Preparedness for when

nuatha

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I won't be drawing a huge current.

CFL is only 0.67A, and the Notebook is a max of 2.37 Amps, so total total current draw is little more than 3A = 36W.

That's not even half of the inverter's maximum current rating, which is 6.7A = 80W.

Its not the inverter that caused me grief, it was the multi-lighter socket's cable. I was running a 40W laptop at the time. Now if I need to use the inverter in the car it goes directly into a cigarette lighter socket.
Hopefully yours has a heavy enough duty cable to cope, but I'd keep an eye on it until I knew it wasn't over heating with the load - I'd hate for a prep to become the source of a problem.

[Deleted User]

It's hard to believe, that you can light a LR (with a 40W equivalent bulb), for a week of evenings, using a £30 Jump Starter pack.

nuatha

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

It's hard to believe, that you can light a LR (with a 40W equivalent bulb), for a week of evenings, using a £30 Jump Starter pack.

Quick query on the Jump Starter - can you charge it from a cigarette ligther socket or just from mains? (Looking at replacing mine, but find being able to charge it from the car a handy option)
Thank you

[Deleted User]

The one I got comes with chargers for both mains and car cigarette lighter socket.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

You plug the red ended plug into a 12V supply, such as a car cigarette lighter socket, or a Jump Starter pack, then you plug 12V devices (eg. soldering irons, inspection lamps, tyre inflaters) and USB devices (eg. Mobile phone chargers, MP3 players) into the sockets on the main body of it.

Me, I'll be plugging a mobile phone multi charger into the USB socket

and an 80W inverter

into one of the 12V sockets.

Just scrolling and reading, and hubby looked over and noticed the first pic... and he wants one lol.... where did you get it from please BB.... Hubby is like a bloody big kid with gadgets and gizmos etc


thanks for the links to Howard the Duck... DVD has been ordered, cant wait...to watch this fab film again

[Deleted User]

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Just scrolling and reading, and hubby looked over and noticed the first pic... and he wants one lol.... where did you get it from please BB.... Hubby is like a bloody big kid with gadgets and gizmos etc.

Mine isn't quite like the one in the pic.

Mine's in white, and only has 5 phone plugs on it.

Fortunately, one of the five fits my Samsung Flip Phone. :cool:

Anyway, they're available from Amazon UK, for a couple pounds.

Just search for "usb multi charger".

cant wait...to watch this fab film again

I know what you mean.

Lea Thompson is an incredibly talented lady.

Did you listen to the full version of Don't turn away?

daz378

thanks Bob ... theres a B&Q near where i work.....stewed steak and chips on go at the moment...just got in from a late....watching question time always good for a laugh

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Mine isn't quite like the one in the pic.

Mine's in white, and only has 5 phone plugs on it.

Fortunately, one of the five fits my Samsung Flip Phone. :cool:

Anyway, they're available from Amazon UK, for a couple pounds.

Just search for "usb multi charger".



I know what you mean.

Lea Thompson is an incredibly talented lady.

Did you listen to the full version of Don't turn away?

thanks BB


no I haven't watched it, I will watch it on the computer in work, as this thing freezes with utube or any sort of film video etc...


But I must admit... Its the concept of the film in general... was just trying to explain to my eldest about the film... he did look at me in a wired way lol

siegemode

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Yes you can.

Indeed, you can run your Notebook directly off it.

Either get a car adapter for the Notebook, or use an inverter (£15 at ASDA), and plug your regular Notebook power adapter/charger into it.

How long will it would run for?

That will depend on the capacity of the battery in the Jump Starter, and the current drawn by the Notebook.

The Jump Starter I got from B&M Bargains has a capacity of 17 amp hours, and my Notebook has a maximum current draw of 2.37 Amps.

That gives a theoretical running time (excluding any charge already in the Notebook battery) of 7.17 hours.

However, a Notebook is sensitive to low voltage, so around 5 hours, before it shuts down due to undervolt, would be my guess.

OTOH, an incandescent bulb doesn't suddenly shut down, due to undervolt, but rather it fades gradually.

A 40W incandescent bulb would be drawing 3.35 Amps, so would run for about 5 hours, before the Jump Pack was exhausted.

However, a CFL equivalent to a 40W incandescent bulb, draws just 0.67 of an Amp, giving a theoretical running time of 25.37 hours, but, in reality, probably around 20 hours, due to that pesky undervolt business.

You can see now, the advantage of using a CFL, instead of an incandescent bulb.

As for the surge protector, I can't see why you would need one, as the current is coming from a battery, which is a very stable power source.

I hope I haven't lost you along the way.

I'm afraid you did rather :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
When I said gadget I meant the inverter thingy, but thank you for all the info. Been baking all evening and should probably stick to what I'm good at. However in a prolonged power cut I thought it would be useful to charge the notebook if we went out in the car. I clearly need to research this a bit more and then I will be able to understand things a wee bit more. I shall have a look whilst the chocolate cakes are in the oven.

Now do I tuck into the pear and ginger cake whilst still warm or wait for the chocolate cakes hmmm decisions decisions I'm sure it would help my concentration and ability to understand all this electrickery honest.

nuatha wrote: »

Hi Bob, I have one of those multiplugs in my car, I no longer use an inverter in them as its predecessor melted the insulation - the inverter draws a fair amount of current, keep an eye on the wire getting hot.

ETA: As Bob says, you won't need a surge protector running from a battery and car electrics are pretty stable and the inverter will provide some additional protection for running in a car - however if you tried running directly from an alternator that could be problematic and a surge protection circuit should be used.

If you use the same charger that you use at home, you'll need an inverter similar to the one Bob shows. Alternatively you may be able to get a 12V charger for your laptop (some laptop ranges have dedicated 12V chargers) or a multi-tip charger which will have fittings for most laptops (if you go down this route, make sure the charger can supply the voltage and ampage you need as modern laptops are much more power hungry than they used to be).

nuatha wrote: »

Its not the inverter that caused me grief, it was the multi-lighter socket's cable. I was running a 40W laptop at the time. Now if I need to use the inverter in the car it goes directly into a cigarette lighter socket.
Hopefully yours has a heavy enough duty cable to cope, but I'd keep an eye on it until I knew it wasn't over heating with the load - I'd hate for a prep to become the source of a problem.

Thank you for this useful additional info. Off to research now.

nuatha

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

The one I got comes with chargers for both mains and car cigarette lighter socket.

Thank you, hopefully I'll get one this weekend.