[C320-list] Inverter size?

[Mark Seyler]

The problem might be in the voltage output of the inverter.  If you made a graph of the voltage coming out of the wall at home it would alternate in a smooth curve called a sine wave.  Some inverters alternate the voltage in a small number of "steps" called a "modified sine wave" instead of a smooth curve, which can cause problems with some electronic devices.  If the Harbor Freight inverter produces modified sine wave a/c power, you might need a different brand of inverter.

Mark Seyler
S/V Reality, 
Catalina 320, #232
New Orleans, LA



-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Scott Westwood
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 5:09 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Inverter size?

FWIW. My PC power supply  is 1.5A 120v input and output 19v 4.74A 90w max. My wife's  ps is 135w 20v with details of input 100-240v 2A and output 20v 6.75A. Left hooked up motoring about 5 hours hooked directly to house bank on brand new (but cheap harbor freight) 400w inverter and did not charge. Hers or mine. Maybe bother ps's are "bad"?  Charge when in regular a/c outlet???
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android 
 
  On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 3:23 PM, Scott Westwood<scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:   About 4 or 6 gauge 2ft long with batt clamps that came with it. directly on batt (to test)

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android 
 
  On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 2:10 PM, Graeme Clark<cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:  150W was fine for an older windows laptop I had but wouldn't keep a MacBook charger happy. I switched to 300w and its been fine since.

Do you have a true 12v at the input to the inverter? I used some pretty thick gauge wire to wire up my cigar lighter into which the inverter plugs but you might be suffering a voltage drop or other resistance that drops the input voltage?




Graeme Clark
“Jaskar”
Built 1996
Hull #366
Location: Falmouth, United Kingdom

> On 17 Dec 2019, at 18:31, jackbrennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Scott:
> Something sounds wrong. 400 watts should be plenty. That's roughly 25 amps in 12 volts or 2.5 amps at 110 volts. 
> My 400 watt inverter will charge a laptop easily.
> 
> Jack Brennan
> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
> Tierra Verde, Fl.
> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> 
>  On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 1:23 PM, Scott Westwood<scottwestwood at bellsouth.net> wrote:  Traveling so hard to research.  Does anyone know what size inverter I need to charge an older laptop onboard?  We had a 175w then tried 400w. The 409w sort of maintains (plugged in not charging).  Any thoughts?
> 
> Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android