Charging your storm with an Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port

**vllssv** · 02-15-2009, 02:21 AM

Is it safe to charge your Storm by plugging your wall charger into an Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port? I have the Kensington Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port:

It provides 90 watts peak power (5 minutes minimum) and
75 watts continuous power (120 minutes minimum)

I've googled this subject and am not really clear if these specs would be safe to use with the storm.

Your knowledge and input would be greatly appreciated.

**kokuryuha** · 02-15-2009, 02:23 AM

As far as I'm aware,, there shouldn't be any problems... I used to do it with my Curve... and I regularly power a laptop on mine.

**vllssv** · 03-06-2009, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by kokuryuha

As far as I'm aware,, there shouldn't be any problems... I used to do it with my Curve... and I regularly power a laptop on mine.

Hi, thanks for the input. I've tried plugging my charger into the inverter and it seems work fine. However, I was charging it last night while talking and was gettting a strange buzzing sound while trying to have a conversation. Should I be concerned with the amount of voltage? I'm wondering if I should just use a car charger instead of plugging my wall charger into inro this auto power inverter...

**briananderson** · 03-06-2009, 08:25 AM

I've got a standard 12v adapter that has one pass through 12v port and two USB ports on it, and I use it regularly with my Storm without issue. I haven't had any interference with calls while charging or any other ill effects to speak of.

**jjbrowne72** · 03-06-2009, 08:26 AM

I do it all the time in my car....no problems here.

**jjbrowne72** · 03-06-2009, 08:27 AM

...of course now you have me thinking.

**vllssv** · 03-09-2009, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by jjbrowne72

...of course now you have me thinking.

Ok. If you happen to find out more about this, reply again...I just like to know all the details and specs

**gtstang462002** · 03-09-2009, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by vllssv

Is it safe to charge your Storm by plugging your wall charger into an Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port? I have the Kensington Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port:

It provides 90 watts peak power (5 minutes minimum) and
75 watts continuous power (120 minutes minimum)

I've googled this subject and am not really clear if these specs would be safe to use with the storm.

Your knowledge and input would be greatly appreciated.

Yes. Even if the power is fluxuating a little bit it is OK. These chargers have a power input rage from 100V AC ~ 240V AC.

**vllssv** · 03-09-2009, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by gtstang462002

Yes. Even if the power is fluxuating a little bit it is OK. These chargers have a power input rage from 100V AC ~ 240V AC.

Cool!! I like learning about these things. I appreciate the info.

**STUDLEE1A** · 03-09-2009, 01:43 AM

I would never recommend doing this. Ever. I have been an electronics specialist with emphasis on 12v applications for about 12 years now. The problem with doing this is how dirty the power is coming out of the inverter. The noise found on an inverter is dirty enough to cause damage to lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries. Lithium ion batters are common in cellular phones, laptops, and other mobile devices. While home chargers are built to handle a range of voltages, they are not built to handle the noise found within these voltages. Aside from battery damage, I have seen cars damaged because of people charging devices on inverters. I once had a customer who charged their laptop on an inverter and it ended up torching the power line back to the PCM. This line was properly fused as well. The problem is, a fuse is designed to blow due to a large fluctuation in power, NOT a large draw in CURRENT. Inverters draw so much current that most cars are not designed to handle this without a designated line run to the cars battery. If you can afford an inverter and a storm, you can afford a car charger. It's not worth the possible problems it can cause.

**gtstang462002** · 03-09-2009, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by STUDLEE1A

I would never recommend doing this. Ever. I have been an electronics specialist with emphasis on 12v applications for about 12 years now. The problem with doing this is how dirty the power is coming out of the inverter. The noise found on an inverter is dirty enough to cause damage to lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries. Lithium ion batters are common in cellular phones, laptops, and other mobile devices. While home chargers are built to handle a range of voltages, they are not built to handle the noise found within these voltages. Aside from battery damage, I have seen cars damaged because of people charging devices on inverters. I once had a customer who charged their laptop on an inverter and it ended up torching the power line back to the PCM. This line was properly fused as well. The problem is, a fuse is designed to blow due to a large fluctuation in power, NOT a large draw in CURRENT. Inverters draw so much current that most cars are not designed to handle this without a designated line run to the cars battery. If you can afford an inverter and a storm, you can afford a car charger. It's not worth the possible problems it can cause.

1.This guy has a low wattage inverter which means low power draw.
2.Power draw for a phone charger is in the milliamp range. There is no danger here. Laptops on the other hand draw amps. Big difference there. The power coming from the cig lighter has nothing to do with the power going to the PCM. If someone is toasting stuff like that chances are they had something hooked up incorrectly. Probably with scotch lock connectors. Stop putting out bad info.

**vllssv** · 05-05-2009, 02:03 PM

Ok so I finally use the inverter mentioned above with my laptop. But after a five minutes or so, it starts to smell? It kind smells like a burning smell but not sure. I heard this happens sometimes... Oh well....Now I'm concerned about plugging in my Storm into the inverter. My plan was to get an extra travel charger and an inverter instead of just a car charger. I might just end up with all three...

**tstright** · 05-05-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by STUDLEE1A

I would never recommend doing this. Ever. I have been an electronics specialist with emphasis on 12v applications for about 12 years now. The problem with doing this is how dirty the power is coming out of the inverter. The noise found on an inverter is dirty enough to cause damage to lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries. Lithium ion batters are common in cellular phones, laptops, and other mobile devices. While home chargers are built to handle a range of voltages, they are not built to handle the noise found within these voltages. Aside from battery damage, I have seen cars damaged because of people charging devices on inverters. I once had a customer who charged their laptop on an inverter and it ended up torching the power line back to the PCM. This line was properly fused as well. The problem is, a fuse is designed to blow due to a large fluctuation in power, NOT a large draw in CURRENT. Inverters draw so much current that most cars are not designed to handle this without a designated line run to the cars battery. If you can afford an inverter and a storm, you can afford a car charger. It's not worth the possible problems it can cause.

I've been doing exactly this for over 8 years, cell phones, laptops, :ithium ion batteries for a Total Station. Zero problems. I have an inverter that cost about $200, not sure about cheaper ones. But as long as everything is connected corrrectly there should be no problems....