Car Charger for normal UK Plug - for camera/laptop etc?

forgotmyname

A 12v inverter is approc 60% efficient. Your converting your 12v DC to 240 AC and then back down to the chargers voltage.

Why not get a DC - DC converter?

If you need less than 12v a step down (buck) converter is cheap, Just check the max amperage taht you need and buy one thats 4x bigger to keep things cool.

If you need more than 12v then a step up (boost) converter will do the job, I bought a 400watt (10amp) boost converter for under £15.

These are great because you can set the voltage and current limits accurately and no matter how much the input voltage changes the output is stable.

So if you need 5v out and 100mA max then you can set that with the car battery off and on a low state of charge and it will remain the same when the engine is running and the alternator is outting out 14volts +. 96% efficient compared to an AC inverter thats about 60%.

Dont get an AC inverter.

waterwatereverywhere

Hi

Many thanks to everyone for the helpful replies.

It does seem as though it will be cheaper to go down the route of buying separate "car chargers" for my camera battery and phone battery, rather than an inverter.

Thanks for the links - I will look at these before buying.

Just one question: I have looked again at the charger I have for the Samsung Galaxy G2 battery - for INPUT this has the normal three prong plug (input 100-240v). But it also has what it describes as an "OUTPUT USB" port.

What would happen if I linked a USB cable to this and put it into a USB cigarette lighter thingy? As it does say it has an AC input only and not DC? Would it just not work or could it cause some damage?

If this definitely won't work then I'll look to buying a specific car charger...it's just annoying having to buy - and take on hols - so many different chargers - wish there could be some standard format....!

gjchester

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

Just one question: I have looked again at the charger I have for the Samsung Galaxy G2 battery - for INPUT this has the normal three prong plug (input 100-240v). But it also has what it describes as an "OUTPUT USB" port.

What would happen if I linked a USB cable to this and put it into a USB cigarette lighter thingy? As it does say it has an AC input only and not DC? Would it just not work or could it cause some damage?

It says USB OUTPUT so its shows it can send power out, my best guess is that there is a 5V output from it, possibly to charge a second device (my work laptop has a USB output on the mains unit to charge something like a phone as well as powering the laptop).

It won;t damage it to plug something in but it won;t charge the battery from the USB lead.

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

If this definitely won't work then I'll look to buying a specific car charger...it's just annoying having to buy - and take on hols - so many different chargers - wish there could be some standard format....!

Sort of, you have to take a phone and camera charger regardless, difference is you;'dd be taking a 12V capable one, not a mains one. The links I gave earlier for the camera is a 100-240V and 12V-24V charger, so you only need to carry one charger if you on mains or car power.

For the phone something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BATTERY-DESKTOP-CHARGER-TRAVEL-for-SAMSUNG-GALAXY-S2-I9100-DOCK-WALL-USB-/151609430680?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item234ca05298 wouyld mean you have mains and USB input options, so giving reasonable flexibility, you just need to add a car cig lighter to USB adapter.