Laptops for 12V

[RuK]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

[Ray]

Can't say that you won't find one now but I had to search high and low when I wanted one several years ago.

 

I think most run on about 19v and usually mean inverting to 240v and then using the normal power block (brick) to reduce back down again. Not too economical.

 

However, others may know differently.

[johnjo]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

 

Most current laptops use anything from 15v 3.5a to 21v 4.15a so an inverter will be required in most cases. However there are in car adaptors [around £30] that will cover these but they are virtually an inverter themselves but at last they will plug into a cigar lighter socket, the same as found in a car so should be quite safe to run off the boat 12v wiring. Both of these you'll find on Ebay but probably cheaper from Halfords or Maplin.

Hope this helps

John

[journeyperson]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

 

I've got a Maplin in car type adaptor for my 19v laptop and it works well on the boat.

 

click

Edited January 2, 2009 by journeyperson

[Lady Muck]

We use 12v adaptors all the time - no problems at all in three years. Plus they don't get hot. Do remember to take your laptop with you when you go to buy one, they dont fit all laptops. For my new Vaio I had to get one from these guys instead clicky- they were very helpful - just tell them the model of your laptop - they also do one with Mac connectors, for those of you with Macbooks.

[2cvblue]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

Hi There

I bought from Maplins a car lead which you can run of 12volt and a lead to the laptop and you dial in what ever voltage you need for the laptop. I have found that this works really well.

[johnandcharlie]

I use a Maplins adaptor on my 19 volt Toshiba, and have had no problems. I run it without the internal battery and with Long Life power settings, and it normally draws about 1.9 amps, so I can use it for hours off my 110 amp battery.

[calamity507]

I also use the Maplins in car adaptor , works excellent on my acer

[Gibbo]

A few years ago this was a big (and totally unnecessary) problem with every single laptop (even variants of the same model) using a different voltage and a different connector (even the "normal" DC connector has a total of 28 different combinations of pin and outside diameter with some using the polarity the opposite way round giving one a total of 55 out of 56 possibilities of it not working). That is now mostly becoming a thing of the past (note the use of the word "mostly" before pedants with limited reading ability try to jump on it) with huge numbers of laptops now all using the same connector and same voltage. 19 volts, maximum 3.5 amps, +ve in the middle on a standard heavy duty DC connector is becoming almost an industry standard.

 

This means the old recourse of an inverter up to 230 volts then the dedicated laptop power supply is rarely needed and a 12 volt laptop supply can be used in about 80% of cases. These are available from Maplins and CPC.

 

There are (obviously) exceptions to this "standard" but the more people stop buying them (which does seem to be happening) the more those exceptions will stop selling and the manufacturers will have no choice other than to comply.

 

Gibbo

[bag 'o' bones]

Surely its possible to get one modified? I mean most lappies run between 8 and 10 volts -ish when on battery power.

Depending on what you use the machine for there has got to be lots of lappies that are out of warranty that could experimented on. Hmmm perhaps braver than most! lol

[alan_fincher]

A few years ago this was a big (and totally unnecessary) problem with every single laptop (even variants of the same model) using a different voltage and a different connector (even the "normal" DC connector has a total of 28 different combinations of pin and outside diameter with some using the polarity the opposite way round giving one a total of 55 out of 56 possibilities of it not working). That is now mostly becoming a thing of the past (note the use of the word "mostly" before pedants with limited reading ability try to jump on it) with huge numbers of laptops now all using the same connector and same voltage. 19 volts, maximum 3.5 amps, +ve in the middle on a standard heavy duty DC connector is becoming almost an industry standard.

 

This means the old recourse of an inverter up to 230 volts then the dedicated laptop power supply is rarely needed and a 12 volt laptop supply can be used in about 80% of cases. These are available from Maplins and CPC.

 

There are (obviously) exceptions to this "standard" but the more people stop buying them (which does seem to be happening) the more those exceptions will stop selling and the manufacturers will have no choice other than to comply.

 

Gibbo

Hmm - you've got me thinking now.

 

I'm in the process of trying to buy a Dell, (or would be if my bl**dy credit card company hadn't bounced the transaction as "unusual activity").

 

Up until now all the laptops we have used on board share a 19V requirement, and the same coaxial plug, much as you are saying.

 

But the last time I had my hands on Dells, (work ones then), they all used that nasty three (?) pin plug unique to them. So will a new Dell still have this plug which seems to be unique to Dell ?

 

Back on topic, I can confirm that the Maplin DC to DC converters work very well. But watch out for special offers. When we bought ours we got a 150W one, (that should run even the beefiest laptop), as it was on offer, and significantly cheaper than the 120W or even 90W model. There is nowt wrong with buying one that can deliver more power than your laptop needs, and if you need to run someone else's more demanding one, you then can, (our son has one that's a bit of a beast).

 

Alan

[DHutch]

Ive got a iGo juice.

- Read all the reviews, and got a used on of ebay. Failing that, maplins also sell them for a reasonable price.

 

 

 

Daniel

[alan_fincher]

But watch out for special offers.

 

There's a good deal on a converter suitable for running laptops up to 120 watts at Maplin.

 

That's far more than most will ever need.

 

Only £20, this avoids the need for a 240 volt inverter.....

 

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=44736

 

I have the 150 watt version, and can recommend them.

[Gibbo]

But the last time I had my hands on Dells, (work ones then), they all used that nasty three (?) pin plug unique to them. So will a new Dell still have this plug which seems to be unique to Dell ?

 

I honestly don't know. At present I am using an HP Pavillion DV9000 laptop, 4 completely different IBM Thinkpads, 2 different E-machines (PC world branded bottom range stuff [junk]), an Acer, a Meridion (Woolies branded cr*p), something else that I can't remember the name of and some unbranded thing from Tesco that one of the twin boys owns. All work fine on the same 12 volt PSU.

 

This is how I do it......... If the prospective laptop won't work from the laptop PSU I take into the shop (19 volt, 3 amp) I simply don't buy it. If they won't show it me working on that PSU I don't buy it. From what I hear on various forums lots of other people are doing the same thing. Mainly because if it requires a special PSU then the replacement PSUs tend to cost 75 quid instead of a tenner.

 

It's quite simple really........ "I like that laptop, it meets my requirements, if it will run from this PSU I have in my hand then I will buy it, if it won't then I won't buy it. If you won't let me try it on this PSU then I won't buy it".

 

Gibbo

 

Edited to mend broken fingers.

 

PS. Forget the warranty. The way the economy is they will probably all be out of business by the time it breaks

Edited January 3, 2009 by Gibbo

[bag 'o' bones]

I honestly don't know. At present I am using an HP Pavillion DV9000 laptop, 4 completely different IBM Thinkpads, 2 different E-machines (PC world branded bottom range stuff [junk]), an Acer, a Meridion (Woolies branded cr*p), something else that I can't remember the name of and some unbranded thing from Tesco that one of the twin boys owns. All work fine on the same 12 volt PSU.

 

This is how I do it......... If the prospective laptop won't work from the laptop PSU I take into the shop (19 volt, 3 amp) I simply don't buy it. If they won't show it me working on that PSU I don't buy it. From what I hear on various forums lots of other people are doing the same thing. Mainly because if it requires a special PSU then the replacement PSUs tend to cost 75 quid instead of a tenner.

 

It's quite simple really........ "I like that laptop, it meets my requirements, if it will run from this PSU I have in my hand then I will buy it, if it won't then I won't buy it. If you won't let me try it on this PSU then I won't buy it".

 

Gibbo

 

Edited to mend broken fingers.

 

PS. Forget the warranty. The way the economy is they will probably all be out of business by the time it breaks

 

Well done Gibbo love your attitude. Everyone should take note.

Edited to say the problem is with 'modern' sales techniques is that as a customer if you don't fall into the 'standard customer' model i.e. an easy 'flog it in a box and 'ef you if it goes wrong' then there not really interested.

Edited January 3, 2009 by bag 'o' bones

[Gibbo]

...............the problem is with 'modern' sales techniques is that as a customer if you don't fall into the 'standard customer' model i.e. an easy 'flog it in a box and 'ef you if it goes wrong' then there not really interested.

 

Absolutely. And that is why I expect PC World to go the way of Woolies sometime in the middle of the new year.

 

There are actually going to be some benefits from this coming recession. One of which is going to be much better customer service if retailers even want to stand a chance of remaining in business.

 

Gibbo

[Pretty Funked Up]

I got one of these and it goes from 5v to 24v so can power alsorts of stuff.

 

Found the best way to use a laptop is to keep it fully charged all the time and dont use it while its charging, mine draws 20w-28w while in use if fully charged, it jumps to about 100w-110w while in use if charging. Dont forget to cycle the battery flat at leaast once a week though, to maintain battery performance.

Edited January 3, 2009 by Pretty Funked Up

[Chris Pink]

We use 12v adaptors all the time - no problems at all in three years. Plus they don't get hot. Do remember to take your laptop with you when you go to buy one, they dont fit all laptops. For my new Vaio I had to get one from these guys instead clicky- they were very helpful - just tell them the model of your laptop - they also do one with Mac connectors, for those of you with Macbooks.

 

Am I being dense?

 

I haven't been able to find any 12V adaptor for a MacBook (with magsafe connector).

 

do you (or anyone else) know of one?

[DHutch]

I believe mac invented the magsafe connector, and do not permit anyone else to manufactor it, or make a 12v attapter themselfs.

 

 

*edited to add : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe#Criticisms_and_defects

 

 

 

Daniel

Edited January 4, 2009 by Dhutch

[Chris Pink]

I believe mac invented the magsafe connector, and do not permit anyone else to manufactor it, or make a 12v attapter themselfs.

 

 

*edited to add : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe#Criticisms_and_defects

 

 

 

Daniel

 

That was my understanding but i did hear that they could only restrict the patent for 12 months but still nobody has come out with one

 

Although you can diy by cutting the end off the Apple unit and splicing it into a generic PSU, I'm a little reluctant to do this.

[RobinR]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

What is the problem with using an inverter? They are generally very good for effeciency and can facilitate the use of oher mains equipment including 'phone chargers, general purpose battery charging, charging a camcorder battery, running a laptop and printer etc etc. I purchased a 150W one for under £15 in NETTOs last year and it does all of these tasks with ease and some two or three at a time!! I simmply ensure I do not exceed the load capacity of the inverter.

[churchward]

Hi can anyone recommend a laptop for connection without an inverter to 12V, or laptops with a long battery life?

 

There are DC to DC converters (step up or down) sold in the US for use in boats and RVs etc avoiding inverter use. I have not seen the same for sale in the UK but you never know there may be an importer or supplier of such things in the UK but haven't come across one yet.

 

This is the sort of thing I mean.

 

http://www.powerstream.com/12v-index.htm

[alan_fincher]

There are DC to DC converters (step up or down) sold in the US for use in boats and RVs etc avoiding inverter use. I have not seen the same for sale in the UK but you never know there may be an importer or supplier of such things in the UK but haven't come across one yet.

 

This is the sort of thing I mean.

 

http://www.powerstream.com/12v-index.htm

You've got me confused...

 

In post 13 I give details of a DC to DC converter that happens to be a Maplin one.

 

They are freely available in the UK, or are you talking about something subtly different, please ?

 

Alan.

[churchward]

You've got me confused...

 

In post 13 I give details of a DC to DC converter that happens to be a Maplin one.

 

They are freely available in the UK, or are you talking about something subtly different, please ?

 

Alan.

No I don't think so. I didn't see your post. I have not seen a similar laptop range one before. I know there are other adapters but the ones I have seen and bought haven't enough power rating for a laptop.

[Gibbo]

No I don't think so. I didn't see your post. I have not seen a similar laptop range one before. I know there are other adapters but the ones I have seen and bought haven't enough power rating for a laptop.

 

I think Amperor do them with ratings sufficient to run several laptops at once.

 

Gibbo