Inverter to charge a few laptops?

porch13
porch13 Registered Users Posts: 68 ✭✭✭
I have a small 12V system in my RV that stays in the woods in Happy Jack, AZ. I would like to add an inverter so that I can charge a few laptops while working up there over the summer. I currently have a Kyocera KD210GX-LPU 210 watt panel that goes to a SunSaver SSMPPT-15L MPPT charge controller and then 2 Interstate 6 volt batteries (220Ah) run in series. My panel gets full sun all day and I use very little power. I’m looking at the Xantrex Prowatt Sw600 600w True Sinewave Inverter, which seems to get pretty good reviews and comes at a great price. I also like that I can buy a remote panel to power it on and off. Does this look like a decent inverter to pair up with my system? I realize it’s probably a little bigger than I really need, but I’d rather have room to grow a little.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Northern Arizona...4050 Watt off-grid system - Outback FP1 - Rolls 605 in a 48V bank

Comments

  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    Re: Inverter to charge a few laptops?

    Welcome to the forum.

    If all you want to do is recharge your laptop that is very easy. There are a large number of inverters that would handle it, as the draw is likely <50 Watts.

    Any of the Samlex units would work, even the 150 Watt one: http://www.solar-electric.com/stalun.html

    In fact it would not have to be pure sine as the laptop's power supply will "clean up" just about any waveform fed to it.

    And there are sometimes options for feeding the laptop from directly 12 VDC, depending on the particular unit.

    But beware of this: once you have 120 VAC available there will suddenly be all sorts of other things you want to plug in. :D
  • Sun Dog
    Sun Dog Solar Expert Posts: 115 ✭✭
    Re: Inverter to charge a few laptops?

    I don't own one, but the SW line from Xantrex does look to be a good bang for your buck. As was mentioned above you don't need pure sine wave for charging a laptop. On a recent 3 month roadtrip we charged our laptop and camera batteries with one of those tiny inverters that plug into your cigarette lighter. Best $7 I even spent.
  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: Inverter to charge a few laptops?

    Morningstar Shursine 300 is a very good, very efficient inverter at a good price, and can be wired with a remote shut off.

    Tony