plugging a laptop into a car cigarette lighter

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  • BlackCrayon
    Too lazy to set a custom title
    • Jun 2003
    • 19634
    #1

    plugging a laptop into a car cigarette lighter

    Yesterday I bought one of these little 85W inverters. See here
    http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...72&catid=21389

    When I got home I wondered if it would really work or would just overload the unit. How many watts to laptops typically use. The power adapter says 19.7 volts and 3.9 amps so i guess thats 76.83 watts which is pretty close to the max. Has anyone used these things successfully with their laptop?
    you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..
    Tags: None
    • baddog
      So Fucking Banned
      • Apr 2001
      • 107089
      #2
      Well, my Dell has its own adapter for the car, but I do own one of those units as well . . . . I have had it power my laptop, and charge my cell phone at the same time with no issues.

        Comment

        • StuartD
          Sofa King Band
          • Jul 2002
          • 29903
          #3
          I got an xps from dell, which sucks power like a fridge... and it's always been fine in the car.
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            Comment

            • camgirlshide
              Confirmed User
              • Jan 2005
              • 1558
              #4
              your laptop converter is 76.83 watts on the DC side. It's probably closer to 96 watts on the AC side assuming 80% efficiency.

              But, your laptop probably doesn't max out your AC/DC adapter and the adapter you bought says it can do 120W surge.
              It's a close one.
              I use one of those inverters rated at 150 watts for my laptop.
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                • BlackCrayon
                  Too lazy to set a custom title
                  • Jun 2003
                  • 19634
                  #5
                  Originally posted by camgirlshide
                  your laptop converter is 76.83 watts on the DC side. It's probably closer to 96 watts on the AC side assuming 80% efficiency.

                  But, your laptop probably doesn't max out your AC/DC adapter and the adapter you bought says it can do 120W surge.
                  It's a close one.
                  I use one of those inverters rated at 150 watts for my laptop.
                  I haven't seen one of those that is rated 150 that plugs into the cigarette lighter. The highest I have seen is 100. Most others want you to hook it up to the car battery it seems.
                  you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

                    Comment

                    • BlackCrayon
                      Too lazy to set a custom title
                      • Jun 2003
                      • 19634
                      #6
                      Originally posted by baddog
                      Well, my Dell has its own adapter for the car, but I do own one of those units as well . . . . I have had it power my laptop, and charge my cell phone at the same time with no issues.
                      Yes, I would of prefered an adaptor that works with the laptop rather than this inverter. The people at bestbuy were not helpful at all. Maybe I will stop by the sony store and see if they have that for the vaio.
                      you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

                        Comment

                        • Linguist
                          Confirmed User
                          • Apr 2004
                          • 1706
                          #7
                          I've used an inverter with my Macbook with no problems. Not sure which one I got but it was a cheapass one
                          315-310

                            Comment

                            • georgeyw
                              58008 53773
                              • Jul 2005
                              • 9865
                              #8
                              Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                              Yesterday I bought one of these little 85W inverters. See here
                              http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...72&catid=21389

                              When I got home I wondered if it would really work or would just overload the unit. How many watts to laptops typically use. The power adapter says 19.7 volts and 3.9 amps so i guess thats 76.83 watts which is pretty close to the max. Has anyone used these things successfully with their laptop?
                              It should be fine, only thing is don't leave the inverter on for hours and hours and make sure it is well ventilated - they get hot!
                              TripleXPrint on Megan Fox
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                                Comment

                                • BlackCrayon
                                  Too lazy to set a custom title
                                  • Jun 2003
                                  • 19634
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by georgeyw
                                  It should be fine, only thing is don't leave the inverter on for hours and hours and make sure it is well ventilated - they get hot!
                                  i wonder if using this would be better

                                  http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...08&catid=20182
                                  you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

                                    Comment

                                    • camgirlshide
                                      Confirmed User
                                      • Jan 2005
                                      • 1558
                                      #10
                                      Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                                      i wonder if using this would be better

                                      http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodde...08&catid=20182
                                      definately will save you some power in the DC -> AC -> DC conversion loss and handy to have on plane rides.
                                      Useful adult webmaster links -
                                      Alphabetical list of solo models with webcam
                                      Stats on my best converting affiliate programs - camgirlshide webmaster blog
                                      complete list of affiliate programs I use.

                                        Comment

                                        • DBS.US
                                          Geo Cities
                                          • Aug 2003
                                          • 11841
                                          #11
                                          I have this one, work fine.



                                          Overview: The AIMS Power can-size 150 watt power inverter is designed to fit into any cup holder that will hold a standard size soda can. This inverter is designed so it doesn't roll around in your car and fits perfectly in your cup holder so you can charge equipment such as laptops, MP3 players, games, cellular phones, cameras or any electronics that require 120 watts or less

                                          http://www.theinverterstore.com/the-...odel=pwrcup120
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                                            Comment

                                            • Hotrocket
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • May 2004
                                              • 1327
                                              #12
                                              I use one similar to the 1st one you posted with my laptop and also with a printer..not a prob at all

                                                Comment

                                                • Tanker
                                                  Confirmed User
                                                  • Nov 2000
                                                  • 9287
                                                  #13
                                                  I have one in the console of my MKX we use it on long trips to power the laptop. Driving to Mont Tremblant Quebec is about 6 hours and I have used it the whole way there!

                                                  I love it

                                                  Tanker
                                                  ICQ 3427575

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                                                    Comment

                                                    • rowan
                                                      Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                      • Mar 2002
                                                      • 17393
                                                      #14
                                                      I use a generic DC-DC laptop power supply that allows you to select the output voltage. So long as you're very c-a-r-e-f-u-l in setting this you should be fine.

                                                      Converting from DC to AC back to DC is very inefficient, and inefficiency is probably something you would need to be concerned about if you're going to use your laptop for any length of time with your engine off... you might find your car doesn't start. :D

                                                        Comment

                                                        • rowan
                                                          Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                          • Mar 2002
                                                          • 17393
                                                          #15
                                                          Looking at it another way... if the AC power supply and DC-AC inverter are both 80% efficient, you'll be wasting around a third of your input power in conversion losses (which will mostly be emitted as heat)

                                                            Comment

                                                            • MrMaxwell
                                                              Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                              • Jul 2005
                                                              • 10057
                                                              #16
                                                              You'll be fine, even using an inverter.
                                                              Don't leave is plugged in with the engine off for a long period of time.. especially if you have a tiny car battery or if it's really cold, outside.

                                                              If you're going to be sitting in traffic jams idling for a long time, pop into neutral every 20 minutes or so and rev the engine up around 1300 rpm for a couple of minutes (same thing if you're just sitting parked somewhere)

                                                              I use to use my exes laptop in her car all of the time.. got a $30 inverter that also had an fm transmitter so the sound from the laptop would come out through the car radio.. think it was 100w or so.. only thing it hated was her curling iron.. LoL over here... the little fan in that thing went crazy!!! Lucky it didn't burn it up, because I think curling irons are around 400w

                                                                Comment

                                                                • nation-x
                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                  • Mar 2004
                                                                  • 5370
                                                                  #17
                                                                  Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                                                                  I haven't seen one of those that is rated 150 that plugs into the cigarette lighter. The highest I have seen is 100. Most others want you to hook it up to the car battery it seems.
                                                                  I have a 200W http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...44440153379269

                                                                    Comment

                                                                    • MrMaxwell
                                                                      Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                                      • Jul 2005
                                                                      • 10057
                                                                      #18
                                                                      Originally posted by nation-x
                                                                      I have a 200W http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...44440153379269

                                                                      We had this one
                                                                      http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5162346
                                                                      It's rated at only 110w
                                                                      But it ran the 400w curling iron a couple of times..
                                                                      I would NOT have wanted to use it for a 400w draw more than once or twice, it got real upset and overheated, but it will run and charge a laptop for hours on end without getting too upset. It'll heat up and the fan will run fast sometimes, but it'll work.. plus it has passthrough so you can still use the cigarette lighter and the fm transmitter so you can hear your laptop through your car radio

                                                                      EDIT: It even has usb charging ports on it.. Fucking beautiful, this thing is.
                                                                      Last edited by MrMaxwell; 12-23-2009, 04:47 AM.

                                                                        Comment

                                                                        • BlackCrayon
                                                                          Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                                          • Jun 2003
                                                                          • 19634
                                                                          #19
                                                                          this one looks pretty cool

                                                                          http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10746777

                                                                          200 watts/400 max although with all the talk of loss during conversion it sounds like it would be better to have an adapter cord for the laptop rather than using these inverters.
                                                                          you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

                                                                            Comment

                                                                            • MrMaxwell
                                                                              Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                                              • Jul 2005
                                                                              • 10057
                                                                              #20
                                                                              Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                                                                              this one looks pretty cool

                                                                              http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10746777

                                                                              200 watts/400 max although with all the talk of loss during conversion it sounds like it would be better to have an adapter cord for the laptop rather than using these inverters.

                                                                              I thought that looked pretty damned cool when I saw it earlier on there, too.. Only thing is, I will all but stab someone to death for putting anything in my cupholders

                                                                              I'd much much rather just have an adapter cord
                                                                              I always thought that they had dc-->ac-->dc inside of them though
                                                                              I was probably wrong

                                                                              The one I linked to will do the work, just fine, and it's got other useful features!

                                                                                Comment

                                                                                • baddog
                                                                                  So Fucking Banned
                                                                                  • Apr 2001
                                                                                  • 107089
                                                                                  #21
                                                                                  Since duration has been mentioned . . . I drove from LA to Chicago and back (in a large oval) and had things powered off it the entire way.

                                                                                  I still carry it with me when I travel.

                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                    • BlackCrayon
                                                                                      Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                                                      • Jun 2003
                                                                                      • 19634
                                                                                      #22
                                                                                      Originally posted by baddog
                                                                                      Since duration has been mentioned . . . I drove from LA to Chicago and back (in a large oval) and had things powered off it the entire way.

                                                                                      I still carry it with me when I travel.
                                                                                      Well I'll be testing it out today. Going on an 8 hour trip. I'm not going to be using it the whole way but I wonder if leaving it plugged in while the laptop is in sleep mode would use much power.
                                                                                      you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                        • MrMaxwell
                                                                                          Too lazy to set a custom title
                                                                                          • Jul 2005
                                                                                          • 10057
                                                                                          #23
                                                                                          Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                                                                                          Well I'll be testing it out today. Going on an 8 hour trip. I'm not going to be using it the whole way but I wonder if leaving it plugged in while the laptop is in sleep mode would use much power.
                                                                                          I think that it will still draw quite a little bit if it's charging the battery while it's asleep and plugged in.. which I am sure that it is..

                                                                                            Comment

                                                                                            • baddog
                                                                                              So Fucking Banned
                                                                                              • Apr 2001
                                                                                              • 107089
                                                                                              #24
                                                                                              Originally posted by BlackCrayon
                                                                                              Well I'll be testing it out today. Going on an 8 hour trip. I'm not going to be using it the whole way but I wonder if leaving it plugged in while the laptop is in sleep mode would use much power.
                                                                                              I left mine plugged in for longer than that. No worries.

                                                                                                Comment

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