Inverter Issue Charging Computer/phone

[Nick]

We have a Tripp-Lite PowerVerter inverter. Some things, like a fan, operate fine in the AC outlets, but our computers and phones actually discharge while plugged in the AC outlet. Is this a problem due to our inverter not being a "pure sine wave" device? Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks, Nick

[mkguitar]

suggest you use the DC to charge your phone


( otherwise you suffer the losses of DC to AC back to DC at each stage)


there are DC car chargers for many computers available as well






the fewer steps up or down or inversion from DC to AC the more efficient use of power


mike

[Winston]

Non-sine wave inverters are known to be problematic with a number of devices. If your computers and phones work fine when plugged into 'normal' (home) AC, but not when plugged into the Tripp-Lite . . . we think you've answered your own question. Charge off of 12VDC as suggested, above, or, our preference, would be to upgrade to a sine-wave inverter.

[booster]

Originally Posted by mkguitar

suggest you use the DC to charge your phone

( otherwise you suffer the losses of DC to AC back to DC at each stage)

there are DC car chargers for many computers available as well

the fewer steps up or down or inversion from DC to AC the more efficient use of power

mike

I think you will find that an efficient pure sine wave inverter using the factory charging 110v cord will probably do as well, or better, than the 12v adapters, especially if the native voltage of the device is other than 12vdc.


I have tested nearly all of the things we had 12v adapters for, laptop, phones, etc and none of the 12v adapters used less energy than the 12v going to a small Samlex 120 watt PSW inverter to run them through the factory AC cord. The Acer laptop whose native is 19vdc was substantially more efficient on the inverter than on the DC adapter. We are phasing out our DC cords as the stuff gets replaced over time so no more sorting through them all the time, just use OEM AC cords.



There is a thread on this that ran a while ago, if you are interested in it.

[Nick]

Wish I had known about PSW inverters when I replaced the old Trpp-Lite a few years ago. Live and learn. Thanks for your feedback everyone.