On the road laptop charging (seeking a no inverter solution)

[Fubar]

Does anyone have a preferred solution for keeping laptops charged whilst on the road for extended periods?

I'm avoiding running any inverters in the truck (why have 240v on the car when you dont have to) so I'm looking for a 12v direct laptop charger or maybe just use powerbanks.

[Tombie]

Have a look on your laptop power brick, it will tell you your power requirements in Volts & Amps.

Most laptops are 18v+ now so a unit that steps it Dc-Dc is needed (also provides filtering).

There are units out there. Let me know what you need and I’ll link a few.

[Fubar]

Have a look on your laptop power brick, it will tell you your power requirements in Volts & Amps.

Most laptops are 18v+ now so a unit that steps it Dc-Dc is needed (also provides filtering).

There are units out there. Let me know what you need and I’ll link a few.

Thanks...I'll check the specs when I get home.

[Eevo]

i used this store for mine

Great deals from PHINKO TECHNOLOGY in Car-Charger- | eBay Stores (http://stores.ebay.com.au/PHINKO-TECHNOLOGY/Car-Charger-/_i.html?_fsub=7286950010&_sid=1097186100&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322)

[PhilipA]

I had a power supply from Repco.
First time I fired it up it lost smoke.
Unfortunately it took out the power supply in the laptop.
I had bought one with the same amps as the transformer.
BUT it appears that their amps were not the same amps as the laptop transformer amps.
So now I charge through an inverter.
I got a refund for the 12v power supply but no regard for consequential damage to the laptop.

Once bitten twice shy.
Regards Philip A

[Tombie]

The unit I’ve had has crossed about 5 laptops now without issue.

Plenty of cheap inverters will kill SMPS in short order.

[Fubar]

It's 20V 3.5a

I had a quick look but I'm swamped by conventional chargers.

[Homestar]

There are plenty dc to dc converters specifically designed for this purpose. I've got one from about 3 laptops ago still doing its thing in my car. I'll see if I can find a link.

[Homestar]

This would work, but there are plenty more - 80W 12V Universal LAPTOP CAR CHARGER TRAVEL ADAPTER DELL HP TOSHIBA SONY ACER | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80W-12V-Universal-LAPTOP-CAR-CHARGER-TRAVEL-ADAPTER-DELL-HP-TOSHIBA-SONY-ACER/222979351521?epid=2240090328&hash=item33ea9ae3e1:g:Oh8AAOSwrhBZGSmH)

Has a pile of adaptors and output is switchable from 15 to 24 volts to cover all laptops. 80 watts will cover what you need.

Search 'Laptop car charger'

[Fubar]

This would work, but there are plenty more - 80W 12V Universal LAPTOP CAR CHARGER TRAVEL ADAPTER DELL HP TOSHIBA SONY ACER | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/80W-12V-Universal-LAPTOP-CAR-CHARGER-TRAVEL-ADAPTER-DELL-HP-TOSHIBA-SONY-ACER/222979351521?epid=2240090328&hash=item33ea9ae3e1:g:Oh8AAOSwrhBZGSmH)

Has a pile of adaptors and output is switchable from 15 to 24 volts to cover all laptops. 80 watts will cover what you need.

Search 'Laptop car charger'

That seems perfect...suspiciously cheap!

[101RRS]

Jaycar sell suitable laptop chargers that have variable voltage outputs from 12v inputs.

[Tombie]

I’ve had good runs with these (and their predecessor)

Targus Laptop Car Charger + Phone/Tablet Charge (https://www.targus.com/au/laptop-car-charger-phonetablet-charge-apd046au)

[Eevo]

Jaycar sell suitable laptop chargers that have variable voltage outputs from 12v inputs.


just dont buy anything jaycar.

[Homestar]

That seems perfect...suspiciously cheap!

Yes, I was a bit worried by the price too, but there are other ones there, this was the first on the list. Almost worth a try for the price. 😁

[Homestar]

just dont buy anything jaycar.

Very hit and miss I agree. Had a couple of very good 24 to 12 volt converters - big suckers that we pull 50 amps through to drive electric semi trailer legs from the 24 volts on the genset - each motor pulls just shy of 25 amps each when driving the front of the trailer up and they have lived long and happy lives, but their inverters are crap - went through 3 before they gave me my money back - couldn't make one last more than a week and was only drawing 1/4 or its rated continous load.

[Homestar]

I’ve had good runs with these (and their predecessor)

Targus Laptop Car Charger + Phone/Tablet Charge (https://www.targus.com/au/laptop-car-charger-phonetablet-charge-apd046au)

That would certainly be a better unit than the link I posted, but depends on what you want to spend.

[p38arover]

I have a couple of these that I don't know what to do with. I'd use one for my HP laptop but they are a bit bulky.

Hewlett Packard 5063-0408
ROVER ROAD TEST P/S
9-25VDC in
18v 3A out

List price 1100 Euro! [biggrin]

[AK83]

I got myself a dedicated car charger for my Windows Tablet(19v 3.5a) from a mob called Broadway Computers(shop based in Melb) .. they have an Ebay store(I think! .. they did when I found them).

Got a few laptop parts from them over the years, never had any issue with their products.
Mine still works strongly, even tho I haven't used the tablet for a good year or more now. Tablets battery died a few years back, and relies on charger to actually operate(battery not worth the $s). So the tablet is always on the charger.

I just got one that had the output specs for what I needed, hacked the bud of the end, fitted one from the multitude of multi fit ends I have lying about, looks hacked, but works.

Cost me about $20 a few years back(~2010) .. maybe a bit more now .. dunno, never needed to get another again.

[101RRS]

I know the OP does not want to use an inverter BUT [smilebigeye]

When I upgraded my lap top a few years back my old 12v lap top charger was not able to provide the required watts so I went looking for a new one - approximate cost was about $100.

Ended up buying a 300w/600w Pure Sine Wave inverter off ebay for $60 - saved $40 straight away - can plug into the cigar socket, charged perfectly but it is the flexibility that I found great. Small enough to carry around, charges all my other appliances that the dedicated laptop charger cannot, and when the power is out at home I can still use my laptop and watch TV at the same time.

The little inverter has been 100% reliable.

Have a rethink about a small inverter.

Garry

[PhilipA]

BTW my inverter is a 150/300watt PURE SINE WAVE.
I reckon that is safer than modified for that function.
You can also use it to run a vacuum packing machine and a few other uses.

Regard sPhilip A

[Wahgilad]

Agree with the brand & model specific units on eBay. My HP unit is small & has worked well over 10 years.
Alternatively.......why not try "Dave" our site host?

[Fubar]

BTW my inverter is a 150/300watt PURE SINE WAVE.
I reckon that is safer than modified for that function.
You can also use it to run a vacuum packing machine and a few other uses.

Regard sPhilip A

I'm glad you bought up the vacuum machine...this is something the Minister for Home Affairs has expressed an interest in having on extended trips. Nothing is ever simple...........

[Tombie]

I'm glad you bought up the vacuum machine...this is something the Minister for Home Affairs has expressed an interest in having on extended trips. Nothing is ever simple...........

Our vac machine is 12v [emoji41]

[Bagoo76]

Does anyone have a preferred solution for keeping laptops charged whilst on the road for extended periods?

I'm avoiding running any inverters in the truck (why have 240v on the car when you dont have to) so I'm looking for a 12v direct laptop charger or maybe just use powerbanks.

Other than kitchen and bathroom appliances most electronic devices are 5 -19 volts as such I personally have found that I have barely used my inverter in the past 6 years.
Laptop: as mentioned you can purchase after market or the manufacturer's "car charger": I have both a Dell and Lenovo car charger
Any device using USB power input: phone chargers and many other devices can be charged via a 12 volt "ciggy" to USB adapter.

Cheers

[Fubar]

Our vac machine is 12v [emoji41]

The wife is looking into 12v Vac sealer reviews today.

[weeds]

The wife is looking into 12v Vac sealer reviews today.

Ours is a hand pump, re-usable bags.......5/6 pumps and all good

[onebob]

Does anyone have a preferred solution for keeping laptops charged whilst on the road for extended periods?

I'm avoiding running any inverters in the truck (why have 240v on the car when you dont have to) so I'm looking for a 12v direct laptop charger or maybe just use powerbanks.

try the search argument "carputer power supplies" on you fav search engine and go from there........

I bought such a power supply from the US a handful of years ago to power a Mac Mini install in my Subaru that i was using for a moving maps application. It was 10V>14V in and constant 5V, 12V or 18V out depending on the user selectable internal jumper connection.

I still have it somewhere and if i find it we can barter ......... ;-)

onebob

[knp]

Does anyone have a preferred solution for keeping laptops charged whilst on the road for extended periods?

I'm avoiding running any inverters in the truck (why have 240v on the car when you dont have to) so I'm looking for a 12v direct laptop charger or maybe just use powerbanks.

Bit late on the scene but Altronics has a laptop and USB in car charger for $44.00 catalog M8627A. HTH