in car laptop charger

Have a look at the Kerio adapter available at Dick Smith. I use this on my panansonic toughbook. I usually run my smaller laptop (10" EEpc) through a beer-can type 150W inverter ($40 at DSE or Jaycar). Keep an eye on them for heat. Also a good idea to run heavier cable into the vehicle as the cigarette plug wiring is usually quite thin and not intended for big current draw.

Cheers Mick

Similar to Mick; I use a Belkin 300 watt inverter plugged into an auxilliary cig lighter running off my second battery and it will go all day every day without any problem, running my netbook computer with oziexplorer, and also sending emails and general use. I use a nextG phone as a modem, with an external aerial.
Tony

I have a Belkin universal power adapter that charges from 240 volt plug or 12 volt cig plug. It also has a USB plug for charging anything USB at the same time. It has lots of tips for different laptop brands and charges iPhones or iPads while running the laptop. Very happy with it. Mike

I have a power adaptor from Tandy, It rangers from 15v to 24v and I set it at 19v for the computer(Toshiba Satellite), it runs all day no need for an inverters, just plug into a 12v socket with heavy wire back to the batteries.

I use similar to the above, purchased from a Jaycar agent who asked me to bring the laptop to the shop to ensure they sold me the right one. Likewise it as multi voltage selector. Hint: Put a strip of sticky tape across the dial when selected as it can be easily bumped to the wrong voltage when travelling. It also comes with a selection of adaptors to fit many computers.Mine is used in the caravan not the car and we have an adaptor from cig plug to 12 v T shaped 12 volt outlet.

Have a great trip on your try out run. Ask other travellers lots of questions about there rigs too.

Motherhen

This topic comes up a lot, there is no need to run an inverter, buy the Toshiba 12V power adapter to suit or buy a universal 12v power adapter as mentioned above.

Be mindful that if you purchase a generic device it may not have the corect polarity. Best to take the device with you and ask them to check. (take you 240V charger as it has the voltage and polarity written on it)

regards
Craig

G'day I have & use one of these - works well good value! $22......hoo roo
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CAR-Charger-TOSHIBA-Satellite-L500-L510-P200-M200-M300-/220770595373?pt=AU_Laptop_Accessories&hash=item3366f3f22d Try their store if this one doesn't fit

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply and for your help. I will probably become a "forum fanatic", what a great site.
Cheers
Vicki

Hi
I have a Toshiba Netbook and run it in the caravan with this Car Adaptor from Deal Extreme ... Car Adaptor
Cheers
Neil

Thanks again all for your amazing advice. As I ran out of time, and as I also needed a phone charger, a very friendly salesman talked me into an inverter. Seems to be working ok so far as we have just headed off with the hire van.

On day 1 we stayed in a little caravan park right on the river. Up until that moment, I thought that the 15ft van following us was kinda cute and big enough…Nothing like a rainy night to sort out the stayers. Now I’m thinking more along the lines of a fifth wheeler:)..joking.

Have quickly learnt to openly explain to everyone we meet, including the lady in the supermarket, who didn’t even see the thing attached to our tow ball, that we hired it and that it did look bigger in the picture on the net. I just thought that my zoom wasn’t working at the time of booking.

I am however perfecting my “caravaners wave” and having a ball.
I have a lot of questions; so no doubt will ask the forum for invaluable advice once again.
Cheers
Vicki