Power inverter

[bssage]

I have a power inverter I plug my usb phone cable into for use in the car. Its just a inverter not specific to the phone. I can also plug in a normal electrical plug into it.

The inverter says "USB output 5 VDC/500mA max

I also have a wall jack for the USB on my Palm Pre. I dont see any info on this plug.

I am awaiting my DSE 901 that includes a USB charging cable.

Can you please tell me if I can safely plug the 901 usb into either or both of these power sources.

Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Bssage

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Hi Bssage,

That is not enough power to run your 901, but it is enough power to charge it. You need an output of 5 volts with 1000 mA's or 1 Amp. You did not specify what your wall plug unit specs are. Try to look on their website.

These units are very cheap and can be bought in Walmart for as low as 7 dollars.

Hope that helps,

Sun

 

[rolygate]

Just a couple of tech notes on power supply terminology in case anyone is interested

Inverters
An *inverter* is a power conversion unit that takes a low-voltage DC source and converts it up to provide a high-voltage AC output. A common example is the type of unit used in boats, RVs and service vehicles for converting the 12 volt battery power up to mains electricity, 110 or 230 volt AC, to run domestic or workshop machinery in a mobile environment.

The three important features are the power capacity eg 500 watts, 2kW etc; the current draw at max power (a meaty inverter can draw massive current, over 100 amps for example); and the waveform - most are stepped squarewave, ie cheap models, but for running electronics like TVs and PCs you really need a pure sinewave inverter, which costs more.

PSUs
A *power supply* or PSU (power supply unit) generally takes mains electricity from a wall socket and converts it into a low-voltage DC output to run electronics or similar. For example, the 19 volt 5 amp power supply that runs a laptop. It turns a high-voltage AC source into a low-volt DC output. It takes very little current draw (from the source, ie the wall socket) to do this; typically half an amp at most.

Converters
A *power converter* is a device that turns one type of power into another, that isn't an inverter or PSU as above. One common type is a 24 volt DC to 12 volt DC unit as used in trucks to take the 24 volt battery voltage down to 12v for most mobile equipment like radios and chargers.

General purpose units for use in cars can be called power supply units or PSUs, although to be specific they are converters. Inverters always produce a higher voltage and convention dictates they normally convert from DC to AC as well.

Maybe you didn't want to know all that - but this is a source of tech info...

.