eePC in car power problems
Submitted: Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 12:48
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Member - Duncan W (WA)
Have OE loaded on my eePC and moving maps will work but I'm having problems with the PC maintaining power. I've tried all the usual suspects for a dedicated car kit for the eePC here in
Perth and I'm aware they can be sourced OS. I've tried running the PC of an inverter and the 240 charger that comes with the unit.
PROBLEM: yesterday I was test driving the unit and 1st I lost the screen - thought it had gone into hibernation mode. Re set all the sleep modes to "never" in both 240V & 12V still the PC hibernated. It was then that I noticed a low power warning come up on the screen. dawned on me then that the unit was hibernating so as to conserve power.
QUESTION: why wasn't the PC drawing power via the inverter????
and what can I do to overcome this little dilemma.
Was hoping to run the eePC this weekend but if I can't resolve the power problem I'll have to resort to my normal PC.
Reply By: Member - Ross S (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 13:40
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 13:40
Is the inverter a sinewave inverter? lot's of laptop power supplies will not work with
inverters that are not pure sinewave.
I suggest getting a Targus auto/air laptop power supply but you would need to check the voltage and amperage required by the eeePC (should be on the power supply).
Cheers
ross
AnswerID:
327084
Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:51
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:51
Ross I got a Waeco can-size inverter it is a non-sinewave inverter.
Have a large inverter in the back of the car so didn't want to use that, so I got the smaller 100W Waeco one. Guy I know runs his computer through one with no problems.
FollowupID:
594270
Reply By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:27
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:27
I use a dc-dc supply from Jaycar to run my Acer Travelmate.
catalogue number mp-3463
AnswerID:
327102
Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:54
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 15:54
Thanks John. I have a proper in car transformer for my other puter that was purpose bought to suit that unit (Toshiba Satellite) and for some odd reason it has never been able to fire up that machine either. Obviously inverters/transformers and me don't mix.
FollowupID:
594271
Reply By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:04
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:04
First of all be careful of the advice above - the ePC requires 9V5 at 2A5 and most of the "universal" DC to DC converters intended for notebooks do not support this low voltage. You can buy an appropriate ePC supply which runs from 12V from eBay for about A$15.
Check; "Control panel" - "Power options" - "Hibernate", ensure the box is not ticked.
Check; "Control panel" - "Power options" - "Power schemes", ensure the three "Plugged in" options are all set to "Never".
Next: cigarette lighter plugs and sockets are the work of the devil, their single purpose upon this planet if to create stress and misery amongst mankind. Unfortunately, in this case, you are probably stuck with them - check and double check that a poor connection on this sad excuse for an electrical connector is not the cause of the problem.
As the ePC changes from internal battery to external power supply it puts up a message in the centre of the screen to tell you which it's running off also the "Battery level" icon in the system tray comes and goes with external power so it should be pretty obvious which the ePC is running from.
Finally: have you checked the inverter is actually working? Plug a 240V 40W light globe into it and ensure that works.
Mike Harding
AnswerID:
327112
Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:25
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:25
Good to know Mike , I could be tempted to get one of those and it looks like I can simply use a direct connection again - perhaps with a series resistor. Must check it out , if thats not what the $15 ebay isn't anyway.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 17:41
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 17:41
Stick a Tranzorb on that Robin, 18V or so would be good.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 18:13
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 18:13
Inverter is working checked it with a work light. Thing is though Mike if the inverter is converting 12V to 240V then the normal 240V plug supplied should by rights work as per normal through the inverter.
Yep know all about the pit falls of cig plug fittings, I intend before next year, to get some more 2 pin connections installed, like I have for the fridge.
FollowupID:
594299
Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 18:15
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 18:15
Also Mike I checked all the boxes yesterday through the Control panel and Power options and have switched them all to never and the hibernation box is not ticked.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: stevesub - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:32
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 16:32
In my own experience running laptops in vehicles (SONY and ACER), non-sine wave
inverters work fine. I also have 12V to SONY adapters - both work fine with the engine off but when I use one of them with the engine running, the SONY does weird things. Sounds like there is some interference getting to the laptop that is screwing it up
Stevesub
AnswerID:
327117
Reply By: On Patrol & TONI - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 19:12
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 19:12
Duncan W
I have an inverter running my eeePC with no issues at all, a fantastic unit with no moving parts to fail under rough conditions, also I have installed an 8GB SD card ($45 ex officeworks) into the extra card slot, for ALL my maps.
I have the power settings at "Never Off" while on the inverter.
Check the two pin plug on the power lead that plugs into the voltage rectifier, for connection & with a test device (Gauge or test lamp) check the power at the plug going into the Puter is OK.
Also check that nothing is causing the plug to lose connection such as bumping the power input lead away from the computer!!!!
The battery icon on the start bar should go out as soon as the "power lead"is pluged in to it.
Hope you solve this soon and enjoy a great little unit.
Cheers Colin.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:28
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:28
Hi Colin I'm hoping it was just a glitch in the system.
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Reply By: neil&brenda - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:20
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:20
9.5 volts dc at 2.31 amps. What my eee takes. Built a dedicated 12v supply. No probs. An inverter should not have any probs in this regard. Wattage at 240 volts is .0028 watts. Given that the inverter calculation is 9 amps draw (d.c.) per 100 watts A.C demand you should not be having a problem.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:29
Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 at 20:29
That's what I would ohf thought also. Thanks Neil.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 05:54
Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 05:54
>Wattage at 240 volts is .0028 watts.
Nope, the wattage at 240V is the same as it is at 9V5 ie.22W plus losses in the 240V to 9V5 switch mode power supply.
The current at 240V, which may be what you meant? is about 100mA.
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
594383
Follow Up By: Member - Ross S (QLD) - Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 09:30
Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 09:30
No experience with the Waeco inverter but an inverter I did have in a solar powered house would only work correctly if it had a decent load (approx 100w) on it.
So possibly not enough load on the inverter for it to supply accurate output of 240v.
I'd suggest getting some sort of regulated DC-DC converter.
Regards
Ross
FollowupID:
594409
Reply By: P7OFFROAD Accredited Driver Training - Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 05:31
Friday, Sep 26, 2008 at 05:31
I also have run an eeePc of an inverter without problems...
sorry I can;t help any more than that
AnswerID:
327195