Question Will a 120 watt inverter power my gaming laptop ?

[natcha12]

Don't plug a type c charger into any old port on your laptop.
Without knowing what laptop you have, we don't know what plug you have... type c could do 240w, but so could a dc plug.
It will charge at 100w, but you can either get a cigarette socket to type c adapter, or to 100w hardwired (not removable) dc adapter like my picture earlier that wont blow a fuse or the charger.
Batteries don't "ask" for power, they take what's there and will take whatever is available. Chargers though will "demand" power that causes damage if your car socket can't handle it.

I suppose the good news is you don't need an inverter

 

[nelska]

I didn't say from a car USB port. I said a USB adapter for your car.

One that plugs into your power port.

You are trying to do an inverter to get AC out of port. Instead, just get exactly a USB-C 100W unit. That solves your fuse problem and gets you the most power without having to wire an inverter to the battery.

Something like this. The top port is limited to 100W, and there are plenty like it with varying costs. Would need to check some reviews to find a reliable one.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Ultra-Compact-MacBook-Samsung/dp/B0CZ7BL16W

yeh thats probably the way to go cuz the solar panels dont work at all because zephyrus claims if its not 20 volts it wont charge at all and the panels are rated at 19.8 volts.. can you link me to something your talking about im not sure im following. a cigarette lighter adapter to type c ? i already have one that came with the car. i duno my brains fried at this point. haha thanks

 

[Eximo]

yeh thats probably the way to go cuz the solar panels dont work at all because zephyrus claims if its not 20 volts it wont charge at all and the panels are rated at 19.8 volts.. can you link me to something your talking about im not sure im following. a cigarette lighter adapter to type c ? i already have one that came with the car. i duno my brains fried at this point. haha thanks

But it isn't rated for 100W?

Solar panels?

You would want something with a boost converter if you needed 20V. But to do USB-PD it would have to have the ability to negotiate that power. Typical USB is 10-15W max. 2A or 3A. There are also 9V and 20V USB charging standards. That is how we got things like 65W chargers for phones and USB charging for laptops rather than custom and bespoke barrel plugs.

 

[nelska]

I'm talking about plugging into the thunderbolt port from this type c thunderbolt charger in my car..

edit: im not sure what type of type c that is. but its got the little lightning bolt i doubt that means thunderbolt though it probably does like 15 watts not 240 watts.. I think asus caps the charge rate at 100 watts anyway.

 

[Eximo]

Right, but it isn't rated for 100W. You have a 12V 120W port there, I am suggesting buying a USB adapter that plugs into the 12V 120W port.

The one I linked has a 100W USB-PD output. As long as your laptop, which remains unknown to us, can accept that as input. Then problem solved.

 

[nelska]

Right, but it isn't rated for 100W. You have a 12V 120W port there, I am suggesting buying a USB adapter that plugs into the 12V 120W port.

The one I linked has a 100W USB-PD output. As long as your laptop, which remains unknown to us, can accept that as input. Then problem solved.

2023 zephyrus g16. i think it can draw 100 watts even though they are saying thunderbolt 4 can do 240 watts. But, why would i need to buy the adapter if that port right next to it has the lil thunderr bolt picture in the battery saying its probably 100 watts output ill have to look in my manual to see if its just 15 watts or what first.

 

[nelska]

it says this

and then says if it consumes more power than 3amps at 5 volts it might not even work? whats that 15 watts? im still new to electricity. for real haha

 

[Eximo]

Yes, 15W. 5V 3A, so basically enough to keep the laptop on and idling.

 

[nelska]

Yes, 15W. 5V 3A, so basically enough to keep the laptop on and idling.

yeh, sounds like a charge it on the way home type of thing. :/ but that adapter will work perfectly if i can figuure out what my laptop does 100 watts type c. i read though that type c charging can be bad for the battery. maybe ill just get a jackery with the solar panel. $350 its half off right now

 

[Eximo]

Seems like both Type-C ports and the Thunderbolt port would be able to pull 100W.

Keep in mind that the Corolla car battery is only about 700Wh, and a certain point you could take it too low to start the engine. A battery bank would be more wise for long term use.

 

[natcha12]

Looks like your main laptop input is a semi proprietary 6mm dc socket.
"ø6.0, 240W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal"

Just get a cigarette plug in adapter that has a type c socket on it that can do 100 watt so that the power draw doesn't go over 100, then use a good cable that again is certified for 100w

 

[nelska]

Seems like both Type-C ports and the Thunderbolt port would be able to pull 100W.

Keep in mind that the Corolla car battery is only about 700Wh, and a certain point you could take it too low to start the engine. A battery bank would be more wise for long term use.

that adapter you linked is exactly what I should buy but i duno if it would be healthier to buy that original inverter so I could use my laptops 240 watt power supply even though the car will never give more than 100 watts.. I would only use it idling with the car running and the a/c on ect. I duno how much power that would draw on the alternator but I would assume it would be plenty.. your probably 100% right the safest way would be the 100 watt adapter. type c. I wonder if my only phone charger type c can even handle it? I heard somewhere you get a cheapo type c with phones and you have to buy a better one to get super charger.. motorola g 2025

 

[nelska]

Looks like your main laptop input is a semi proprietary 6mm dc socket.
"ø6.0, 240W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal"

Just get a cigarette plug in adapter that has a type c socket on it that can do 100 watt so that the power draw doesn't go over 100, then use a good cable that again is certified for 100w

exactly the answer. thanks, its hilarious my brand new phone cable probably only does 15 watts even though its capable of super charging they dont sell the phone with the super charger cable. lmao

edit: motorola says 60 watts so ill need a better cable too.

 

[natcha12]

Stick with 100w chargers/inverters whatever
Just please whatever you do don't connect something that wants 240 into your car. It has the same outcome as if you plugged a toaster in, with the best case scenario it blows the fuse a bit faster, before the fire.
I can't say it enough, adapters are not the same as chargers.
Chargers WILL try to get full power if something requests it
Batteries with adapters/converters take what they can get

This with the cable both 100w is £20 on amazon, I'm sure you can find one within about $15-25.

 

[nelska]

Stick with 100w chargers/inverters whatever
Just please whatever you do don't connect something that wants 240 into your car. It has the same outcome as if you plugged a toaster in, with the best case scenario it blows the fuse a bit faster, before the fire.
I can't say it enough, adapters are not the same as chargers.
Chargers WILL try to get full power if something requests it
Batteries with adapters/converters take what they can get

This with the cable both 100w is £20 on amazon, I'm sure you can find one within about $15-25.

Thanks, yeh. how pathetic motorola is the cable that came with my phone is 15 watts and they want you to spend 40 dollars to get the 30 watts cable so it charges "turbo speed" lol!

 

[Misgar]

how pathetic motorola is the cable that came with my phone is 15 watts and they want you to spend 40 dollars to get the 30 watts cable so it charges "turbo speed" lol!

My guess is more powerful chargers are slightly more expensive (if you maintain the same quality) and Motorola don't want to make their phones seem too expensive. After all, they're in business to make profits for their directors and shareholders.

I have an Astell & Kern SP35 quad-DAC player and deliberately charge it from standard 5V USB3 computer ports @ 900mA, instead of fast charge 5V @ 2A. I've seen reports of swollen batteries due to overheating and I don't want to pay $60+ for a new battery. DIY is cheaper, but probably invalidates the warranty.

Slow charging can be kinder to batteries if you don't mind waiting longer. Of course if your phone is on contract and you upgrade every year, battery degradation is probably the least of your concerns.

On the subject of matching solar panels to batteries, power packs, adapters or chargers, you can use a buck converter or boost converter to change the voltage. It doesn't matter if the solar panel's output voltage is too high or too low for the other device. Just fit a suitable converter.
https://www.utmel.com/blog/categories/equipment/introduction-to-buck-boost-and-buck-boost-converters

 

[nelska]

My guess is more powerful chargers are slightly more expensive (if you maintain the same quality) and Motorola don't want to make their phones seem too expensive. After all, they're in business to make profits for their directors and shareholders.

I have an Astell & Kern SP35 quad-DAC player and deliberately charge it from standard 5V USB3 computer ports @ 900mA, instead of fast charge 5V @ 2A. I've seen reports of swollen batteries due to overheating and I don't want to pay $60+ for a new battery. DIY is cheaper, but probably invalidates the warranty.

Slow charging can be kinder to batteries if you don't mind waiting longer. Of course if your phone is on contract and you upgrade every year, battery degradation is probably the least of your concerns.

On the subject of matching solar panels to batteries, power packs, adapters or chargers, you can use a buck converter or boost converter to change the voltage. It doesn't matter if the solar panel's output voltage is too high or too low for the other device. Just fit a suitable converter.
https://www.utmel.com/blog/categories/equipment/introduction-to-buck-boost-and-buck-boost-converters

look at this deal.. 60 watts solar panel for $199 with the power bank to type c 100 watts. Would be plenty to power a gaming laptop even when gaming.. lol.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-A1727-...lix+c200+with+solar+panel,aps,105&sr=8-1&th=1

 

[Misgar]

look at this deal.. 60 watts solar panel for $199 with the power bank to type c 100 watts. Would be plenty to power a gaming laptop even when gaming.. lol.

The OP's gaming laptop comes with a 240W mains power supply and pulls 200W when gaming (see below). A 60W solar panel is not going to keep the laptop fully charged.

my gaming laptop power supply is rated at 240 watts. Idling and browsing the power consumption is far less than 120 watts its about 50-100 watts maximum. But, as soon as I start up a video game and the gpu kicks on it ramps up to about 200 watts.

 

[nelska]

The OP's gaming laptop comes with a 240W mains power supply and pulls 200W when gaming (see below). A 60W solar panel is not going to keep the laptop fully charged.

I have a back ups power supply and play in a 1024x768 window it ramps up to about 140 watts but you could get by with it for a few good hours when it hovers around that 100 watts mark. you have to consider laptops have to cool down inbetween matches especially when you lose. lol I play a lot of halo infinite. Thats the game im talking about. the type c thunderbolt port would be the charger. not the power supply. That wouldn't work for less than probably well over the cost of the laptop haha

 

[natcha12]

https://a.co/d/1O7kosF
Just get a 100w output powerbank and call it a day. $50, use a decent cable, don't kill your car battery and you aren't tethered to it either. Some even have 140w+ output, but seeing as you can't make use of it its useless going higher

 

[nelska]

https://a.co/d/1O7kosF
Just get a 100w output powerbank and call it a day. $50, use a decent cable, don't kill your car battery and you aren't tethered to it either. Some even have 140w+ output, but seeing as you can't make use of it its useless going higher

I was gunna go just the solar panel until i found out you need the bank to get the amperage and voltage out correctly to the pc.

 

[Misgar]

I was gunna go just the solar panel until i found out you need the bank to get the amperage and voltage out correctly to the pc.

You can use a solar panel to charge some laptops without a battery bank, if the solar panel comes with a buck/boost converter to match the DC input on your laptop.

As an example, if your laptop charges from USB-C conforming to the PD (Power Delivery) standard, you could use something similar to this nominal 100W solar panel.
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Foldable-Charger-Camping-Stations/dp/B0C69LNKSP

It has four separate charging outputs from the small rectangular buck/boost converter box on the back of the solar panel (see photo below).

【4 Output Ports For Different Usage】The foldable solar panel designed with 4 output ports of different types:
1) DC output ( 12-18V, 5.5A Max),
2) USB C PD ( 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A),
3) Two USB QC3.0 outputs will quickly charge your phone, laptop, tablets, iPad, GPS, USB fan, camera or other devices.

If (and it's a big if) your laptop can auto-negotiate with the solar panel converter at USB-C 15V 3A, you can charge the laptop at 45W.

This is well down on the claimed maximum 100W output of the panel, but the manufacturers probably designed it to power more than one device simultaneously and assumed you'll use other outputs to charge phones, tablets, etc.

45W should be enough to charge the battery (slowly) when the laptop is switched off, but only when the sun shines.

A better solution would be a larger solar panel with a 20v 5A USB-C output (100W) if your laptop supports USB-C PD charging.
https://www.trustedreviews.com/explainer/what-is-usb-pd-4368197

If your laptop doesn't have a compatible USB-C PD charging input, you'll probably have to fall back on the DC-to-AC mains inverter concept and your laptop's mains charger, with all the problems already discussed of matching the charger to the inverter, to avoid overloading.

Double conversion wastes energy converting the solar panel's variable DC voltage into AC mains, then converting AC mains back to a DC voltage to charge the laptop. Not very efficient.

The two USB QC 3.0 (Quick Charge) outputs on this panel probably won't be suitable for your laptop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_Charge

A more professional approach which I've used at work is to add another pulley for a second alternator in the engine bay (usually 24V) and a pair of large 100Ahr batteries to run a 1kVA AC inverter. Obviously this is not practical in a small family runabout, but might be possible in a large Jeep, RV or pickup truck. It's not a cheap solution either.

 

[natcha12]

This is just being way over thought.
Powerbank connected to your car port, plug it into laptop when you are using it, then plug back into car to recharge after.

Solar panels with a inverter are gonna be 3-4x the cost, for what?

 

[nelska]

You can use a solar panel to charge some laptops without a battery bank, if the solar panel comes with a buck/boost converter to match the DC input on your laptop.

As an example, if your laptop charges from USB-C conforming to the PD (Power Delivery) standard, you could use something similar to this nominal 100W solar panel.
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Foldable-Charger-Camping-Stations/dp/B0C69LNKSP

It has four separate charging outputs from the small rectangular buck/boost converter box on the back of the solar panel (see photo below).

【4 Output Ports For Different Usage】The foldable solar panel designed with 4 output ports of different types:
1) DC output ( 12-18V, 5.5A Max),
2) USB C PD ( 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A),
3) Two USB QC3.0 outputs will quickly charge your phone, laptop, tablets, iPad, GPS, USB fan, camera or other devices.

If (and it's a big if) your laptop can auto-negotiate with the solar panel converter at USB-C 15V 3A, you can charge the laptop at 45W.

This is well down on the claimed maximum 100W output of the panel, but the manufacturers probably designed it to power more than one device simultaneously and assumed you'll use other outputs to charge phones, tablets, etc.

45W should be enough to charge the battery (slowly) when the laptop is switched off, but only when the sun shines.

A better solution would be a larger solar panel with a 20v 5A USB-C output (100W) if your laptop supports USB-C PD charging.
https://www.trustedreviews.com/explainer/what-is-usb-pd-4368197

If your laptop doesn't have a compatible USB-C PD charging input, you'll probably have to fall back on the DC-to-AC mains inverter concept and your laptop's mains charger, with all the problems already discussed of matching the charger to the inverter, to avoid overloading.

Double conversion wastes energy converting the solar panel's variable DC voltage into AC mains, then converting AC mains back to a DC voltage to charge the laptop. Not very efficient.

The two USB QC 3.0 (Quick Charge) outputs on this panel probably won't be suitable for your laptop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quick_Charge

A more professional approach which I've used at work is to add another pulley for a second alternator in the engine bay (usually 24V) and a pair of large 100Ahr batteries to run a 1kVA AC inverter. Obviously this is not practical in a small family runabout, but might be possible in a large Jeep, RV or pickup truck. It's not a cheap solution either.

i got confused over the specs on my zephyrus by asus. I wanted it solar variable refresh rated. The volts is 20v/5a or "can cause damage" the panels most all of them are 19. 8v/3a so i duno if it would.

 

[natcha12]

i got confused over the specs on my zephyrus by asus. I wanted it solar variable refresh rated. The volts is 20v/5a or "can cause damage" the panels most all of them are 19. 8v/3a so i duno if it would.

What I think you are referring to is a MPPT module. This takes the panel output and maximises gains and/or streamlining the output voltage so it's compatible eg with sensitive electronics. A regular bare bones panel will not have this