Laptop used a a chart plotter

[SteveGorst]

They refer to it as a Laptop adapter and the reference is N59AC

It's a good piece of kit.

 

[Guest]

Nothing special needed ...

You do not need latest all singing dancing Notebook for plotting .... a reasonable low to middle road job is fine. For most - a good second-hand job is more than adequate. If you keep to Seaclear / Maptech / Ozi-Explorer etc. - you can use cheap IBM Thinkpads bought second-hand for example.
Make sure you have good sized hard drive ... as its better to read charts from HDD - faster.

USB Mouse GPS is ok - but I prefer a hand-held GPS connected - as then you have best of two worlds .... standalone GPS without PC when you want .... + data feed to PC for plotting.

12v converter such as Ebergy Knight in Maplins is excellent .... only thing you have to watch is how many peripheral powered items you have connected. My Acer normally has no power saving activated except screen, a hard drive caddy connected to USB, also a Garmin eTrex running of the usb ..... my battery then gives out after 4 days use .... based on about 6 hrs per day ... total 24 hrs. Not bad considering the powered bits. If I disconnect the hard drive caddy - I should get vastly longer ... possibly indefinite ...

Finally why not join the group mention ed in signature .... Gps Navigator ........... free group worldwide who help all in using the GPS etc.

Welcome to the exciting world of knowing where you are !!

 

[Talbot]

There are two types of laptop converter, with different power (i.e. watts) output. If your laptop is quite new, you will need the higher (and more expensive) converter, you may also have to purchase additional plugs to get the correct one for your laptop.

Alternatively (and cheaper) you can go here and tell them what laptop you have and get the correct stuff from the start.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Talbot,

Thanks for your very useful link. I checked it out, but it doesn't offer an adaptor (the sort of £44.00 range) for my Dell Inspiron 8600. Do you know of any other supplier who might provide one other than Dell themselves?

My laptop needs 3.34 amps at 19.5 volts (it says on the mains charger)

I guess the unit 8200 shown might do, as I'm sure the amps/volts outputs aren't THAT critical, but I'm not sure how I check that the plug will fit. Our old (spare) Inspiron has a totally different plug for example.

Would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

Jerry

 

[RickMoss]

As I mentioned, my Inspiron 6000 would not work on the Maplin adaptor. Dell do not sell one, hence I went down the inverter route.

 

[markdj]

We can use our laptop plugged direct into the 12 volt supply.

We have a 24volt system on the boat with a 30amp 24-12v convertor which puts out a steady 13.8 volts and the laptop works great. We have also used the laptop on a 12volt portable battery (the emergency start type with handle) and it works too at 12.8 volts and less as the battery discharges.

The laptop os an old Pico 400Mhz job though we are upgrading to a 12volt PC very soon.



M

 

[Talbot]

I would give laptop shops a ring on "01255 422033" and ask them, and failing all else I would contact dell and ask for a car adapter.

BTW I have no relationship with that shop, I just like the way they are presented and the way they do business.

The adapter will undoubtedly come with a universal fitting, thus if all else fails , Maplin do a large box of ends for that universal adaptor that may fit - but its abt £10

 

[jerryat]

Hi Talbot,

Thanks for that, I'll give it a whirl.

CHeers Jerry