Power for laptop

[Chops]

G'day guys/gals,
Just wondering how you power your laptops that some of you use in your cars. As I understand it, computers are 12V, so theoretically I should be able to run it straight from the car.
We've recently bought a new laptop (HP) so we can run mapping etc on it as well as the usual internet stuff that's needed when travelling.
So my main question is, can the comp be powered straight from the car, or do we "have" to run an inverter. We run a duel bat, so I can run it directly from that, or the main crank, but not sure which is best.
Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

[Blknight.aus]

I've personally never seen a direct hook it to automotive 12v laptop.

they all have some funky voltage from 8.5 through to 21V, fortunately you can buy 12v power supplies that via the use of specialist connectors to suit the laptops native power in socket will provide you with the correct power to run the laptop from the cig socket on your car.

Ive got one that runs my toshibas and a cheaper one that charges the tablets/phones/anything else that needs less than 1.5A and 12V.

got em all from jaycar

[87County]

As Dave writes above, Jaycar shops have a 12v adjustable step up adapter which can be adjusted through the usual laptop charging voltages - we have one and it seems to work OK - we use it at 18v for the Toshiba. I measured the voltage outputs from the device with a multimeter and they are quite accurate .

Was about $60 in Feb.

[87County]

just thought I should add this - some shops will try and talk you into a 12v/240v inverter to run off your 12v cig lighter to enable use of your supplied 240v charger - knowledgeable advice I received was not to do it !

[jc109]

just thought I should add this - some shops will try and talk you into a 12v/240v inverter to run off your 12v cig lighter to enable use of your supplied 240v charger - knowledgeable advice I received was not to do it !

Why?

[incisor]

true sine wave inverters are fine for powering devices that also charge batteries but are dear compared to modified and square wave inverters.

many people use modified sine wave inverters and don't have a problem but i have seen many laptops that have been damaged by them

cheap modified sine wave and square wave inverters are a big no no if the device you are powering charges batteries.

[Basil135]

The original power adapter for my work Dell laptop turned up its toes, so, when i ordered the replacement one, it came with all of the adapters, including a ciggy lighter plug.

That then plugs into the power box, inplace of the mains cable.

Works well. This one is Dell specific, but i would think major brands would have something similar.

[austastar]

it came with all of the adapters, including a ciggy lighter plug.

Hi,
I should have ordered mine with one of those - it was available at the time.
Instead I ended up buying one of the multi-adapters from Jaycar, which works well, but the laptop input plug is a loose fit and keeps dropping out. Grrrrrrrrr!

I do run my wireless broadband straight from 12V when camping though. It will only ever get the battery voltage as I can't imagine using it when driving.

cheers

[Landy Smurf]

I was just looking at these yesterday and saw this one but didnt know what to think of it
100W laptop Universal AC/DC Power Adapter Car Charger for Dell Asus Lenovo | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100W-laptop-Universal-AC-DC-Power-Adapter-Car-Charger-for-Dell-Asus-Lenovo-/370755768811?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item5652c411eb&_uhb=1)

[Mick_Marsh]

Hey, Chops.
Is this for the trip? Will you be buying one tomorrow?
If you buy one, would you mind buying two?
I have a Toshiba Satellite A300.

[sheerluck]

If anyone's looking for a Dell one:
Dell D09RM Dell D09rm 90w Auto Air Adapter DC Auction (0021-2128462) | GraysOnline Australia (http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0021-2128462/computers-and-it-equipment/dell-d09rm-dell-d09rm-90w-auto-air-adapter-dc)

[cewilson]

I use the generic one from Jaycar. On my 3rd laptop now and never had an issue.

[Chops]

For ease of purchase and time, I just ended up getting an inverter, 300w.

Seems to do the job nicely, but may change that later on,, although I'm sure it will come in handy for SWMBO and hair dryers,, or is that Gav's department?? :wasntme:

[feral]

So after this...


just thought I should add this - some shops will try and talk you into a 12v/240v inverter to run off your 12v cig lighter to enable use of your supplied 240v charger - knowledgeable advice I received was not to do it !

and this gem.....


true sine wave inverters are fine for powering devices that also charge batteries but are dear compared to modified and square wave inverters.

many people use modified sine wave inverters and don't have a problem but i have seen many laptops that have been damaged by them

cheap modified sine wave and square wave inverters are a big no no if the device you are powering charges batteries.


..and my own personal experience of a fried laptop when using a top of the range generator/inverter, you have gone out and done this....



For ease of purchase and time, I just ended up getting an inverter, 300w.


Flaming heck.....some people just love rolling the dice :eek:

[87County]

.......amazing :D

[rangieman]

Yep :eek: maybe he does,nt like the new lappy that much;) and flea bay sell 12v power supply to suit any laptop at good price,s ,
As said earlier Jaycar which there is one just up the road from chops:cool: Each to their own maybe cost and time were a factor . I my self have tempted fate with the inverter way but now have a 12v power supply for the lappy:D

[Chops]

I didn't have enough time to chase around after eBay, and yep, jaycar is just up the road, and no, they didn't have what was asked for (the unit in an earlier post),,,

So, one must do what one must do,, if it ****s itself, I'll have to wear it, but sometimes, just sometimes, you have to go the wrong way.

On my return from SA, I will have the time to hunt around for the right unit, and still have a 240v unit to run other stuff if we want.

[Benz]

I have a true/pure sine wave 12 to 240 inverter for my lappy + other various things.

it's only a 300W one so won't run anything big.

as said they are quite expensive compared to the modified ones.

haven't had any problems so far

one down side is the inverter uses up power converting 12V to 240V and most of the things I use on it are battery chargers so they convert it back down again...
But I have the flexibility to use high amounts of power with 260Ah of auxiliary batteries and 195-325W of solar panels on hand.

up side is I didn't need to find 12V charges for everything

[frostyblue]

I have used many diff laptops for gps navigation and have always used a 12volt cigarette socket, i would never use an inverter in the front of the or anywhere down reasoably low , just the thought of having 240 volts next to me while crossing a creek fills me with dread, i know they are fused and all that but still things can go wrong, the only place i would use one is when stationary for the day, i know im going to get hammered on this one also, i have never bothered with pure sine wave power, ive been 4wdring camping for 30 years and carried just about anything that needed power and never have i blown or damaged any item that could be affected by non pure sine wave, surely i couldnt be just lucky for 30 years

Cheers

[woody]

I replaced my damaged brick with one of these, best of both worlds.
Laptop Travel Power Adapter | Car Chargers | Charging | Power | Products | Belkin Australia Site (http://www.belkin.com/au/F5L010/p/P-F5L010;jsessionid=E4A7D0770561F5D1BB18BD89D989A131 )

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/04/1069.jpg

woody

[Ports]

Interesting discussion.

I was about to wire in some USB connectors to the power supply that feeds my CB's.
the plan was to use these USB sockets as a power supply for my GPS, IPhone, IPad and any other devices from time to time.

Is the situation that in fact I should go to Jaycar and wire the voltage device that Dave speaks about in before the USB sockets?

I can't imagine a problem for the GPS so lets delete them from the responses please, but would an IPhone or IPad need such a voltage regulator or are these devices capable of handling the variations of voltage a well maintained vehicle delivers???

;)

[Marty110]

I just have a usb adaptor that plugs into the cig socket - have used it for ages and no probs with so far...... keep rolling those dice.....

[Chops]

Interesting discussion.

I was about to wire in some USB connectors to the power supply that feeds my CB's.
the plan was to use these USB sockets as a power supply for my GPS, IPhone, IPad and any other devices from time to time.

Is the situation that in fact I should go to Jaycar and wire the voltage device that Dave speaks about in before the USB sockets?

I can't imagine a problem for the GPS so lets delete them from the responses please, but would an IPhone or IPad need such a voltage regulator or are these devices capable of handling the variations of voltage a well maintained vehicle delivers???

;)

I've been charging my phones through the lighter since they first became available. I have never had an issue. They've been plugged in for hours on end, and for just a few minutes. Engines been turned on/off whilst phones plugged in too.
That's not to say its right, but I would think if there was a real issue there for phones etc, you would think the manufacturers would say something,,, :confused: In concern with the laptop, I'm guessing with the higher voltage required, its an issue.
I still have a hard time in my mind relating to this, as there are so many motorhomes and other vehicles/equipment with inverters, and I haven't seen or heard of too many problems, but that doesn't mean they haven't had them, just "I" haven't seen them maybe (??).
As Marty says,,, keep rolling the dice. :angel:

I'll see if I can find more info, but I've been made aware of some equipment which I may purchase,, I'll see.

The other thing I'm now aware of is creek crossings, and inverters,,, :eek: This is something I have never given a moments thought,,,

[Ports]

Just got some advice yesterday from tech guy

Apparently it is extremely difficult to wire the USB as a power source and that it is much safer for non techs like me to wire a cigarette lighter socket then use the USB adapter plug.

I am going with this option. For me personally this means a lot less wires dangling down in front of the console.

Re IPhone and IPad apparently the vehicle power source recharges their internal battery and the device then runs off its own battery so this is fine re ~12V power source but the same is not true for PC's. that's why you need the voltage thingy as detailed earlier by dave to source power from vehicle then out put that power at the correct voltage for the PC or risk frying internals.

:D

[Judo]

Not sure if I'm understanding some of the comments here correctly, but there is a BIG difference between using a cigarette lighter USB adapter and wiring a USB socket or hub that is designed for a PC into a 12v feed. That difference is a voltage regulator. A PC power supply regulates the voltage. A car 12v is not regulated and each device you connect needs to cater for voltages up to about 14v. The difference between 12v and 14v in charging a phone is significant.

If you want to put USB ports in your dash, the best (and cheapest) way to do it is buy the cigarette lighter adapters, take it apart and use the circuit from it.

Also, FYI USB power = 5v.

[Chops]

G'day Justin,
For my iPhone/eBook etc, I just use a USB charger that you can buy at any electrical store, and even servo centres have them. I'm not about to try and pull one of these apart in order to make something different out of it.
My comp whilst in the car, at present, runs through an inverter. Like most comps, the lead has its own power "regulator" (?) box thingy, which I'm guessing is designed to ensure the power supply is at a constant "V". This unit is still in-line regardless of whether I've got it plugged into 240V (house) or the inverter (car).
I spose with all that's been said, this was my thinking as to why I would get an inverter for the car in the first place.

[Judo]

Yep that all makes sense and I see no problem. I've also used an inverter for electronics before and it's been fine. It was a "modified sine wave" inverter though. I would not use a square wave inverter. Pure sine wave is the best, but very expensive!

Yes, AC-DC power packs would have a voltage regulator in them also.

Ports - just read your post again and I think maybe you're saying the same thing? It was your post confused me... Maybe I just needed another coffee. :)

[schuy1]

There seems to be quite a resistance to using a pure sine wave inverter given the cost. How many of you have actually priced replacing a fried lappy or 2 or 3? :D And for simplicity (The old K.I.S.S ) a ciggy inverter plugin power supply designed and approved for the device you wish to use is the safest! Reinventing the wheel (power supply) is all good but there are risks!

Cheers Scott