Battery for Power Inverter

arifmshaikh · #1 06-09-2011, 09:44 PM

I have 12VDC to 240V AC 200W power inverter. It works fine with car battery but does not work with my 12AH jump starter. As soon as I plug my laptop to inverter, its fault led becomes red which means there is fault. I am wondering is there minimum AH battery required to work properly.

Thanks
Arif

frolinmod · #2 07-09-2011, 02:13 AM

The laptop will use quite a bit more current while it's charging its battery. Often twice as much. Try removing the battery from your laptop so that it isn't trying to charge its battery too.

mikerr (Michael) · #3 07-09-2011, 09:10 AM

Arif, which inverter do you have?
Is the fault light, on the inverter or the laptop?
Could you post a couple of good pictures of the complete setup wired together?

Michael

PS Will the inverter charge your mobile phone OK when using the 12AH device to supply the inverter?

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #4 07-09-2011, 09:29 AM

Also what kind of Lappy is it?

arifmshaikh · #5 07-09-2011, 10:10 AM

Guys

Thanks for your quick response.

I am using HP NX 6325 laptop. The fault light is on inverter which I bought from ebay. I am using supercheap's 600 amp jump starter which has 12AH battery in it.

When I did test this morning, as soon as I connect laptop (or 10W bumb) the inverter stop and fault light goes red. It also discharge battery and show low voltage indicator on it. But after charging only 15 min, it show full charge. The jump starter workd absolutely perfect for 12V drive motor.

I also show 60W inverter in Aldi in this week, on its package it was written that you need minimum 20Ah battery for it.

xstream (John) · #6 07-09-2011, 11:46 AM

To power a 200W inverter you would want to look at a minimum 80W AGM. Otherwise expect the worse.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #7 07-09-2011, 04:02 PM

Also 12AH wont last very long for inverter and laptop. Inverters run at 80% efficiency. Car starter are design for short burst engine starts mostly.

gregbradley · #8 07-09-2011, 06:45 PM

Be careful of letting that jump starter get too low. If they go flat they won't recharge. I just chucked one out that went. I got the more expensive one and it is on the edge of uselessness for a similar problem. They don't seem to store well.

Greg.

arifmshaikh · #9 07-09-2011, 06:48 PM

Thank you very much for giving this information.

I think the better option is power station which has 21AH battery and inverter built-in plus 2 12V output. Or simply buy additional battery.

gregbradley · #10 07-09-2011, 06:49 PM

Yeah what you want is a deep cycle battery. That means capable of a continuous draw at the stated rating as opposed to car batteries which as already mentioned are designed for a short burst.

They are a bit more expensive.

There are also the gel ones that are not sensitive to having to be upright.

Greg.

arifmshaikh · #11 08-09-2011, 09:03 AM

Greg,

One of my club member had same problem with his jump starter, he try full discharge and now it does not hold the charge.

So how long can it run on 85AH battery for 65W power adapter for 200W inverter.