Will the 3 pin plugs on a Sunlight a72 power a laptop while moving

[Turnip]

Hi there. Picking up our first motorhome next week and just figuring out what can be plugged on when. The unit has 3 pin UK plugs so I'm assuming when hooked up you could happily have a laptop plugged in. When not hooked up I'm assume that same plug doesn't provide power. I've seen lighter powered ones (presumably drains the van battery) that plug in in the cab. And other ones you have to wire onto the leisure battery yourself? Any experience galdly absorbed thank you.

 

[stevewagner]

3 pin plugs only live on hook up or if you have an inverter fitted with a changeover switch.

 

[Turnip]

3 pin plugs only live on hook up or if you have an inverter fitted with a changeover switch.

Suspected as much. So I could make so they switch to the inverter with a manual switch?

 

[stevewagner]

Suspected as much. So I could make so they switch to the inverter with a manual switch?

You can or you could fit an automatic changeover switch. Having said that you would need a decent leisure battery bank, PV Panels and battery to battery charger if you want to be able to go full off grid mode.

 

[VXman]

If it's just a laptop needs powering you can get a small inverter that plugs into the lighter or Hella socket. It won't drain the battery too much. Do you have a 12V socket on the habitation side?

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[Turnip]

If it's just a laptop needs powering you can get a small inverter that plugs into the lighter or Hella socket. It won't drain the battery too much. Do you have a 12V socket on the habitation side?

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Just 2 3 pins plugs

 

[gus-lopez]

or just buy a 12v> 24v adjustable lap top charger

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3267...ca5bcc&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2esp

bought identical yo this off amazon

 

[VXman]

Other than a lighter/Hella plug in inverter the next most simple route is to get one that you connect directly to the battery and plug into that. This is what I do. I have 2 leisure batteries under the lounge seat and the inverter sits next to them. Fortunately there is an exposed side behind the drivers seat to I can easily plug anything into it - or sometimes I use a extension lead. I use it for laptop, electric toaster, wife's hair dryer, etc. I did consider wiring it up to my 240 sockets but it all gets a bit complicated then. Mines like this....

1500W - 12V Pure Sine Wave Sunshine Power Inverter C-Series - Sunshine Solar - Sunshine Solar Limited

Convert DC power from your battery into AC power enabling use of electrical devices. Connect the inverter to your battery, and plug your AC devices into the power inverter to provide a reliable power source whilst on the move. Perfect for caravans, motorhomes, boats & trucks. The 1500W - 12V...

www.sunshinesolar.co.uk

 

[Zigisla]

I have an A72 and all of my 240 V sockets are supplied either by EHU or by my inverter. Not too sure of the workings, but Vanbitz - eddievanbitz fitted the inverter for me. We use the 240 V sockets to charge -Dyson hoover, laptop, iPad, drill and tyre inflator all whilst on the move. Also when off grid too.

 

[nicholsong]

or just buy a 12v> 24v adjustable lap top charger

https://es.aliexpress.com/item/3267...ca5bcc&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2esp

bought identical yo this off amazon

I could not open that link, but probably similar to what we use i.e. a charger from 12v that one can select the correct voltage for the laptop, ours is 19v. No need to go up to 230v and back down to voltage laptop needs through a standard domestic laptop charger. It has a cigarette plug for a 12v socket. Job done.

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[autorouter]

In general you can usually power devices less than about 100W, like laptops, phone chargers, satnavs etc from a 12V cigarette-lighter style socket. Since the number of these devices seems to grow exponentially, it is worth fitting a couple of 12V sockets at least. You can get laptop car chargers that take in vehicle 12V and put out 19V, or whatever the laptop needs. You can get USB adapters that will put out whatever power your phones require. If your laptop is one of those that needs USB-C, then you can get an adapter that does that too.

There is no real need to fit an inverter for low-power devices. Having said that, you can get a small 150W inverter that can plug into a cigarette-lighter socket. The best thing, in my opinion, is to take the trouble to fit some 12V sockets powered from the leisure battery, they always come in useful.

 

[gus-lopez]

I could not open that link, but probably similar to what we use i.e. a charger from 12v that one can select the correct voltage for the laptop, ours is 19v. No need to go up to 230v and back down to voltage laptop needs through a standard domestic laptop charger. It has a cigarette plug for a 12v socket. Job done.

Yes that is same as mine Geoff, 19v adjustable.

it is worth fitting a couple of 12V sockets at least.

is 18 ok? I erred on the side of caution & went with my motto " Too much/many is not enough"