Battery load question
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Battery load question
i just got a new battery in my '99 F350 V10. it's an ACDelco Professional, model no. 65-6YR. on a sticker on the right of the battery it says "650 CCA" and under that, "Load Test Amps: 320." i am NOT a technical guy with this stuff, so please keep that in mind.
i would like to be able to charge my laptop while driving. i have found something called "AC Anywhere" which will do the job. they make different models according to watts used. i would get the 50W version because it only takes 45W to charge a laptop. my question is whether this load will make it hard for the alternator to charge the battery. what if i am listening to the radio as well? any help on this is greatly appreciated.
i would like to be able to charge my laptop while driving. i have found something called "AC Anywhere" which will do the job. they make different models according to watts used. i would get the 50W version because it only takes 45W to charge a laptop. my question is whether this load will make it hard for the alternator to charge the battery. what if i am listening to the radio as well? any help on this is greatly appreciated.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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No worries,
When you are driving the alternator is capable of putting out over 100amps! Not Watts! That little inverter doesn't draw as much as your cabin lights! I would suggest you buy one size bigger inverter than you stated. Unless you buy a commercial grade inverter like Statpower, tripplite, etc. the stated rating on the box is pretty marginal! I don't want to write 200 words on inverter ratings; that would bore you. I've run all kinds of inverters from more than 2500 watts down to 100 watts and you really will be glad you bought an inverter that is rated at 200 to 300 watts. Running a 50 watt @ 45 watts means you are drawing close to the max that the internals (diodes, rectifiers, transistors) are spec'd for. A larger unit will run cooler and last longer than a marginally rated unit. Once again don't worry about your battery or alternator, you could run three of these units and it wouldn't add up to what some guys run in aux driving lights.
Regards, Jeff
When you are driving the alternator is capable of putting out over 100amps! Not Watts! That little inverter doesn't draw as much as your cabin lights! I would suggest you buy one size bigger inverter than you stated. Unless you buy a commercial grade inverter like Statpower, tripplite, etc. the stated rating on the box is pretty marginal! I don't want to write 200 words on inverter ratings; that would bore you. I've run all kinds of inverters from more than 2500 watts down to 100 watts and you really will be glad you bought an inverter that is rated at 200 to 300 watts. Running a 50 watt @ 45 watts means you are drawing close to the max that the internals (diodes, rectifiers, transistors) are spec'd for. A larger unit will run cooler and last longer than a marginally rated unit. Once again don't worry about your battery or alternator, you could run three of these units and it wouldn't add up to what some guys run in aux driving lights.
Regards, Jeff
Last edited by kd5fyx; May 11, 2006 at 08:28 PM. Reason: additional data
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 74
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From: Cleveland Oklahoma
he is definatly right about the inverters ,I have a 4000 watt I use from time to time and if you max it out you need to rev the engine a bit,with a skill saw or similar tool it works well at idle.
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