Laptop computers on board

[samuel]

I recently purchased a laptop ( Dell inspiration 1100 ) & as I am off to Med ( See Med which way ) I thought I ought to give some consideration to contact with family at home.
One of the mags recently carried an article on a device for E-mailing which connects to a laptop.
Having seen lots of articles about laptop use on board i thought it could be a viable way of contact.
When I rang Dell to order a cable to connect to 12 volt supply they said they could not help. I was absolutely amazed to find that even though a laptop is for mobile use you cannot connect to a cars 12 volt supply for power ( So likewise a boats supply )
We do not intend to park up in marinas all the time & infact the boat I have ordered does not have shore power capability.
So here is the question !! How does one run a laptop for continuous use or for more than a couple of hours if you cannot charge it off the ship's supply?
Suggestions so far have included an inverter for going from 12V to 240 V & then using the standard mains charger to power the computer. This seems very inefficient & is it possible anyway? If it where then it must use stacks of current.
It seems from chats in the yacht club that other makes of computer such as Sony may have the same problem.
The DEll battery seems to be 15V but the charger is labled 20V.
Would a 15V battery run off a ship's 12 V supply direct & where would one get a cable from?
Any Ideas ?

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[scarlett]

I gave up my laptop some five years ago. It needed 19V and the adaptor from 12V [ £75] got hot. The battery got hot and the laptop got hot as it went down to 5V inside. The processor needed a fan and I did too. You needed a magazine on your lap to protect things from the heat. It took so much from the battery that I had to run the engine to feed the battery so that I could work. The printer, a small Cannon, a BJC80 I think, needs 13.5V but is happy with 12.5V. Anything much less and I get the errror message. Now I use the Psion 5MX for emails and letters. It runs for 35 hours on two AAs.

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[[3889]]

Hi Samuel
I use a 150w inverter which is (allegedly) 90% efficient and have to say has proved fine so far. An inverter has the advantage of multi-function for phone, mp3, aa/aaa battery charger, etc and costs less than most 12v leads. If you really want to go down the dedicated lead route then look at http://www.laptopshop.co.uk/laptop-notebook-car-cord/spscarcord.htm
Andy

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[Sybarite]

Lots of useful info in threads started by Gonfishing (Mobo) 24/5 Townquay and Sybarite (Scuttlebutt) 26/5

Good question though.

John

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[Guest]

Maplin have an offer on Mobitronic invertors atm.. circa 30 quid gets you a 300w.. ok for laptop and/or small tv..

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[vyv_cox]

It is normally recommended that the laptop be powered from an inverter, as this ensures a more stable supply without spikes when other electrical equipment cuts in.

For your internet connection, search for GPRS, I had some useful feedback about a month ago.

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[colvic]

A small invertor is a good bet as it is available for other uses.

HOWEVER, just where do you intend to be going in the Med? To go without the ability to connect to shore power is, if you don't mind me being direct, a bit daft. We all set off with the dream of living at anchor but the reality is something different. Get some extra batteries installed as you will be doing more motoring than you intended and it would be usefull to be able to store as much as the charge you create as possible.

Phil

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[markdj]

Yes, it is crazy isn't it that laptops don't run off 12volt !!! Try these guys, http://www.rcds.co.uk then go for a smartphone like a Sony Ericsoon p800, Nokia 3650 or Orange SPV phone or use a PDA with an infra-red phone.

Hope this answers some of your questions



MarkDJ
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stronge.org.uk>http://www.stronge.org.uk</A>
Fast loading UK weather

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[Riccardo]

I have been using a DELL Inspiron on board for about 3 years, and was supplied with a cigarette-lighter plug-in by Dell, which works perfectly well both on board and when out of the office in the car. In my experience, the transformer unit and battery get just as hot when using the mains charger!

Looking at the DELL website, it appears that these chargers are no longer listed - but if it of any use, the manufacturers of my 12V DC charger are a US company called LLpower, and their site is www.LLpower.com.

Regards

Richard

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[samuel]

Thanks for all the replies . I think I will try Maplin for the inverter first Then LLPower for a plain 12 V charger as suggested.
Failing that I will buy a book of stamps & some postcards , Can't really get on with Emails anyway.

<hr width=100% size=1>Justisla

 

[longjohnsilver]

Maplins are doing a deal, 300 watt inverter for I think about £30, £20 off usual price.

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[Porthandbuoy]

I spent a number of years living on a 9m Catalac in the Med. Regardless of what you THINK you need, you WILL need mains voltage (220-240 Vac) for something. Get yourself a solid state inverter that can deliver @ 1kv from your boats batteries, you will then be able to operate a drilll, a sander, a microwave, and charge a laptop, all without worry. Modern inverters are > 90% efficient.
For unsolicited advice get a very cheap laptop, or two, second hand. You don't need a state-of-the-art 2 Ghz screamer. Spend your money on a decent alternator and battery charging system.

<hr width=100% size=1>"Mariposa"

 

[Oldhand]

Rather than using an inverter and the Dell's mains power supply, I suggest you use a 12v/18v DC converter, direct from your 12V supply into the PC. Adapters made for using Laptops on aircraft are DC converters and are commonly available from PC stores. I run a "cappuccino" type PC onboard for long periods direct from a DC converter.

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[dkelsey38]

The inverter is the best answer. I have used one, 150 watts, for two years on a small boat with no problems. I use if for all kinds of stuff like navigation, email, playing games, doing work etc. It will run for ever with out worrying about recharging accessory battery. Besides, it can do other things as well.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

DC-DC switched power supply, 12v upto 24v, stabalised

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.eurobatteries.com/sitepages/power-adaptors.asp>Eurobatteries</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=blue> Julian </font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Homepage</A>