A Question for the Electrical Smarties

[Moosehead]

We all have electrical goodies that we want to take with us on our bikes and every year it seems there is more stuff I want to take.....cell phone, mp3, gps,net book etc.

I want to use an inverter so I can charge my various electrical goodies as I'm driving. I know if I want to run my electronics I should use an inverter that produces a pure sine wave or at the very least a modified sine wave. But all I want to do is charge up the various things without turning them on.

Will a cheap inverter do damage to the electronics if they are just charging and not turned on?

Will a cheap inverter do damage to the batteries of the electronics?

 

[fjrob1300]

Hey Mike I'm no techy but I've yet to cook anything . I've charged -computer,phone,ipod,gps and even my video camera with a cheapy inverter.

Some of the smarter kids can chime in anytime.

Rob

 

[Intech]

Interesting question as all the electronics you mention run on DC power. They take the household AC and through a rectifier circuit produce DC. There would be no harm in running the electronics on an inverter as long as it and it's power source are properly rated. I bought a 100 watt inverter that plugs into the utility/lighter socket that also has a USB charger port on it. Very handy as most of the cell phones now have USB cables.

 

[wfooshee]

I never had a problem running anything from a phone, a laptop, a PDA, all the way up to a TV and VCR on an inverter. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Rolavine]

This is a complex issue, as the inverters differ widely in quality, and the power supplies used to charge portable devices differ widely in the technology they employ, as most are switching types these days. So, it prob. will work, but you could end up damaging some of your devices or chargers. I know how most of this stuff works and I'd try it, I'd bet the engineers who designed it subjected it to all sorts of ugly looking AC power inputs during testing and made changes when they found failures. It's the kind of thing I do to torture test my designs.

 

[Bungie]

Will a cheap inverter do damage to the batteries of the electronics?

I'm running the exact same setup as you (same inverter even!) and I haven't smoked anything yet. Cell/Comm Batteries though I haven't charged the NetBook with it yet.. that little stinker runs for 9hrs on a charge!

Just wish the LED in my Inverter worked. Maybe I'll pick up another next they come on sale.

 

[UselessPickles]

This looks like the Bustanut shear-your-own-***-on-the-road kit, but with a few items missing. This kit appears to have seen a lot of use.

 

[Patriot]

Hey Mike I'm no techy but I've yet to cook anything . I've charged -computer,phone,ipod,gps and even my video camera with a cheapy inverter.
Some of the smarter kids can chime in anytime.

Rob

damn well not smarter...am Mechanical Engr only by education and generally have no clue and am not convinced there exists "electrons" that I cannot see and can be move from place to place without ever being in the middle between those places

but...I have a cheapo Harbor Freight inverter ($10) about the size of two packs of cigs together that has a cig plug on one end and a female 110 recepticle on the other. I found 12v chargers cannot be used while the mp3 or device is in operation, but the 110volt charger is not problem. so inverter has not let any smoke of any kind out of my devices

hope this helps

let's ride safe and be careful out there,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[Moosehead]

Hey Steve,

I've used mine too, but I was told by another guy that electronics can be damaged by using cheap inverters that don't produce a pure sine wave.

I think as long as we just use it for charging and not running, we should be ok. (spoken by the *****(me) who is going to fry $1000's worth of electronics to save a few bucks on a high end inverter)

and who says I don't live dangerously

Mike

 

[majicmaker]

Don't ask me Moosehead! :dribble: I'm an admitted Electrical ******! But, it looks like the consensus is in your favor. I Think! Good Luck.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

.....cell phone, mp3, gps,net book etc.I want to use an inverter so I can charge my various electrical goodies as I'm driving. ...all I want to do is charge up the various things without turning them on.

I think what you want is a 12V adapter with various voltage taps and different plugs as needed?

An inverter changes DC (battery) voltage to AC (power company/house) voltage. With an inverter you can run your Mr. Coffee from your kitchen off your FJR's battery.

If all you want to do is charge up other batteries?, you don't need an inverter (unless, you want to take the AC and use a battery charger to turn it back to DC... ).

The European Union has just decreed a "standard" phone charging plug for all manufacturers to eliminate the various adapters currently needed.

You may be in a similar position with many various devices?

 

[Bustanut joker]

This looks like the Bustanut shear-your-own-***-on-the-road kit, but with a few items missing. This kit appears to have seen a lot of use.

Nice catch Jeff!

I like how he pulled the head and added a sticker to disguise that first gen unit.. Does appear well used don't it

Though discontinued due to excessive razor burn issues, It still is a top notch bugger.

Ya know Bungie, you can get 42.7% off a new model with a trade in....

:jester:

 

[Bounce]

My main concern would be the efficiency of using an inverter when there's not a lot of spare amps on the bikes system. better to skip the lossy inverter process (DC to AC and then back to DC to the device with loss at each step) and just get the right "car" adapters to plug in your car chargers for your cell, etc (dc to dc).

 

[Crash Cash]

I think what you want is a 12V adapter with various voltage taps and different plugs as needed?

Sure, but where the hell do you find one of those? I've been looking for something like that off and on for a couple years now.

 

[Geezer]

I think what you want is a 12V adapter with various voltage taps and different plugs as needed?

Sure, but where the hell do you find one of those? I've been looking for something like that off and on for a couple years now.

Something like this, maybe?

There are others available at various prices and with different output voltages that you can find if you google a little bit.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I think what you want is a 12V adapter with various voltage taps and different plugs as needed?

Sure, but where the hell do you find one of those? I've been looking for something like that off and on for a couple years now.

??? :blink: (example -- or, sumpin' like dis?):

https://www.rpelectronics.com/Default.asp?M...Items/MW282.asp

 

[Bungie]

This looks like the Bustanut shear-your-own-***-on-the-road kit, but with a few items missing. This kit appears to have seen a lot of use.

Ya, I knew when I posted that I was gonna catch it. Whatever I'm a good sport and if I'm ever riding with you and you need some TP for your bunghole I'll remember this and hand you my lucky pine cone.

 

[Bungie]

and who says I don't live dangerously

Hey you ate my BBQ and rode behind me all the way to Wisconsin, it doesn't get more dangerous than that!

WRT to the inverter, I figure so long as you just charging batteries (which will turn the AC output of the inverter and turn it back to DC via a diode or some such) you'll be okay with it.

Next idea I need to steal from you is one of the little 120V travel plugins. Whats with hotel rooms with ONE plug in the base of the lamp!

 

[Moosehead]

and who says I don't live dangerously

Hey you ate my BBQ and rode behind me all the way to Wisconsin, it doesn't get more dangerous than that!

WRT to the inverter, I figure so long as you just charging batteries (which will turn the AC output of the inverter and turn it back to DC via a diode or some such) you'll be okay with it.

Next idea I need to steal from you is one of the little 120V travel plugins. Whats with hotel rooms with ONE plug in the base of the lamp!

bring 2 of them because you will definitely forget one in the motel room (not that I have ever done that)