What size inverter to charge iPhones?

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ElddisNotElvis

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We occasionally wild camp and are pretty much self sufficient and have x 2 newish 110ah leisure batteries which last us for days.

Sad I know, but we need something to charge our x 2 iPhones and I am thinking of purchasing an inverter. The only option when on auxiliary battery is to turn the engine on and use the 12v socket.

Any suggestions/recommendations please?
 
Use the 12v socket and a USB adapter without the engine running, they will still charge up although a bit slower
Fitting a solar panel would be a better investment than an inverter as your battery voltage will be better during solar charge
 
Fit one of these to your habitation batteries, there are similar on amazon and other outlets....

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An alternative is a separate small battery pack. Anker do them, as do others, about the size of half a paperback book. I had mine from when I was backpacking, so I use it in the van. It charges an iPhone fully about 6 times. I just charge it when needed and on hook up. It suited me as I already had it but the other suggestions above may be better.
 
An inverter.... Very inefficient.
Inverting 12vdc to 230vac the plugging in a charger to convert 230vac back to 5vdc.
The inverter losses (heat produced) will possibly be higher than the currant drawn to charge the phone.
If its ONLY to charge the phones then Rolyan's solution is best.... A power bank.
 
Crazy using an inverter to charge an iPhone. Get a USB socket wired to the hab battery, if you are incapable of doing this yourself see your dealer.

There are plenty of portable phone chargers, battery bank storage on the internet. use google
 
and..... another with the same comment. Inverter is a waste of energy and totally not what you need to charge an iphone.. The USB that plugs in to the phone is 5 volts. buy a USB to ciggy lighter adapter or if your Motorhome is euro spec then you will need the USB to DIN plug adapter.

DIN PLUG one.
Amazon product ASIN B00W42FBF6
CIGGY socket one
Amazon product ASIN B07F1J8ZN1
MAKE SURE YOU LOOK FOR A HIGH AMP RATED ONE if you don't get one of the above (as it will charge faster) 3 amp or above ideally.

EDIT.. AHHH Seems like you don't have any aux battery sockets to use... strange
So first then you'll need to install a ciggy or DIN socket on a panel somewhere and wire it directly (with a fuse) to the aux battery.
You'll be needing this as well then..

Again keep an eye out for the amp output of the USB sockets, get the highest possible (this is actually one of the best I've seen so far... 4.8 amps... Might actualy buy one myself :D
Amazon product ASIN B07QWJHQ7Z
 
Last edited:
Rolyan said:
An alternative is a separate small battery pack. Anker do them, as do others, about the size of half a paperback book. I had mine from when I was backpacking, so I use it in the van. It charges an iPhone fully about 6 times. I just charge it when needed and on hook up. It suited me as I already had it but the other suggestions above may be better.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks

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Another vote for a battery pack thing. I’m using an Anker one off Amazon for all sorts of usb charged stuff not just phone but tablets etc. And the it’s all portable so you can be charging whilst using without a very long lead back to your socket.
 
Battery packs are great..... until you forget to charge those too, then they become about as much use as a chocolate fire guard. :D
and your phone is still flat :D
 
We use a battery pack thingy,works very well,and although we are completely useless at techie crap like this,we are not too senile to remember to charge the battery pack before we leave home and en route. Amazing really.
 
Have used the extension for the 12v plugs, it has 3 12v cigarette lighter type sockets and 3 usb sockets. Charge all our electricals using the 12v system. Dyson, ipad, phones, water pump for filling up fresh tank. Cheap to buy but more expensive to buy 12v for the Dyson, but worth it for the convenience when off grid. Have recently gone down the line of , lithium, inverter so now all plugs can be used. Haven’t tested it properly as laid up with spinal surgery 2 wks ago. But will still use the 12v extensions. Have also bought a 13amp plug that has three pin and usb sockets so able to charge on or off grid. We’ve been mh since 2008 and have only just gone for an inverter, so certainly not a necessity.

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The direct answer to your question is, a small PURE SINE WAVE (not Modified Sine Wave or Quasi Sine Wave) inverter will charge a number of iphones and/or a laptop, toothbrush etc. A 150 watt one is big enough to be useful, but small enough not to cause problems. You can connect it directly to the leisure battery, with a 15 amp inline fuse of course.

While you are doing that, a better idea is to install a cigarette lighter type 12V socket directly to the leisure battery, again via a 15 amp online fuse. Then you can put a cigarette lighter plug on the inverter cable, and plug it into the socket.

That way you'll have a 12V socket that's always on. It can be used for any other 12V devices, specifically those plug-in USB adapters.

On the subject of plug-in USB adapters, the shops are full of out-dated ones that are the old USB standards. They might be OK for you, but newer phones talk to the newer chargers over the cable, and set up high power charging if they recognise each other. A QC3 USB socket can push out 9V or 12V to the right type of phone, and can charge to 80% in 30 minutes.

Even newer phones and USB adapters have USB-C sockets, with high power 'PD' circuits, which are a different shape to the standard rectangular USB sockets. Some of these USB-C sockets will even charge the newer laptops.

In my experience, the 'built-in' USB sockets, either 12V or even those built into 240V sockets, are invariably old out-dated USB types, and are difficult to change. I much prefer the plug-in adapters.
 
oral b do a usb charger for their toothbrushes see amazon.
Try and find adapters that will work of 12v or usb much more efficient
 
There are plenty of USB B to USB C cables on the market. They won't fast charge the phones, but you can charge them at normal speed by connecting them to a USB socket.
 
autorouter said:
The direct answer to your question is, a small PURE SINE WAVE (not Modified Sine Wave or Quasi Sine Wave) inverter will charge a number of iphones and/or a laptop, toothbrush etc. A 150 watt one is big enough to be useful, but small enough not to cause problems. You can connect it directly to the leisure battery, with a 15 amp inline fuse of course.

While you are doing that, a better idea is to install a cigarette lighter type 12V socket directly to the leisure battery, again via a 15 amp online fuse. Then you can put a cigarette lighter plug on the inverter cable, and plug it into the socket.

That way you'll have a 12V socket that's always on. It can be used for any other 12V devices, specifically those plug-in USB adapters.

On the subject of plug-in USB adapters, the shops are full of out-dated ones that are the old USB standards. They might be OK for you, but newer phones talk to the newer chargers over the cable, and set up high power charging if they recognise each other. A QC3 USB socket can push out 9V or 12V to the right type of phone, and can charge to 80% in 30 minutes.

Even newer phones and USB adapters have USB-C sockets, with high power 'PD' circuits, which are a different shape to the standard rectangular USB sockets. Some of these USB-C sockets will even charge the newer laptops.

In my experience, the 'built-in' USB sockets, either 12V or even those built into 240V sockets, are invariably old out-dated USB types, and are difficult to change. I much prefer the plug-in adapters.
Click to expand...
The one I linked to and subsequently bought myself while I was there was the QC3 type ????
It arrived today too ?
 
I have used, a 15W solar panel, and a multiplug to charge phones before to-day, works OK if a little slow, You do not need "Sunshine" to charge, even on a dull day 15W will out put enough for a Phone. Look for the devices that have a 4A output if you have an I-Phone, the lower power one`s dont always charge an I-dvice.

I also have one of these, Amazon product ASIN B07QC1TD3P. It started my car, 1.2L Petrol. And allegedly will boost the Motorhome too. Can be Charged up anytime on EHU. or from the vehicle on the move.
 
If you fit a solar panel, there will probably be a usb point on the charger controller, there is two on mine . (y)(y)(y)
 

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