12 volt and puters

dawa · Guru

12 volt and puters

PeterS · Senior Member

Dick Smith used to have a universal laptop power kit with switchable voltage and multi connectors to fit almost any laptop.

Ma · Guru

I'm going to check that out too. Would be handy to be able to charge the 'puter when we are toodling along. smile

dawa · Guru

Thank you

dawa

PeterS · Senior Member

Just had a look at mine,it is a Projector lap Top Power Adapter. Projuector is a pretty common/popular brand so should be able to get them in lots of places. Pretty sure I did see them in Super Cheaps at one time. Have had mine for quite a few years and never had a problem with it.

Peter

dawa · Guru

computer and cell phone are the last things for me to get with 12 volt charge

Dawa

dawa · Guru

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Portable-Solar-Battery-Charger-Notebook-Laptop-Tablet-PC-5V-9V-12V-16V-19V-/320855953621?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item4ab48150d5

Look at this one

Dawa

gst · Senior Member

I have a universal adapter that that will do laptop and run my 12v tv should be able to get from jay car

Elle on Wheels · Guru

I ended up getting a 12v adapter from JB hifi when I bought my new laptop - it is a top grade one and they discounted it from $100 to $40. It's a mini inverter and plugs straight into the 12v outlet in the caravan but will obviously plug into your car battery as well. For me this was the most sensible option but I've heard that jaycars have the cheapest most practical options so check them out as they might have something more suitable for your needs.

jetj · Guru

I have a 12 volt charger especially for my Asus netbook, cost me $25 from a computer shop.

Happywanderer · The Master

I got my adaptor from the local Jaycar shop. Think it was between 60 - 70 dollars from memory.
There are quite a few different ones around.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

There are 2 sorts you can get.

One is an invertor which converts the 12v up to 240v then you plug your computer power lead into it. This one is not good for power consumption.

The second one converts the 12v straight up tp the 19v or whatever your computer uses & uses much less power. They come with multiple plugs that will fit most well known computer power sockets.

Decide which you want or ask the Dick Smiths guy about them. You never know, you may be lucky & get an assistant that actually knows something about them.

Cheers

Jon

dawa · Guru

wouldn't enven consider an inverter. dawa

jonathan · Guru

.. I wouldn't consider being without an inverter ..

bill12 · Guru

Well, I have just had my second inverter break down on me in 5 weeks. Taking the present one back to Retavision today. I tried the 12v to 19v option and it melted. Not having a good run. .Am thinking of buying a netbook which runs on 12v.Any sugestions Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Tuesday 28th of February 2012 07:10:36 AM

dawa · Guru

to run a TV?

dawa · Guru

I have ordered a 12volt plug in that will charge my laptop.
I have a net book but i don't much like it
Dawa

PeterS · Senior Member

was told yesterday that you can get a small adaptor that plugs in flush to cig lighter socket and converts the cig lighter to a USB port. not sure if it converts voltage or whatever. Available at jaycar so I am told, intend to call in there and have a look when I can.

dawa · Guru

the one i am getting is solar powered and will charge my phone as well.......so long as the sun shines
Dawa

Hylda&Jon · Guru

jonathan wrote:

.. I wouldn't consider being without an inverter ..

Sometimes they don't even say it is an inverter unless you read the small print. They just say it's for running computers from 12v, like those ones shaped like a cup that you place in the car cup holder.

bill12 · Guru

Just a word of warning. I went to a different retravision store than the one I bought the inverter from, and they wouldn,t honour the warrentee. They sent me to a jaycar franchise down the road.They wouldn,t help either. So I bought asmall one that fits in the drink holder. I have to send thefaulty one to the store I bought it from. They are all franchises, and run by sole operaters.A pain in the ass, really. Bill

Hydeeeho · Senior Member

Bill, those ones that fit in the drink holder work very well indeed, I hope we meet up again very soon as your fish meal was superb

bill12 · Guru

Got the fridge full of salmon fillets, and 2 lbs bream. I will be at my sisters place at Pomona, tmrow, and we will be having fish for tea. My friends at Stanthorpe won,t be there for a week m, so will head north.Hope to see you soon. Bill

Loki · Senior Member

I bought a DC adapter from Jaycar, it is multi voltage and works well with my Dell laptop on 20V. It does charge the battery but not fully, I don't think.

jimricho · Guru

Loki wrote:
I bought a DC adapter from Jaycar, it is multi voltage and works well with my Dell laptop on 20V. It does charge the battery but not fully, I don't think.

I have a Jaycar MP-3324 DC http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3324&keywords=mp3324&form=KEYWORD adaptor and have found it to be satisfactory. I can't see why this would not be just as effective as the laptop's own 240v adaptor in charging the laptop.

The cost is $60.

If considering using an inverter I would strongly recommend only using a Pure Sine Wave with a laptop (or any sensitive electronic device). A modified sine wave may be ok but I would not risk the possibility of damage to the computer.

Jaycar have PSW inverters for $199 (180watt) and $249 (380watt). Check any inverter is "electically isolated" before purchasing one.

Some time ago a member did a "like with like" test comparing an inverter and a dc adaptor and found that the inverter option drew 60% more current.

In summary, the dc adapter is less expensive and more efficient.

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 08:13:58 PM

bill12 · Guru

you wouldn,t believe it the inverter I bought 2 days ago , blew up , and also blew a 25 amp fuse. I am getting sick of this . will be going to the local jarcar shop first thing tommorrow.It can,t be the comp-it charger perfectly from the wall.This is getting ridiculous. 3 in 5 weeks, broken down. Will post the results. Bill

I have just come back from the jaycar store at Cooroy, nr Noosa, QLD. They were very helpful and swapped the inverters for a dedicated 12v charger, cutting out the middle man.Turns out the experts were wrong, and I needed a 400w inverter, not a 150w,and thats why I had trouble. The counter jumpers told me it would work. I thought it was a bit small.The people at Jaycar, Cooroy are to be recomended. Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Thursday 1st of March 2012 05:47:42 PM

stoney123 · Senior Member

i have had my jaycar charger for over 4 years. I also bought an extra cigarette lighter attachment. I can charge my lappy while driving (but i dont when headlights on). I have a spare car battery (getting an AGM soon) and put it in my tent at night so i can watch movies or surf, very handy in the wet!!_) i connect the extra cig lighter attachment to it, then plug the jaycar thing to it. I chuck a solar panel on it in day time. I will get a AGM soon as it will handle the load/unload much better. I am camping at moment and carry my spare car battery to camp kitchen and charge it and lappy for a couple of hours each day.

dawa · Guru

That camp looks comfy.....good on ya
Dawa

bill12 · Guru

The new 12v charger is working well. but be prepared- it draws 3.8 to 4 amps at 19 v,which is 76 watts, abit more than I thought. I have a big enough battery set up to cope. The 60 ltr fridge went great, and was down to 1.5 amp per hr, when everything was cold. The problem is that it was FREEZING THE BEER!The smart solar controler tells you what is going in and out, a great idea.Its hot and humid up here in NQ,but probably better than the floods down south. I wouldn,t mind it a bit cooler, though. Bill

barina · Guru

I just bought a ciggie lighter charger with 2 USB slots from a local computer swap meet for $6 have not tried it yet but will let you know how it goes..............