Laptop Power Supply

Depends on the laptop and what your doing... EG what program your using for maps etc.

I *had* a Comapaq 4120T with ciggy lighter kit, and it worked well with Ozi and maps, but not for all day with one battery in it (the battery was sus, and a new one more than the laptop was worth!!).. But I got a spare battery where you remove the floppy drive and slid it in there, and PERFECT for all day.

All depends on where your going too. If its 200+klms between towns etc, then turn the laptop off... your not going to get lost then!

Have you given any thought to where your mounting the laptop? if its on the passangers lap, they tend to get the shiats with that R E A L L Y fast...

YMMV.

Neil,

It depends on the the laptop, some have an input of 20V which means you will need an adapter. I would not recommend an inverter for a laptop but some people use them.

I have used NEC in the past, I also have an IBM and a Toshiba, they are all reated to 15V which means that if I plug them directly to the cig lighter they don't get charged but they work fine.

I have done many trips with the NEC (leaving it on all the time while ploting the map with Oziexplorer) including Cape York and long trips to the high country day in day out....

I have now replaced that one with an IBM and so far it has done a few trips, one accross the Simpson desert, again day in day out running from the cig lighter not the original cig lighter (from the aux battery).

The Other laptop I use is Toshiba TE 2000 which my kids use for watching movies on its DVD player, sometimes I have both laptops going all day from different cig lighter sockets (I have some at the back).

I mount my Oziexplorer laptop in between the seats (console) and my kids mount the Toshiba one behind the console (watching from the back seat).
Works well for us....

Will

I use a Compaq EVO with the proper 12V adapter lead and leave the laptop on all day, every day with no problems at all. I'm not sure whether the adapter simply charges the battery or whether it powers the laptop directly. I hang the laptop in a satchel on the cargo barrier between the front seats (the satchel has ventilation holes in the right places to prevent overheating) and use a small external screen attached to the dash for the picture - works well.

I have an adaptor I bought from Jaycar electronics that steps up the voltage from the cig light 12v to a selectable voltage between 14v-18v (slectable for most common laptop voltages) It cost about $90. This does charge the laptop battery as well as run the laptop. I saw something similar in Dick Smith Power House the other day.
Last year on my trip to Birdsville, I was using an inverter & the 240v laptop power supply, but I found that the inverter would turn itself off (overloaded / overheated) after about 4-5 hrs, would be fine again after a 'rest' for about an hour. The inverter was a cheap 150w unit, so maybe a higher rated unit would handle it better.

Grinner

Inverters and computers from my experience.

If it has a plug pack for its power supply you should be able to run it on anything. (my clarification of plug pack does not include adaptors for laptops).

The power supplies in most of the following should be fine:
Smaller bubble jet printers
Scanners (A lot work on 12V DC so you can make an adaptor direct to the battery)
SAT and Mobile phones charges
Camera and video chargers

The computer supply for a lap top should not be a problem, check that it does not get hotter than usual when connected to the inverter.

Larger computer equipment would draw to much current/life from your batteries on an invertor alone.

My own advice and how I do it is with a Digitor 300W inverter from the AUX and wired via a large relay at the units terminals I switch it via a low current switch on the dash and in the back. I like to be able to turn the invertor off when we plug and unplug devices due to the lack of electrical earth from the chassis to the ground. Our bodies can do the job and this can hurt.

We have also gone the full 12 volt approach and this works fine, during our two years solid travell we used 12V for everything - killed one Toshiba laptop power supply - got a warranty replacement. Used scanners & zip drives direct from 12V or 12V power adaptors. Only problems was with printers using the 12V approach - but they work in van parks.

We used both systems with all of the equipment above and have tried many different brands all work fine. Just install it right and do not overload he invertor. I have never overloaded the 300W unit and it is on all the time the car is running , with SAT phone, video and laptop all running.
Enjoy!Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
--------------------------
Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

Hi Neil
Targus make a device called an Air Power adaptor. This device is designed to run laptops (and many other devices) from an aircraft fitted with an air power socket or a cig lighter. I used one with my laptop on a three and a half month trip across the top and it performed perfectly. It is very small does not get too hot. It comes with a number of tips to suite different model laptops, mobile phones atc, if your particuar tip is not included targus will send you it for free. Changing the tip also changs the voltage supplied automatically so it is quite a clever little box.

http://www.targus.com./accessories_power.asp for details local supplier is Harris Technology.

Neil/Lynne, 400 W inverter from Jaycar is $200. Will run laptop and all your other chargers.

I run the laptop and recharge batts from a 300w inverter, The laptop sits on a pillow on the back seat (and wears a seat belt) and the inverter is tucked next to the pass seat, It needs a charging aux batt to operate properly, the inverter makes a terrible noise if it is not recieving enough current.

We have run this setup for days on end with no problems at all.

These work brialliantly. I have 10 each in our tour buses for the mobile junkies including satellite internet connection.

www.dse.com.au
KERIO Auto Air N/Book Adaptor

Plug 'Energy Knight I' into a cigarette socket in vehicles and connect it to a Notebook, using DC to DC power. It will start recharging your Notebook after you start the engine.


Features: The smallest product in the market
The lightest product weighing only 130g
With excellent power efficiency, it requires only 1 to 2 hours recharging time
New digital design
Complies with USB port in Notebooks and USB plug in cell phones
You can surf the net and recharge your cell phone while away from the office
Built-in circuit protection with 8 worldwide certifications and approvals
Universal unique voltage adjustments which adapt to most Notebooks
Specifications:
Power
Input: 11~15 VDC, 7.0 A (Max)
Output: 15~24 VDC, 5.0 A (Max); 72 watts of continuous power
Fuse Type: 5AG, 8A 250V
Reliability
Input: Low voltage shut down
Input: Over voltage limiting
Output: Over current protection
Output: Short circuit shut down
Internal over temperature shut down
Physical
Input Power Cord: 60 cm
Output Power Cord: 60 cm
Power Adapter: 95 mm x 42 mm x 21 mm
Construction: UL rated 94V- 0
Weight: 130 g +/- 1%
Environment
Temperature: 0 - 40º
Relative Humidity: 5 ~ 95% ( non-condensing )

Cat No. M9695
Category: Notebook Accessories

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. After much analyses of your responses and looking at what was suggested, we have decided to go with the Targus Auto/Air Adapter which we bought online for $194. We have enough batteries for the camera to last us the few days that we will be in the bush away from 240 power.

My main reason is that inverters kind of scare me with -

a. possible excess current draw from the car battery.

b. overheating of the unit

c. no earth, possible danger (I don't like pain :-)

I may be worrying about nothing, but then I don't need ANY worries.

Thanks again guys

Regards

Neil & Lynne
Life's too short to say .. I can't do that