Running Laptop & Printer From A Generator

BountyHunter

Hi Everybody,

As the title says would it be possible to run a laptop and printer from a small generator with a 240v output? Its a 2.2 hp generator and I suspect the laptop and printer wouldn't really draw much of a load from the generator. I'm just wondering if the 240v fluctuates would it damage the equipment?
Any advise or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

BountyHunter.

Stoner

well if it was me I would not run them off the generator. I'd see if i could get a small smoothing UPS that would clean the supply for you and place it in between the Generator and the computer, although this is still not ideal.

10-10-20

In addition to what Stoner said, I can add that many of the laptops these days have pretty good switching power supplies, so fluctuation on the input is well dealt with.
Printers on the other hand are not designed to be on a poorly regulated input - they aren't designed for traveling.

DublinDilbert

Stoner wrote: »

well if it was me I would not run them off the generator. I'd see if i could get a small smoothing UPS that would clean the supply for you and place it in between the Generator and the computer, although this is still not ideal.

Yea what stoner said would be a good idea... Just make sure its an "online" ups, most of them are these days anyway....

Steve

In my experience, laptop PSU's are pretty bullet-proof. Most can run on 100-240VAC. I've even run one off a cheap square wave inverter powered by a boats 12VDC supply.
In saying that, there are a lot of variations between brands and some switch-mode PSU's mightn't like that.

I wouldn't think it would do any harm to run it direct form a generator though.

DublinDilbert

If its the only load on the generator, you should be fairly ok too...

I'm not sure what sort of "load-dump" protection are on them... for example if another separate load on the generator was suddenly turned off, how much of a rise in voltage would you get, while the generator reacts and reduces its armature current. In cars this can be significant, due to the large inductance of the alternator armature...

BountyHunter

Thanks for all the replies lads,

A UPS might be worth looking into alright, the last thing I want to do is damage equipment :eek:...And yes the laptop and printer would be the only load on the generator..

BountyHunter.

watty

Cheap 2 stroke gennies are for drill or light. They peak at over 270VAC on sudden load reduction and have huge amount of interference and stall regularly due to plug fouling or load change. You need at least a 900W 4 stroke model.

A suitable UPS is about 90 Euro. Depending on running time/operation a 125A Truck battery and inverter with solar charger might be better for ONLY a laptop and Inkjet printer (90W typical + 20W). Some better Laser printers use up to 800W peak. Its the peak power you must cover with UPS or Generator, but only average (increase by non-dalylight usage) for Solar charger.

I have a 4 stroke gen and 900W UPS to keep my server, phones, network switches and routers and Fixed Wireless Internet Radio set/Modem all running. The UPS gives 10mins or so to get the generator out and running.

Also if power comes back quickly we keep generator running another 20 minutes to recharge UPS in case a 2nd power cut quickly.

You can use a 12V inverter (24V better for more than 900W) or a suitable UPS with solar or Generator (good gennies have 12V battery charge, needs a Battery as well as inverter and some UPS can use external 12V or 24V battery or battery + charger).