and power the hotspot using a pure sine inverter and the device's 120V transformers that came with the machines. This will adequately charge the computers and one wouldn't have to worry about an unregulated 12v -> 19V DC converter providing incorrect DC voltage.

My new Asus laptop has a power transformer rated at 19V 2.37 A. I know older machines had power bricks rated at higher amperage or at 19.5 V. If you use 3 amps as the basis for finding the size of inverter necessary, you should cover the power needed. So, Two machines x 3 amps = 114 W. Typical wifi hotspot power ratings are around 2->3 amps also, some much less. Bluetooth hotspots would be similar. Since these are typically 12V devices in the portable flavor, consumption would be 36 watts. From this exercise, you could aim at an inverter size of 200 watts but 300 watts allows some headroom and is a sweet spot in power among better inverters. I'd recommend the Morningstar 300 W inverter as it is fanless and the company has a solid reputation.

You should examine your devices, get the ratings off them, and do your own calculations to verify the above.

We do this all the time and what you seem to have missed is that a typical laptop runs at about 60 Watts (5a @13V), and my cell/802.11 access runs at about 4 Watts (.4a @13V if your conversion is low loss). Ok, the "Hot Spot" is not a killer, but the two laptops and sometimes a printer is a lot like leaving the headlights on.

For you GC2s a couple of hours one evening is not out of the question, but much more than that is going to get dicey. I can run them all on a 200W POS inverter, but one of the laptops (or maybe the printer) does not like to run from the cheap inverter. So try out the set before you get into the woods. You may have to spring for a pure $ine inverter. Do not fall for a Modified sine inverter, they are actually a modified Square Wave output and can cause overheating and just bad news for many modern power supplies.

Matt

Another option to consider, depending on how much computer time you need: Just carry spare computer batteries and swap them out.

Why are you using a separate hotspot instead of using your phone as a hotspot?

In the absebce of further details I would be guided by the title of the thread:

Wait for it. . .

Wait for it. . .

"Computer power while boondocking?"

OP says he wants to run two laptops and a hotspot. Personally, I call a 300w inverter a tight fit. I would go with something larger, and I would get PSW for sure, and I would keep a sharp eye on the battery charge level.

greenrvgreen wrote:
Since I've ONLY used HP or Dell laptops (in the last 20 years), I was unaware that ANY laptops run on 12V. 19V for the ones I've used.

They don't run on 12v. They are mostly 19v. However, you can buy 12v ADAPTERS for them that convert directly from 12v to 19v (or whatever is needed) without switching from DC to AC and back to DC. like an inverter would. That's why they save power (and are cheaper).

We're talking about $12 for an adapter (new, on ebay, including shipping).

We dont know all the details so I'll also just throw it out there and say that it's also about your whole energy management plan and what items you may want to operate other than your computers. You could buy a small inverter but want a bigger one next year. Smaller models are not a lot of money but you can grow a collection of them. I have 3 and may buy number 4 some day. :0

Since I've ONLY used HP or Dell laptops (in the last 20 years), I was unaware that ANY laptops run on 12V. 19V for the ones I've used.

I guess I could have searched for that info.

The least energy will be used if you can get the cord that lets you plug into 12 volt cigarette lighter type plug. I run o 120 v off my 600 watt pure sine inverter that powers 40 in led television and other stuff. I think my inverter pulls about 1/2 an amp idling with no load. It's not a lot more to get a psw over modified and not risk it.

If you are trying to save all the energy that you can, you will want to run anything that can be, straight off 12 volts and not invert. Another big energy saver is led lighting.