Laptop onboard

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oldaljones

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Hi all I would like to have onboard a Laptop that can also play DVDs preferable powered from the domestic batteries, is this feasable ? has anybody done similar ?, any info greatfully received Please be gentle I'm only a carpenter
Old Al
 
Two choices really:

1. Use an inverter which converts 12V D.C. to 240V A.C.
Look for one that has sufficient capacity (watts) for your PC's power supply.

2. Use a 12 volt to X volt, D.C. to D.C. converter. These can be obtained from Maplins, Halfords e.t.c. Sometimes called "In-car laptop power supply".
Make sure you get one that supplies the correct volts and watts for your P.C.
Note: Some Dells need 120 watts at 19volts (mine !!!!) and not all DC/DC converters provide this. I think I finally got mine from Kensington.

Alan.
 
Yes, it's easy. You can get a laptop charger which is designed to plug into a car lighter socket. I carry two laptops and have two chargers (duplication as they're crucial to my navigation).

Got one charger at
http://www.laptop-chargers.co.uk/
the other at Maplins

If you really are as baffled as you claim (which I doubt) then take the laptop (maybe with mains charger) to Maplins and get them to tell you what you need. (You should be able to work it out from the small print on the charger and laptop.)

I tried at one point to do it with a small inverter to give me a 240 volt supply. I guess it is not pure sine wave, and one of my latops went into apoplexy - I wouldn't go that route.

NB. If like me you have a wee boat with wee domestic batteries, you might want to faff with the settings on your laptop to make it draw less power. When it is plugged in it, of course, thinks it's on mains power and, by default, is liable to be greedy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Two choices really:

2. Use a 12 volt to X volt, D.C. to D.C. converter. These can be obtained from Maplins, Halfords e.t.c. Sometimes called "In-car laptop power supply".
Make sure you get one that supplies the correct volts and watts for your P.C.
Note: Some Dells need 120 watts at 19volts (mine !!!!) and not all DC/DC converters provide this. I think I finally got mine from Kensington.

[/ QUOTE ]

and make sure that you can get a laptop power supply with a plug that fits your laptop. I have a model of Toshiba Qosmio, and nobody does a 12 volt supply with the correct plug tip, (I think they call it Toshibas D plug, and it has 4 holes in it, rather than the usual 2.
 
Depending on the make of laptop, you make be able to pick up a 12v power supply on e-bay for a reasonable figure.

I use an old IBM thinkpad with an IBM power supply connected to the house batteries. No problems.

Third party power supplies are available, although some of the newer laptops may complain if they can't detect their own brand supply (I have had this on a DELL).

I would try to avoid inverters - they will take more power than the laptop actually needs, with the added complication of 240V hanging around

John
 
I bought one from Maplins for my HP 510 which requires 18.5v. It has multiple settings but maplins said try it on 18v, do NOT try 19v! So I did (and didn't, if you follow me) and it works fine £29.99.
 
You could get a laptop with a small screen which should draw less power from your batteries. Laptops do have their own battery which could last up to 2.5 hours, enough for a film anyway.

What do you want to watch DVD’s for anyway. You can stay at home and do that!
 
I have got one of these:
http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=137255

It runs off a cigarette lighter adapter and then senses the required input voltage (apparently).

The real bonus is that you only need one of these to run all the rubbish one can accumulate...phone charger(s) if you and SWMBO have different phones, laptop, handheld GPS, and whatever else needs charging.
 
Get yourself a Toshiba Tectra 8200 which has a 10v battery. Plug it direct to your 12v boat supply - no inverters necessary. You can get from ebay for less than £150. Good processor, and runs/records dvds etc. Had mine for a couple of years and no problems however much I have thrown it about. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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