Tomo3090 Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Hi can anyone tell me whether I can just plug my lap top into the vans' electrical system using the computers AC adaptor or whether I will need a special 12 volt DC one. And if so where can I get one from? I mean for when we are not on hook up and only using batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigal55 Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 tommo you will need a inverter or a 12v adapter. unless anybody knows different (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Cole Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Tomo, I have a 150w inverter it cost abot £30 I run my digibox and run my lap top of it when not hooked up find it most useful. Regards Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJH Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I use an adapter I got on eBay similar to This One. I actually bought mine a year ago from a different seller but this one looks similar. You need to ensure that one of the adapters and one of the output voltages match those required by your laptop. I tend to charge it from my Aldi Power Station rather than the leisure battery - but only because we only have one 12 volt socket in the van and that may be required for something else. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 We have a similar one to GJH and find it is excellent. You can also use it whilst travelling if you have a passenger in the rear of the cab. My Son and Grandson used it to play movies whilst we were travelling up to Disney Paris last year, it kept them occupied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Share Posted April 15, 2008 I do have an inverter that we use for the aircon and hairdryer! It is a 2000watt one, I thought if I use an anti surge plug and just plug the lap top into it using the computers own adaptor, that would work. But I am worried I might blow up the laptop! Would anyone like to try it with theirs first and see how we get on :-D Or I might buy one of those adaptors off e-bay for 99p! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughmer Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Hi Tomo I think your fears are unfounded. Just because your inverter is capable of delivering 2000w does not mean it does so all the time.. If you plugged a 5watt light bulb in, the inverter will deliver 5 watts not 2000. If the load is a 1kW kettle the inverter delivers 1000 watts. However.... There's inverters and inverters. Some provide kind gentle pure sine waves (alternating current (AC) is a series of positive and negative cycles of energy) and some provide a squarer waveform which is sometimes detrimental to electronic equipment. I don't know enough about individual inverters to say which is which but I'll bet there's someone on the forum who does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catinou Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hi Tomo, We purchased a charger - I think my husband got it from Halfords - that plugs into the cigar lighter and has a "normal" 3 pin plug socket on the other end (I know it is an inverter but a lot cheaper than some we have seen). Now charge any battery for mobile, laptop etc. easily - normally en route with the engine running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo3090 Posted April 19, 2008 Author Share Posted April 19, 2008 I've seen the one in Halfords but the guy didn't think it would work with a lap top. Now I know they can I'll go back for one. It will even do as a spare bit of kit just in case the inverter packs up, because as good vanners everywhere know, you can never carry too much kit! :-D Thanks everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan Posted April 20, 2008 Share Posted April 20, 2008 Hi All Tomo, I bought an inverter from Maplins who seem to be pretty competative, 300w. In restropect, I wish I'd bought bigger one, although 300w is ample to drive my lap top, but the extra wattage could be useful some time in the future. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tof Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hi Tomo Bought mine in Halfords £25 but saw last week in a big Tesco extra for £22 tof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Grumpy Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Maplin are doing a 600 watt inverter reduced from £65 to £35, if they have any left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 So far all the solutions offered have been about inverters, which have a "cigar" plug on one end and a mains-type socket on the other. This then requires carrying two bits of kit - the inverter and the mains charger you use at home. I've found a charger from these people http://www.laptop-chargers.co.uk/dc.htm which does the job in one piece. I don't know if they do them for all types of laptop, but it works fine on mine - an old Acer. Takes 12v in and puts 19v out, the laptop thinks it's getting power from the mains. And before anyone asks, no I haven't taken to carrying a laptop on holiday (regular readers have heard me on this before!). But I DO use my van as a mobile bolt-hole, so I can prepare sermons in some out-of-the-way place uninterrupted by phones and doorbells. The laptop is really useful for that - now I can keep it charged up! Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazza454 Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 Tony, thanks for the link.Finally found a suitable charger for the Vaio, and ordered one.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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