Thread: In car Laptop power

Originally Posted by walker

There is also a lot of losses and excess heat when converting from 12v DC to 240vAC and then back to DC for the laptop.

And if left on will drain your car battery real quick, especially if you lap top battery is on the way out. I am going to get a 12v supply for mine, but I will keep the inverter in for charging the hand held radios and other uses, but will mostly be turned off when travelling.

Unless you want to use the laptop for navigating, why would you have an inverter plugged in while moving?
I recharge my laptop using the inverter while stopped at the campsite. It only takes an hour or so.
I was forced to do this when my "Projecta" 3500 milliamp 12volt power supply blew up running my 3500milliamp demanding laptop and probably damaged my laptop power supply as it will no longer reliably turn on.. Their 3500milliamps must be smaller than NECs 3500 milliamps.
When you pay $50 or so for an electronic bit of gear you get what you pay for and there is potential to damage a $1500 laptop, so think carefully.
I trust a $300 pure sine wave inverter more after my costly experience.
Regard sPhilip A