Advice for using laptop in motorhome

[TheBig1]

Sorry for the slightly off-topic post, but someone on this forum made a post, as well as a you-tube video, about building a low power pc for in-van use. I've tried searching the forum with various keywords, but not luck. Does anyone remember who it was?

that was David Wissel

My 12v Motorhome PC Video

I've been asked a few times about the 12v PC I built for my motorhome and I've finally gotten around to making a video on it for anyone that's interested: 12 volt PC for Motorhome with WiFi 3G and Gaming - YouTube

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[pixer]

It depends on your laptop. The latest laptops are USB-C with PD (=Power Delivery). Apple laptops have their own special chargers, I don't know much about them.

Most other laptops can use a 'Car Laptop Adapter', which converts 12V DC from the battery to whatever DC the laptop uses, usually 19V. This is usually more efficient powerwise than a 240V inverter and a 240V laptop charger.
This one, for example, is for up to 90 watts, and has 8 interchangeable tips that will fit most laptop power inlets. But not absolutely all of them, so worth checking if your laptop is at all unusual.
Broken Link Removed

This one seems to be out of stock. I use this 90w one from the same company, laptopsdirect.co.uk, on an ASUS Laptop which has an i7 chip. So it has a high current demand. They sell it for £6 including postage on ebay. A bargain. It also comes with various other plugs for different make laptops. Thrown away the packaging it came in, which list them, so cant say which ones. Depending on the plug used the Laptop Adapter automatically changes to the required voltage and indicates it on the display.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=220854079321

 

[webby1]

Looks a good charger with foolproof connections
You need to be careful of those connectors with 2 prongs as they can often go in either way and then we have our old friend Reversed Polarity.
They may have markings on the casings, but the raised ridge I thought was the minus sign was in fact just a raised ridge. As they say check twice and plug in once........but it was a good excuse to get a new laptop

 

[pixer]

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=220854079321

This has multi pin connnectors. you can only connect the one way. But check the polarity on the output with a multi meter.

 

[yorkieman]

there are plenty of 12v laptop chargers rather than use an inverter to create 230v ac from 12v, then a laptop charger to create 19v dc. loads of losses in that system

I got myself a 12v cigarette lighter (the smaller motorhome style one) charger and it works a treat. No more bleeping after 10 minutes of usage.

I used it last week for hours on end without a hitch, and then whilst we are enroute I had it plugged in charging everything I could lay my hands on, as in addition to the power lead for the mac it also had two slots for USB.

Thanks for the brilliant solution.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}