Laptop Issue with 12V Power

[reubenray]

On the last two trips I had issues with my laptop when powering it on while plugged into my RV. It would pop up with a Bios error about insufficient power or bad battery. I normally turn off my laptop when moving to another location and I would plug it in and power it on when I have power connected. The last two stops I did not power it off and unplug it when moving. When I turned it on it worked as it should. I would then plug it in.

When I got home I plugged in the laptop to my home power, turned it on and it worked like it should. I was prepared to have to buy a battery, but I believe it just does not like 12V power. I have a Magnum inverter.

[twinboat]

Were you charging it on 120 volt inverter power ?

My laptops never charged properly on MSW inverter power and the charging brick would get hot.

It works fine on PSW inverter power and shore power, which is PSW.

[RobReab]

Most electronics don't like MSW (modified sine wave) power from inverters. Best to replace the inverter with a pure sine wave inverter, if possible.

[mrboyer]

I do not have any trouble with using my laptop on inverter power from Xantrex MSW when traveling for 10-12 hours. The laptop is my GPS.

[PbdBlue]

In my rig I tried to use a 12 volt laptop power supply in an outlet in the main slideout but found that the wiring is not heavy enough. It caused the LED lights in the coach to flicker due to low voltage. I ended up adding a 12 volt outlet tied directly to the batteries in another location (not in the slide). I really didn't look at if the laptop was charging but it could very well be that with the voltage drop it might not be.

[SteveB]

I have a Lenovo that does that when set to airplane mode. Apparently it doesn't expect to be charged on a plane?

[docj]

Originally Posted by SteveB

I have a Lenovo that does that when set to airplane mode. Apparently it doesn't expect to be charged on a plane?

With all due respect, airplane mode has to do with the laptop's WiFi and Bluetooth broadcasts. I doubt it has anything to with its charging.

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Were you charging it on 120 volt inverter power ?

My laptops never charged properly on MSW inverter power and the charging brick would get hot.

It works fine on PSW inverter power and shore power, which is PSW.

This must be it. My motorhome does not have any outlets that are not 12V. I will continue to not turn the laptop off. It also seems to run real slow for a day or so after turning it off and plugging it into the 12V outlets. I keep it plugged in all the time so the batteries will not run down on travel days.

[Arch Hoagland]

What brand of Laptop?

[reubenray]

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

What brand of Laptop?

Dell

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by reubenray

On the last two trips I had issues with my laptop when powering it on while plugged into my RV. It would pop up with a Bios error about insufficient power or bad battery. I normally turn off my laptop when moving to another location and I would plug it in and power it on when I have power connected. The last two stops I did not power it off and unplug it when moving. When I turned it on it worked as it should. I would then plug it in.

When I got home I plugged in the laptop to my home power, turned it on and it worked like it should. I was prepared to have to buy a battery, but I believe it just does not like 12V power. I have a Magnum inverter.

Ruben, I'm a bit confused.

You're charging/operating your laptop directly from 12VDC? Like a cigar lighter plug? What kind of cord are you using for this; specifically did it come from the computer maker?

All the laptops I currently own require from 16VDC to 20VDC for charging or operating... Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba. If you're using a direct 12VDC connection without a proper, voltage-boosting cable assembly, the BIOS is right.

If you're using the typical "line lump" 120VAC charger for your laptop, I'm in agreement with the others that point to the modified sine wave inverter. Not all Class D power supplies/chargers will work and some will release the "magic smoke" as they fail. Class D PSUs work by drawing current from the AC waveform as it's needed, storing very little current in capacitors. That's why they're small, lightweight and relatively cheap. But... because a 'modified sine wave' is actually a stair-step square wave with ascending and descending values, there may or may not be the additional input voltage needed when the PSU has to have it. That's why they run hot and may fail. And the BIOS is right...

[GypsyR]

A good question.

I happen to also have Dells. I bought an extra "power supply" that plugs into a 12 volt outlet. It looks much like the standard one the plugs into an AC outlet except for the cigarette lighter type plug on the end. Somehow I get the feeling we're not talking about one of those here, but I'm not sure.

I think he means his AC power is an issue when it is coming from the inverter. I don't have such an inverter but I've kicked around getting one and I sure don't want one my laptops wouldn't get along with.

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by GypsyR

A good question.

I happen to also have Dells. I bought an extra "power supply" that plugs into a 12 volt outlet. It looks much like the standard one the plugs into an AC outlet except for the cigarette lighter type plug on the end. Somehow I get the feeling we're not talking about one of those here, but I'm not sure.

I think he means his AC power is an issue when it is coming from the inverter. I don't have such an inverter but I've kicked around getting one and I sure don't want one my laptops wouldn't get along with.

Automobile chargers are out there and they do work, just pick the right one for the laptop. It's possible he has the correct cable and the voltage converter built into the 12VDC plug has failed. Eliminating a variable...

But I think the most likely suspect is the line lump power supply and MSW power.