Charging phone and laptop

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Headache

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This question has probably been asked a multitude of times but the grip of fear is on me and PTSD is something fierce right now.  It may be quite stupid but I'm ridiculously stressed so wouldn't recognize a stupid question if it slapped me.

I have a smart phone and 17" laptop(Toshiba Satellite C675) as well as a Roku2.  I "may" be buying a Verizon hotspot depending on how much repairs to my van may be.  My question is will I be able to use them during the evening while plugged into my 12 volt?  I have a deep cycle to start the van with and I'm certain I can charge the phone without issues.  I don't have a house battery and probably won't be able to get one soon.

My usual evening entertainment is a bit of TV and a lot of internet activity and gaming on the computer.  I'm trying to think of ways to keep myself entertained at night that don't involve leaving my critters alone.  I'm wondering if I can get away with something of my usual routine without killing my battery.  Thanks
 
https://www.amazon.com/Car-Charger-...1&keywords=Toshiba+Satellite+C675+car+adapter

Looks like you laptop can only pull a maximum of 45 watts

My 90 watt dell pulls about 30 watts online typing thids and about 40 watts streaming video, when the laptop battery is already full.

I've no idea how much a roku2 consumes, nor a version hotspot.

Of course you can run these things off your battery, but how long before it will be unable to start the vehicle is an unknown, and cannot be answered precisely, as we do not know the capacity of your battery, nor how much you plan on using the items, nor their exact electrical consumption in your planned usage. Nor the CCA of your battery, nor the CCA required to start your vehicle, in the specific temperature you plan to start it in after depleting the battery..

Carry a jumper pack so you can self jump.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...&sprefix=jumper+pa,aps,227&crid=15XI3CJZQAZX6

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-Poorman-s-DIY-jumper-pack
 
We could give you a better answer if you would supply the following:
  1. How many amps each device uses and how long you will use (or charge) them each night (gives us amp-hours used)?
  2. What are the specs of the battery and how old is it (gives us an idea of how many amp-hours the battery can supply)?
  3. How many days do you go between driving and for how long (if you know how many amps you alternator will provide that would help)?
  4. How hard does your van start (does it start right up or do you have to crank for a while)?
 -- Spiff
 
Thanks for answering guys. Lots to think about. I can't get the info atm but for now will stick with just keeping the phone charged. Hopefully that will be innocent enough.
 
Well, I would not go without,..... just to be safe.

A voltmeter is not a precise battery % indicator by any means, but it can give indications.

use your laptop, When the voltage gets to 12.1v or so, while still powering the laptop, you are somewhere near 50% charged.

There are some influencing variables here, but most are in favor of actual battery % remaining being higher, and more apt to be able to start vehicle.

It is not until the otherwise healthy battery is in the 30% charged range, that problem starting the engine, in mild temperatures, becomes a possible issue.

Get one of these. Use it during discharge to get general Idea of where the battery is at, just do not think the voltage displayed is like a gas gauge and that 12.2 = 50% always.

Voltage is electrical pressure. the battery has its own pressure, is deflated by dischrging and is inflated by recharging. Voltage is only accurate as an indicator of state of charge on a battery that has not seen any charging or discharging for a period of time.

This period of time depends on teh battery itself, its health, and the size of the deflating or inflating sources.

https://www.amazon.com/Car-Charger-...sr=8-3-fkmr1&keywords=12v+powerport+voltmeter

And the healthy jumper pack, fully charged, is insurance, so that one can always start their engine if they overdeplete their main battery.

So the voltmeter and jumper pack together should reduce all stress to near Zero, and allow you the use of your electronics overnight for some period of time. and you can figure out that period of time by watching the voltmeter and gauging how fast voltage falls in your usage.

One thing to be aware of is surface charge after driving. A depleted battery will suck up hiuge currents from the alternator. the still depleted battery can and will read well over 13 volts for a while after engine shut down.

This 13+ volts of the surface charge, tricks the voltmeter observer into thinking their battery is fully charged, when it could only be 65% charged. During the initial discharge of this 65% charged battery, voltage might decline slowly, as if the battery were indeed fully charged, but at some point voltage takes a nose dive.

Many nights in a row of doing this will have the battery in a not so happy state of mind and one should think about the longer highway drive during daylight, and being able to plug to allow a smart charger to get the battery near a true 100% would be best.

But with a jumper pack and a voltmeter, there is no need to go without, just because one is unaware of how much electricity they need.
 
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