In Car Laptop Chargers

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 18:56
ThreadID: 53256 Views:2365 Replies:8 FollowUps:11
This Thread has been Archived
In researching this item I came across two almost identical items that look the same but differ in price from $114.95 from Mrgadgets.com.au to $12.95 from Crazysales.com.au

They look similar but not identical but purport to do the same job.

Has anyone come across these items and can you explain the price difference, maybe one is a piece of junk or the other is ripping one off.

I tried to insert pictures but don't know how to convert web pages to pictures.

Thanks
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - MR 1927 (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:24

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:24
More to the above, pictures are now on my home page.
AnswerID: 280503

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:32

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:32
Mr 1927

They would be similar and Projecta do one now too but the reason I have not stocked these is the different plugs and voltages of the laptops on the market.

Take your laptop with you to the shop. Make sure the voltage matches your current mains power supply and that the plug fits. They are normally supplied with 4 or 5 sizes and even then they may not fit or be a loose connection which can cause the fittings to melt.

Once you buy the item and have chosen the voltage, fitted the correct adapter to suit your laptop (if it fits) then I recommend you fix the adapter and voltage selector in place. If the voltage selector is bumped or the adapter is inserted with incorrect polarity the laptop will be damaged.

I would recommend an inverter over these adapters as the inverter can be used on the laptop, camera batteries, cell phone, TV etc.

Regards

Derek.
AnswerID: 280505

Follow Up By: HGMonaro - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 15:06

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 15:06
agree with Derek.. take laptop in to shop and make sure the adaptor fits (unless someone else can confirm that what your going to buy DOES work).

I bought a Projecta as it said IBM on the box and my Lenovo laptop uses the same plug as my wifes IBM. None of the plugs fit so I emailed Projecta who mailed out the 'additional tips' but they didn't fit either. I emailed a photo of my plug (and measured the width too) to Projecta and when I got back from my trip they had sent out another tip that was very similar to what I need, but it's not quite right and doesn't fit! I haven't followed it up any futher, but the guy I was comunicating with was trying. Whilst on holiday I bought a little 150W invertor from JayCar which does the job, and I can charge camera batteries from it too!

Nige.
0
FollowupID: 544862

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:40

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:40
Does the $12.95 job come with a money back guarantee?
Sounds a little cheap to be real.

When you say in-car chargers, do you mean a 12 volt power adapter that charges as well?

As a comparison, the Kerio power adapter is compatible with most, but not all laptops, and with its compact size is a real winner. Cost of these are about $130 from Dick Smith Electronics.

In the case of a Dell laptop, there is a further problem. Due to the proprietary design of Dell's technology, you cannot charge an internal battery from any power adapter that doesn't come from Dell. Unless you obtain a Dell Auto/Air adapter, you can only run the laptop from an inverter, if you wish to charge the internal battery.

I have a genuine Dell brand Auto/Air power adapter that is identical in most respects to the original adapter, but the Auto/Air adapter has different input cables for both 240 volt AC and 12 volt DC, that you just plug in to suit. Cost when I bought it for the Inspiron 6000 I have, was $90 delivered, ordered from Dell's web site.

Now, getting back to that $12.95 bargain, I would be a little wary of that one.

Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 280508

Follow Up By: Member - MR 1927 (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:47

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 19:47
From what I understand from the two web sites, they are both 12volt adapters and chargers as well.

My laptop is a NEC Versa L2200.

I will have a look at Dick smith to-morrow.
Thanks
0
FollowupID: 544731

Follow Up By: Philip A - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 21:22

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 21:22
I have an NEC7200.
None of the plugs supplied with the Jaycar kit fits an NEC 7200.
I would guess that the DSE kit is similar.

I understand that the Projecta kit has an "optional" plug pack that includes an NEC plug. I have not followed this up, as I have never seen a Projecta kit in a shop and I have a 300w inverter..

Regards Philip A
0
FollowupID: 544752

Follow Up By: That Troopy Bloke (SA) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 21:02

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 21:02
I also have an NEC Versa L2200.
I use a Targus 120w Charge Source power adaptor.
2 of the supplied tips fit the NEC, the #116 is the correct one to use.
Works a treat.

Cheers
Glenn
0
FollowupID: 544957

Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:20

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:20
Turn the laptop over and read the specs.
What voltage and what current does it draw?

You need to know this info before you look for a power supply.
AnswerID: 280522

Follow Up By: Member - MR 1927 (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:29

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:29
19V 3.16A
0
FollowupID: 544746

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:55

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:55
Ok, my guess is that you will either want a genuine ome charger or have to go to an inverter. If you buy a power supply / charger from a reputable store you will be able to take it back if it does not work the way you want.

I had an inverter power supply that would not supply enough current to allow the laptop to start-up. If the computer was already running everything was ok, so back it went and was swapped for a higher wattage unit.
0
FollowupID: 544750

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:55

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 20:55
Ok, my guess is that you will either want a genuine ome charger or have to go to an inverter. If you buy a power supply / charger from a reputable store you will be able to take it back if it does not work the way you want.

I had an inverter power supply that would not supply enough current to allow the laptop to start-up. If the computer was already running everything was ok, so back it went and was swapped for a higher wattage unit.
0
FollowupID: 544751

Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 23:10

Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008 at 23:10
I would recommend a 300W unit as a minimum as some switch mode chargers will pull twice their rated current if the laptop is not already switched on.



Regards

Derek.
AnswerID: 280537

Reply By: SCUBADOO - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 06:06

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 06:06
The two units are unrelated. I have both.
The first is a voltage reducer i.e down converts 12VDC to 4.5/6/7.5/9VDC etc.

The second unit converts 12VDC up to a suitable voltage to operate and charge a notebook computer - in my case 19VDC.

AnswerID: 280553

Follow Up By: SCUBADOO - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 06:21

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 06:21
Sorry, I withdraw the above. I have an identicle looking down converter unit from Dick Smiths. Should have looked at the website details first! $12.49 is a bargain if your notebook requires < 70W.


0
FollowupID: 544786

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 19:44

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 19:44
I have a Compaq Presario which is if I remember correctly is 18 volts and it has a 240 volt 65 watt charger . I bought the Projector DC 6000 and it powers it fine. The smaller 4500 one would also but got pretty hot so took it back and got the bigger one. Ran it for 4 hours non stop OK. Also have one of those CAN inverters seems to go OK as well
AnswerID: 280651

Follow Up By: Member - MR 1927 (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 20:06

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 20:06
Graham,

Please give me the web site for the Projector DC 6000, I don't seem to be able to find it by myself.
Maybe I am having a seniors moment.
Thanks

Merv.
0
FollowupID: 544932

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 20:50

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008 at 20:50
Spelling mistake probable cause should be Projecta.

Sorry 2 days of up at 3 am work till 5pm getting to me.
I got it at Battery World Caboolture
0
FollowupID: 544952

Reply By: Member - Steve Y (NSW) - Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 10:36

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008 at 10:36
Folks all I would say is be careful with what you do here. Remeber that it's not just about the volts, the amp draw is more important in some respects. You can get some cheap converters that will give you the 19vlts but onlt at 2-3 amp. some laptops draw more than that to both charge and run the lap top. So you can end up thinking your charging when your not. Also. bad power or rough power has a habit of distroying batteries as well which is why may of us would say get a pure sine wave inverter for this type of elctrical device. 300 watt for a few hunred that can run and charge camera batterys etc. Anyway just IMO
AnswerID: 280732

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 18:56

Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 18:56
THe Projecta is 6000 milliamps so is any amount to run it and if u r worried about your battery take it out and just run it on the power
0
FollowupID: 546134

Sponsored Links