Converting mains current draw to 12v

[BillyPants]

The simple calculation is to divide the watts by 12 and that will be roughly near the current. Remember the load Watts is the same in or out of the inverter (forgetting losses) Current for 170w @ 230 volts = 170/230=0.74amps. Current @ 12 volts = 170/12= 14.17amps

If you are using the 1000watt inverter you will be wasting a lot of power just running the inverter and reducing battery life having said that you have a large battery bank 2@225 A/h= 450A/h (@12volt?? they are not 6volt batteries?). I have a 300w inverter and it runs tv, laptop etc

They're 12 volt yeah. I have a gennie, but only need it every 4 days or so if I don't move around, much less if driving. The large inverter was a bad buy from wayyyyy back when. I had a much smaller one that sadly died last year so I just put this one in. It takes about an amp when the lappie is on.

I'll try that formula with a few things shortcircuit, thanks.

 

[Bigpeetee]

Well in the example, 240 volts and 1.5 amps is 360 watts, so 360 divided by 12 volts is 30 amps, which is clearly wrong?

I bet if you read the power pack it states something like 105-260vac 1.5A This means that in areas like the USA that use a nominal 110v system the maximum current draw will be 1.5A But that will only be for a short time as things inside charge up.

Again, the output is a maximum and not continuous, by experience your PC will use about 60% of max power.

But as others have said, get a 12v charger loads on Ebay often slightly slower but if you charge whilst using I find that's the best. I use a Compaq 18.5 in and have no probs.

If you want to reduce power, look at the solid state hard drives. no moving parts, less power and can withstand a very much greater drop test than a std Hard Drive

 

[BillyPants]

I bet if you read the power pack it states something like 105-260vac 1.5A This means that in areas like the USA that use a nominal 110v system the maximum current draw will be 1.5A But that will only be for a short time as things inside charge up.

Again, the output is a maximum and not continuous, by experience your PC will use about 60% of max power.

But as others have said, get a 12v charger loads on Ebay often slightly slower but if you charge whilst using I find that's the best. I use a Compaq 18.5 in and have no probs.

If you want to reduce power, look at the solid state hard drives. no moving parts, less power and can withstand a very much greater drop test than a std Hard Drive

I did used to have a 12 v Air charger from Dell, it cost me £70 at the time. It actually drew more current than running the Dell through the standard 240v mains charger. About an amp and a bit more.
I would try a 12v supply for the Acer, except I don't want to pay out on something that might not work, given my experience with the Dell.

 

[Bigpeetee]

I did used to have a 12 v Air charger from Dell, it cost me £70 at the time. It actually drew more current than running the Dell through the standard 240v mains charger. About an amp and a bit more.
I would try a 12v supply for the Acer, except I don't want to pay out on something that might not work, given my experience with the Dell.

Might have drawn more power, but did it charge the batteries quicker? If so then the overall power consumption could be less. ie 5 amps for 1 hour = 5 amperhour, 3A for 2 hrs = 6 Amperhour, so although lower current, actually uses more power. (just figures to demonstrate)

My Ebay charger for my Acer worked really well, cost about £17

 

[BillyPants]

Using laptops from mains with the battery in kills the battery. I do a maintenance charge on the battery maybe once every 3 months and otherwise I don't have it in when running the laptop.
I don't use ebay but if I can get one cheaply I'll try it out. TBH for a lappie this size I'd be pleasantly surprised if I could find a way of it using less power.