12v PCs & laptops

alanwilson

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Has anyone found a good make of PC or laptop that runs directly off 12v, to avoid having to put it through an inverter? OK, the screen needs mains (unless a anyone has 12v screen details!), but running the PC direct would save electricity wastage.
 

alex_rogers

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You might find an old laptop or a mini laptop at 12V, however nearly all require 16 or 19V now. A dc-dc converter would probably be much more efficient (and smaller) than a dc-ac inverter. Maplin sell them for about twenty pounds.
 

fireball

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Some old Tosh laptops can run of 12v - generally, those with a 15v transformer output will run 12v.
Working on a small PC that will run off 12v as the internal requirement is generally 12v/5v ... but would need an LCD screen as well ... long term project ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

StriderOzone

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There are "special" PC available that will directly run directly off 12V, they use a 1-1.2 GHz Eden processor and have a very low power draw compared to a conventional pentium / celeron / athlon / duron processor. They employ a lot of hardware acceleration on the motherboard for DVD playback etc. so aren't so reliant on CPU grunt as a conventional one. Can have all normal facilities eg win XP, office program (Open Office is free and does all Microsoft does) . Many have special stabilisation circuity some internal, some external, to protect agasinst voltage instability whilst engine hits the boats battery during start up. The external power supply ones have a stable 2 V output for screen as well.
I'm imminently starting a business to build them to customer spec for marine use, prices in the range 600-750 for base unit. One option in solid aliminium case passivly cooled so no hot salty air being drawn over delicate electronics by cooling fan, should do wonders for reliability for use on a boat.
 

Gordonmc

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I run my Tosh Portege 3110CT direct off 12V ships batteries using a lash-up of power cables.
No good for charging the laptop's own battery though. I remove the battery before powering up.
I got the lappy off eBay for not much cash, so if it does go up in a cloud of blue smoke, not a big loss.
 

pandos

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I have often thought about this could one run a 6 volt motorcycle battery in series with the ships own 12v supply to obtain 18v. if so what about charging, would you add asecond 6 v. in series and parelall these to the 12v system to charge. If i am correct a few relays and a switch and a pair of batteries would be a very good solution to 18/19v laptops .??
 

Swagman

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This is not a recommendation as to durability - simply a true story.

Last year we were using an old Toshiba Vaio (yes - linked up to 12v and working OK but also not charging as that needed full19v).
On start of cruise to med in lumpy seas - a full can of Stella lept from its retainer and dived onto top of keyboard - inverted.
The screen went fuzzy - I mananged to disconnect power before that blew anything - and I watched with horror as the bubbling Stella foam poured our of disc drives hole / ports etc.

As we used this laptop linked to GPS as our main charting system - I was obviously feeling pretty stupid.

So following rumoured recommnedations, I simply ran it under a warm tap (yup - into keybord) - placed in hot air cupboard for 72 hours until it was warm and dry - reconnected - and stunned myself when switching back on that she fired up OK.

Just once in a while over next three motnhs, the screen would stop working - connection somewhere in the hinge obviously not OK - but I was NOT prepared to guarantee a re-wash would work a second time!

So it seems some of these devices are a bit tougher than they are given credit for...........and would suggest an investment in a rubber keyboard cover is worth it - especially if you are a Stella drinker.
Cheers
JOHN
 

jimbouy

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What you want is a mini ITX system. As mentioned below they use Epia boards and draw relatively low power.

The M10000 is the board to use, good speed and a com port to hook a GPS to.

The boards are not "jet" fast but will do a fine job of running Maptech, seapro and the like.

Add to that the ability to do multi media!!!. There's even a PCI slot to which I've fitted a PCMCIA card which takes my vodafone data card!!!

Have a look here for systems and parts etc.

http://www.mini-itx.com/

Then there's the monitor question....

Some 14" TFT's run off a 12v input.

Or how about one of these.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32826&item=5773911653&rd=1

Giving you a nice little set up like this............ (for less than £700)
eddie.jpg


(Not the best picture i know and the keyboards a short one .)

All IMO
 

fireball

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Not sure how you'd have 12v to the ships +ve and 0v to the same point from a single altenator - might have to run a second, -ve isolated altenator to achieve this...
 

TigaWave

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I have an old Tosh 2520 cdt satellite pro, (cost £100) runs off 12v, quite happily, as the real voltage is usually between 13-14V.
This runs all the chart plotting and weatherfax software, its been dropped, broken, repaired, dismantled re soldered...still works fine!
 
G

Guest

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Old tricks never die ...

Wash out with good clean fresh water - after battery / power disconnected of course !
Dry off in warm moving air area, if stubborn or liquid spilt is 'orrible - then a rinse with clean Vodka .....
 
G

Guest

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ITX .... I can vouch for it ...

Having received an ITX system from Jim - I can honestly say its a very nice piece of kit ........... AND it has USB + Serial - so no worries about cable connections etc.

Power requirements are low and I am planning to fit to my boat prior to the Baltic 'voyage' ..... what with the LCD screen that he has on his - is just the job ....

Last trip - my N/book fell on the cabin sole - luckily the beer-case broke the fall and all was ok ... so I have to sort a better solution ....
 

Oldhand

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Think you will find that most LCD monitors run off 12v DC directly. My boat one certainly does and my wife's Proview 15" LCD runs off a mains to 12v DC power supply supplied with the unit.
 
A

Anonymous

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True, most of the monitors and LCD tvs I've seen are "12V dc" but a vehicle battery is 10.5V to 15V or even 15.5V. It is important to check that any nominal 12V dc equipment is designed and rated for use on a vehicle supply. Or feed it from a dc-dc converter, or its own mains power supply from a 12V to 230V inverter.
 

dick_james

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Agree, my iiyama 15" runs off 12v but when I talked to some geezer at the company, he told me it has to be 12v and not a penny more. Certainly not the 14 -15 volts output from an alternator. 12v to 12v regulators are as common as rocking horse excrement.
 
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