It's probably a lot easier and cheaper to purchase a 12V lead from Jaycar.
They have selective voltage output. i.e. my laptop requires 19V.
Cheers, Ozjohn

If you get an inverter, make sure it is a Pure Sine Wave and NOT a Modified. Mine is 300wt but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.
You can also get the 12 vlt conversion kit from Jaycar as the others suggest. They have them on special at the moment, only about 20 -30 dollars. Was going to get one but flat broke after getting new alternator. Good idea to perhaps have two options, my plan when I can.

03 Troopy, You're right Mate.
My knowledge of most things electrical is limited to changing light globes. LOL.

Its a 'Power Tech Plus' Step Up DC/DC converter. Adjsutable out put from 15V through to 24V DC @ 3500mA 
It's about the side if a TV remote and from memory the price was surprisingly low from Jaycar. They're probably available at loads of other electrical appliance places as well.

I've been using mine when bush camping for about a year and find the power supplied is enough to run the Laptop and charge it's battery at the same time.

The Toshiba power supply for the Laptop I use when mains power is available is 240V AC to 19VDC @ 3.42A.

Cheers, Ozjohn.

 

I'm presuming this is similiar. This is in the latest Jaycar catalogue.

All Powered Up: Power your laptop from the 12 v cigarette lighter socket in your car. Choose from either automatic or manual voltage adjustment. Check our website for compatibility with your laptop.
50 W Automatic 12 - 24 VDC
Includes USB 1.OA output to charge an ipod or iphone
7 plugs
size 93 (L) x 30 (W) x 30(H)
MP 3479 $34.95

Comes in two bigger sizes at prices of $59.95(Automatic) and $74.95(Manual)

The first one I typed out sounds ok to me, my laptop is 18v

May not be powerful enough for some (many?) laptops as alluded to in Troopy's post. I'd go for the 90 watt unit. My link above will give info on both units plus a 150 watt unit if one really needs some "grunt".

I think we're playing "tag" Marj!  We'll have to stop meeting this way!

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 13th of October 2011 06:15:34 PM

Happywanderer wrote:

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Just had another look at mine. Its 19 V.

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 same as mine

Jim

ozjohn wrote:

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The Toshiba power supply for the Laptop I use when mains power is available is 240V AC to 19VDC @ 3.42A.

Cheers, Ozjohn.

 

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 That's 65 watts so 90 watts would "cover" it.  That's probably fairly typical of most laptops.

PS: Another advantage is you can plug it into the car's cig lighter and recharge the laptop while on the move.  No need to draw down on the house battery unless using the computer for an extended period.

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 13th of October 2011 06:39:31 PM

The 12V cable for use with the laptop definitely sounds like the best bet. I would avoid using an inverter for any "sensitive" electrical equipment if possible.

Dave83 wrote:

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The 12V cable for use with the laptop definitely sounds like the best bet. I would avoid using an inverter for any "sensitive" electrical equipment if possible.

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Darling Dave there is no issue running sensitive electronic or electrical equipment from a quality inverter. Darling a quality inverter will be more stable and superior to mains supply.

Darling Dave you can get heaps of 12v laptop power supplies from Deal Extreme http://s.dealextreme.com/search/laptop+power+supply+12V.html?show=grid&PageSize=60

Darling Jim is on the money dear as these 12V laptop power supplies charge and maintain your battery no different to been plugged into mains power with your mains power supply 

Besides, if all you will ever need is to charge a laptop, one of Jacko's suggestions will save a few dollars as well. A win win

Yes i will go to jaycars next week check them out ... planing on doing short trip in few weeks so i neet to get my act together .... Thanks for all the information people but any more ideas keep them coming .......

I was planing on geting a T antenna or a disk something i can put up and down as it can not be fitted permanently ..any sugestions ...

lilly31 wrote:

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Yes i will go to jaycars next week check them out ... planing on doing short trip in few weeks so i neet to get my act together .... Thanks for all the information people but any more ideas keep them coming .......

I was planing on geting a T antenna or a disk something i can put up and down as it can not be fitted permanently ..any sugestions ...

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 Just a suggestion for what it's worth but perhaps if you open a new topic it may attract more responses as this one's just about "run its race" (so to speak)

Jim

Happywanderer wrote:

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Went in to buy the 90 w today, they didn't have one in stock so have ordered one in for me.

lilly, I am going to have both so I have maximum power for laptop, tv, phone and camera charger. This converter would only be suitable while the car is running (I am assuming)

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 It's fine to use it from any 12v source ("house" or main battery) but keep in mind that its drawdown on the battery is similar to a 12v TV.  If using it from the car's cig lighter most likely you would need the engine running as these are usually wired via the ignition switch "aux" circuit.

By charging the laptop's battery while on the move you can save your house battery's limited capacity for other uses. In other words connect it to the house battery only if you really need to, especially if planning to stopover at the one spot for a few days or more.

Also the life of a house battery (or any lead-acid battery, including AGMs and gels) is determined by the number of discharges and the depth of discharge so any saving is beneficial in the long term.

On the subject of running a TV via an inverter take into account that an inverter/240v TV combination may (depending on the TV) drawdown significantly more than an equivalant 12v TV.  Another reason to use devices that will connect to 12v without the need for an inverter.

PS: I use a 12v charger for my phone and charge it from the car's cig lighter when out and about.  I take advantage of 240v mains power whenever available to recharge the camera.  I do own an inverter that I bought many years ago. It's sitting up the back of a cupboard somewhere here at home.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 15th of October 2011 08:13:11 AM

jimricho wrote:

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Happywanderer wrote:

---

Went in to buy the 90 w today, they didn't have one in stock so have ordered one in for me.

lilly, I am going to have both so I have maximum power for laptop, tv, phone and camera charger. This converter would only be suitable while the car is running (I am assuming)

---

 It's fine to use it from any 12v source ("house" or main battery) but keep in mind that its drawdown on the battery is similar to a 12v TV.  If using it from the car's cig lighter most likely you would need the engine running as these are usually wired via the ignition switch "aux" circuit.

By charging the laptop's battery while on the move you can save your house battery's limited capacity for other uses. In other words connect it to the house battery only if you really need to, especially if planning to stopover at the one spot for a few days or more.

Also the life of a house battery (or any lead-acid battery, including AGMs and gels) is determined by the number of discharges and the depth of discharge so any saving is beneficial in the long term.

On the subject of running a TV via an inverter take into account that an inverter/240v TV combination may (depending on the TV) drawdown significantly more than an equivalant 12v TV.  Another reason to use devices that will connect to 12v without the need for an inverter.

PS: I use a 12v charger for my phone and charge it from the car's cig lighter when out and about.  I take advantage of 240v mains power whenever available to recharge the camera.  I do own an inverter that I bought many years ago. It's sitting up the back of a cupboard somewhere here at home.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 15th of October 2011 08:13:11 AM

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 When travelling around, we have 4 different camera batteries and 2 phone batteries to charge, as well as occasional laptop use, so I ended up fitting a 600W Pure sinewave inverter into the Troopy to cater for this. But I also fitted a deep cycle battery to the Troopy as well that charges via a battery manager, so this isn't a problem. There is a separate battery in the campertrailer as well, combined with a 110W solar panel for power when camping. Fitting an inverter to motor vehicle brings its own set of worries as well of course, but we never leave it switched on or equipment connected to it when not close by the vehicle. And of course, extra caution with 240V power leads to make sure they don't jammed anywhere and damaged. It's amazing how many people don't realise that the 240V from the inverter will kill you just as dead as the power from your household 240V outlets.