Upgrading standard inverter

[WSaunACTOR]

When we purchased the CMax, the power inverter with its interior outlet was one of the selling points, as we go on long road-trips, and my partner has a gaming laptop with a battery that only lasts about 2 hours.   We installed a high-capacity inverter in our second car, a Honda Element, and it works beautifully.

 

LAPTOP SPECS:

• Input: 100-240V ~ 4.4 A- 50/60Hz
• Output: 19.5V 16.9A 330 Watt

 

 

Unfortunately, the laptop draws too much power, and trips the breaker on the CMax inverter.  Has anyone explored upgrading the inverter that is inside the CMax, and linking it to the existing outlet? Or installing a secondary higher-capacity inverter anywhere?

 

Any advice/suggestions would be highly appreciated. 

 

 

Bill

2014 Candy Blue CMax Hybrid

[stevedebi]

When we purchased the CMax, the power inverter with its interior outlet was one of the selling points, as we go on long road-trips, and my partner has a gaming laptop with a battery that only lasts about 2 hours.   We installed a high-capacity inverter in our second car, a Honda Element, and it works beautifully.

 

LAPTOP SPECS:

• Input: 100-240V ~ 4.4 A- 50/60Hz
• Output: 19.5V 16.9A 330 Watt

 

 

Unfortunately, the laptop draws too much power, and trips the breaker on the CMax inverter.  Has anyone explored upgrading the inverter that is inside the CMax, and linking it to the existing outlet? Or installing a secondary higher-capacity inverter anywhere?

 

Any advice/suggestions would be highly appreciated. 

 

 

Bill

2014 Candy Blue CMax Hybrid

I would not recommend this. Ford has carefully designed the entire electrical system to work as a whole, including the inverter. The C-Max is a hybrid and the electrics are very complex.

[fbov]

To start, you should know better than plug a 330W device into a 150W outlet!

 

You're fine with a standard 12V DC-AC inverter - Ford knows people use the 12V power -  but there are alternatives. You never know if the 12V in the hybrid is "different," which it is based on the prohibitions (CRTs, motors, precision voltage applications). I don't see a switching power supply on that list.

 

The first option is to start with a fully-charged battery. Like a C-Max, the power supply both runs the computer and charges the battery. Perhaps the car can support the computer load if the charging load is gone?

 

1A is to reduce computer power consumption if it's still pulling too much. Gamers usually overclock, etc.  

 

The other option is a lower current power supply. I'm using one that warns my PC would charge slowly... fine for desk use.

 

Finally, a lower power computer... I'm on a 60W supply. I bet this one's power consumption is more like my son's gaming laptop.

 

HAve fun,

Frank

[Adrian_L]

Hi Bill,

 

Welcome to the forum.  The C-max inverter is a lightweight in every sense of the word.  An average hair dryer is 1500 watts.  The C-max output is probably around 200.  Enough for a rechargable shaver or an electric toothbrush.

I do know a fair bit about RV electronics and have a dual-battery system in my camper with a 1500 watt inverter.  But I would be very careful messing around with the C-max, as Steve mentioned, unless you know what you're doing.

 

You can go to a decent electronics shop and ask them for a 12 volt to 20 volt DC-to-DC converter that plugs into the round 12v plug in the car.   That way, you don't have to deal with the possibility that your inverter may not work (electronics prefer the more expensive "pure sine" inverters rather than the cheaper "modified sine" wave inverters.)

[Marc Smith]

if you are not gaming while driving.  could he alter the power consumption settings in windows to make the laptop less power hungry and not trip thebreaker

[scottwood2]

Hi Bill,

 

Welcome to the forum.  The C-max inverter is a lightweight in every sense of the word.  An average hair dryer is 1500 watts.  The C-max output is probably around 200.  Enough for a rechargable shaver or an electric toothbrush.

I do know a fair bit about RV electronics and have a dual-battery system in my camper with a 1500 watt inverter.  But I would be very careful messing around with the C-max, as Steve mentioned, unless you know what you're doing.

 

You can go to a decent electronics shop and ask them for a 12 volt to 20 volt DC-to-DC converter that plugs into the round 12v plug in the car.   That way, you don't have to deal with the possibility that your inverter may not work (electronics prefer the more expensive "pure sine" inverters rather than the cheaper "modified sine" wave inverters.)

I also agree with this.  There are power losses converting from D/C to A/c and then back from A/C to D/C.  I had a boat and we always tried to look at power draw.  Tried to make the batteries last when at anchor.  We used a laptop and bought a dc to dc converter.   Much better way to go for power draw. 

 

This is just a cigarette lighter plug so you can then take it to any car.  This was a converter made for the laptop.  Was not that costly.  Thinking $40 or so.