12 volt laptop charger

Philip A replied:

I bought a Projecta Laptop charger at Repco. It blew up the first time I used it so I got a refund.
Now I use a 300W Pure Sine Wave inverter that I bought from Jaycar. No problems so far.
Jaycar also do a 12v charger but theirs did not have a plug that fitted my NEC P7200.
Regards Philip A Thumbs UpThanks 0

Affordable Batteries & Radiators replied:

I recommend an inverter. You can use it on many other items as well as the laptop.

Regards

Derek.

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Cap'tn Davo replied:

G'day Mate, "Deals Direct" have a new product for $70.00 bucks including frieght. details below: Cheers Davo

This FSP Universal Notebook Car Power Supply will charge your notebook up in no time! Only using your car's ciggerette lighter to do the work! All you need to do is find the correct attachment, plug it into your notebook and off you go! Great for inbetween client/business trips... and best of all - it works worldwide!! As long as you have a car, you will have power!

Features:

FSP Universal Notebook Car Power Supply
Universal car DC input 12V voltage.
Compatible to 19V input notebooks.
Up to a current of 3.42A, 65W maximum.
High efficiency 83%
Total output protection solution.
6 Convertible DC output plug tips.
MTBF: > 50000 hours.
Compatible with most notebooks.
Worldwide safety approved by E-mark.
Package Includes:
65W adapter.
6 Convertible DC output plug tips.
Cigarette-lighter plug.
Velcro Cable Tie.
Travel Bag.
Specifications:

Input:
- Voltage: DC 10.5Vdc - 15Vdc
- Current: 8.2A - 5.2A
- Efficiency: 83% typical
Output:
- Maximum power: 65Watts
- Output rating: Nominal +19.0Vdc
Protection:
- Over voltage protection.
- Over current protection.
- Short circuit protection.
- Overshoot.
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MEMBER - Darian (SA) replied:

This is one application that has been directly catered for by the electronic industry - about time somebody though of us struggling motorists ? - I bought a "Power Tech Plus - Notebook Power Supply" from Jaycay about a year back - 12VDC in - 7 selectable DC voltages out (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24 / up to 6A on the first five - up to 5A on the last two) - about $70 - simple - easy. Thumbs UpThanks 0

MEMBER - Darian (SA) replied:

This is one application that has been directly catered for by the electronic industry - about time somebody though of us struggling motorists ? - I bought a "Power Tech Plus - Notebook Power Supply" from Jaycay about a year back - 12VDC in - 7 selectable DC voltages out (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24 / up to 6A on the first five - up to 5A on the last two) - about $70 - simple - easy. Thumbs UpThanks 0

Member - Andrew (QLD) replied:

It might help to tell us what brand and voltage of laptop you own, and possibly its intended use (i assume for on the road travelling, however it may just be for "at the camp" use).....some of these recommendations do not cater for some laptops eg. My Dell Precision requires 19.5v (~3.5A) and a special connector not normally found in all power supplies.

BTW, i run a Dell PA-12 dual voltage (240V or 12V) power adapter which means i can change between 240V and 12V by simply unplugging the short lead and plugging the other one in....suits my needs perfectly, better than an inverter.

I hope that helps.

Andrew Thumbs UpThanks 0

Sand Man (SA) replied:

An inverter is one solution, but it may depend on how much room you have in your vehicle and the quantity of various cables for "other gear" you have as well.
Using an inverter, you also use the same power adaptor you normally use for 240v. Therefore you need to fit both of them under the seat, or somewhere else within the vehicle.

A purpose designed 12 volt Laptop Adaptor takes up very little room at all. Something like the Kerio Laptop Adaptor (available from Dick Smith) is a very good solution, unless you have a Dell. You can still use it to power the Laptop but it will not charge the internal battery because Dell uses its own unique wiring configuration. I was fortunate in that I purchased a Dell auto/air adaptor which is the same as the original power pack, but takes either a 240 volt input lead, or a 12 volt input lead.

Actually, I don't use any of them that often now, as I prefer a PDA for navigation use and only take the Laptop for occasional extra capacity to transfer photos from the still camera.

I use an inverter to power the charger for the camera batteries, (still and video) and also to charge AA and AAA batteries.

If you can only afford to buy one product, the inverter (about a 300 watt unit) is probably the most practical solution, but again, some Laptops will require a pure sign wave inverter to run successfully.

Bill.
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Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

If you own an older 15V Tosh laptop, you don't need anything - they work fine just plugged into a 12V socket. Thumbs UpThanks 0

Mike Harding replied:

Search e-bay for "notebook car power" or your computer make model and "car" or similar.

This one looks _exactly_ like the one Jaycar sell for a much larger sum:
Jaycar PSU?

I have one on order for my new Eee PC, about $15.

Mike Harding
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