Can you power/charge a laptop via 12 volt socket?

[BGD]

This one may be for the Lekky Techies...........

 

 

 

We are looking at buying a laptop for use in the MH.

We are almost never on EHU, so I'd be using our 12 volt DC supply as the power/charging source.

 

I've got an inverter (300 watt, from memory) so I could power it via leisure batteries 12 volt DC output to 12 volt DC socket, to inverter; then from inverter output ( 220 volts AC) to laptop power supply thingy ( the black box halfway along it's mains power cable, which converts the power BACK down to (I believe) typically about 19 volts DC, and thence to the actual laptop.

 

This seems very longwinded.

 

So I'm just wondering if there is any way of simply plugging it in to the MH 12 volt DC supply via a cable into a cigarette socket plug (or a USB cable?) to use it and/or just to recharge it's on-board battery?

 

 

[pepe63xnotuse]

Just tappin' in "12v laptop charger" seems to bring up loads of 'em...Whether or not they're any good, I've no idea.. ;-)

[Guest Had Enough]

BGD - 2013-07-18 4:29 PM

 

This one may be for the Lekky Techies...........

 

 

 

We are looking at buying a laptop for use in the MH.

We are almost never on EHU, so I'd be using our 12 volt DC supply as the power/charging source.

 

I've got an inverter (300 watt, from memory) so I could power it via leisure batteries 12 volt DC output to 12 volt DC socket, to inverter; then from inverter output ( 220 volts AC) to laptop power supply thingy ( the black box halfway along it's mains power cable, which converts the power BACK down to (I believe) typically about 19 volts DC, and thence to the actual laptop.

 

This seems very longwinded.

 

So I'm just wondering if there is any way of simply plugging it in to the MH 12 volt DC supply via a cable into a cigarette socket plug (or a USB cable?) to use it and/or just to recharge it's on-board battery?

 

 

I charge mine using an inverter and as we're either moving around and have a large solar panel it works fine.

 

However, to answer your question - yes you can. There's any number of 12v laptop chargers on eBay for a few quid.

 

They are in effect a mini inverter converting the 12v input to an output of typically between 15v and 24v.

 

 

[sshortcircuit]

I have a Dell laptop and a cigarette type charger from Maplin that provides various voltage to charge laptops. I cut off the plug from an old Dell PSU and soldered it to this unit and hey presto, it did not work. After further investigation I found that the Dell PSU has three connection, being positive, negative and a signal core which identifies the PSU to the laptop. A look on ebay indicated specific adapters are available for the Dell.

 

Abandoned this idea and will simply charge through inverter and dell PSU.

 

Possibly not the answer you are looking for but just my experience.

[lennyhb]

Plenty of choice on ebay of 12 volt laptop power supplies, dedicated & universal with switchable output voltage from 5-20 quid. "Car laptop power supply" search gives best results.

[sshortcircuit]

lennyhb - 2013-07-18 4:51 PM

 

Plenty of choice on ebay of 12 volt laptop power supplies, dedicated & universal with switchable output voltage from 5-20 quid. "Car laptop power supply" search gives best results.

 

Just to repeat, the universal may not work as some PSUs are specific to the laptop.

[Guest pelmetman]

I charge mine via an inverter as we drive along ;-)....................saves using up power when parked up B-).......

 

 

[ips]

sshortcircuit - 2013-07-18 4:59 PM

 

lennyhb - 2013-07-18 4:51 PM

 

Plenty of choice on ebay of 12 volt laptop power supplies, dedicated & universal with switchable output voltage from 5-20 quid. "Car laptop power supply" search gives best results.

 

Just to repeat, the universal may not work as some PSUs are specific to the laptop.

 

this is correct info you must get the correct cigarette lighter lead for the laptop. I got one for Mrs ips from amazon, works a treat and doesn't seem to take too much power from battery.

[robertandjean]

Yes you can charge direct from 12 volt but as stated by others you do need a device that alters the output voltage to suit the lap top or net book and with connectors specific to your machine. We got ours from Amazon and it came with range of adaptors one of which fitted the bill. However, we found that using inverter and the 240 volt power lead charged more quickly. For this we did not use our main van 400 watt inverter but bought a much smaller 75 watt inverter which just plugs into a cigar lighter socket. This does job but with less power use, no fan etc.

Having said all this we now rarely use netbooks, and never laptop, in van but almost always our Mimi ipad and kindle fire, as find much easier to use take out and about etc. These we charge from small inverter some times but mainly straight from 12volt using a usb lead.

Hope this helps.

[bazooka]

Yes B J,i bought mine from maplins just plug in to a cigarette lighter socket and it charges up the laptop.

Baz

It was £19

[BGD]

 

 

It'd be our intention to watch TV on the laptop (not actual live TV, but films and series that we'd loaded on to it before going away........so it might be on for maybe 3 or 4 hours at a time.

 

I was thinking that going the "direct" 12 volt ciggie lighter socket route, should be more energy efficient than the long-winded 12 volt to 220 volt to 12volt process.

Or should I not worry about voltage drop and energy losses through repeated conversion and all that other milarky?

[Dave Newell]

Maplin do a 12 volt laptop power supply for about £30 ish, don't know for certain but I assume there is an equivalent in Spain, alternatively EvilBay will have them. Much more energy efficient than using an inverter.

 

D.

[tonyishuk]

A word of caution, do buy the unit from a recognized source / supplier.

 

Having just seen a Trading Standards TV clip, showed on Scam Traders concerning counterfeit Apple power supplies.

 

Unfortunately the supply fried the Iphone, left the socket unusable and worst of all put the teenager in hospital with burns and electric shock as she pushed the power unit into the socket.

 

Rgards

[Mel B]

BGD - 2013-07-18 6:30 PM

 

It'd be our intention to watch TV on the laptop (not actual live TV, but films and series that we'd loaded on to it before going away........so it might be on for maybe 3 or 4 hours at a time.

 

I was thinking that going the "direct" 12 volt ciggie lighter socket route, should be more energy efficient than the long-winded 12 volt to 220 volt to 12volt process.

Or should I not worry about voltage drop and energy losses through repeated conversion and all that other milarky?

One thing to bear in mind is that the 12v plug will get warm/hot in the socket so as has been said, make sure you don't get a cheapo 12v lead as I wouldn't 'trust' them to be able to be used for a long time!

 

We had an 'adaptor' with twin 12v sockets and a 12v plug on, that could be plugged into the van's 12v single socket so we could have two 12v items on at the same time if we wanted but only actually had the TV plug in it (we were only using it because the TV lead was on its limit length wise, so using this adaptor gave us an extra couple of inches to play with!) - note that we only ever watch TV for a maximum of an hour when away (if we bother at all).

 

Unfortunately whilst away in Germany we settled down after tea to watch a DVD but couldn't get the TV to work and on examining the twin socket adaptor we found that the 12v plug end on it had melted! 8-) This wasn't the 'cheapest' adaptor, but not the most expensive either - it was a bit worrying but fortunately it hadn't caused any problems with the socket it was plugged into.

 

So, as you intend to watch a DVD etc for a few hours I'd be inclined to get a good quality lead so that 'overheating and melting' aren't an issue.

[Mrs T]

We have been using a ComOn 3500mA converter for years and not a problem.

 

Input 12-13.8 VDC Output 15/16/18/19/20/22/24VDC Output current 3500mA

 

Its used to top up the battery until full then disconnected etc.

 

It has a removeable illuminated red glow fuse. Model MW 2172

 

No country of origin listed.

 

PS It appears to be German by the wording on Google

[Arthur Brown]

Bruce,

What I did was go onto the internet and obtain a 12v supply lead for he specific computers we had. One was a net book and the other was a full blown lap top. They were around 20 quid each but serve each computer as required. The alternative is to use the original charger via an inverter. If you have the inverter then that is the best option. If not then you have to look at the options available. All will do what you need. good luck

Art

[BGD]

Many thanks for all your help.

 

My plan now is to wait until actual laptop purchase and then, once I know the input voltage that it needs, get one of the ciggie-lighter socket 12 volt charger/power units off ebay.

 

It does seem a far more elegant solution than the "double inverter" route, and economy of 12 volt usage is important for us, given they way that we tour in our MH.

 

Thanks again!

[Guest 1footinthegrave]

I,m not sure how you get 19 volts out of 12 volts, I'd opt for an inverter, as I use. ;-) I'm not aware of any laptops that run directly off 12 volts, and if you have an expensive bit of kit used with some dodgy gear it may just go pop. ;-)

[HymerVan]

I used to use a Dell laptop with a multi-volt charger supplied by a local electronics specialist firm.

Oddly the charger would happily run the laptop off the vehicle 12v or leisure battery but did not seem to charge the laptop battery. In other words using it meant that the laptop battery was neither charged nor discharged. Never got to the bottom of what was going on.

[sshortcircuit]

HymerVan - 2013-07-19 9:26 AM

 

I used to use a Dell laptop with a multi-volt charger supplied by a local electronics specialist firm.

Oddly the charger would happily run the laptop off the vehicle 12v or leisure battery but did not seem to charge the laptop battery. In other words using it meant that the laptop battery was neither charged nor discharged. Never got to the bottom of what was going on.

 

I you read earlier post you will see that the Dell charge cable has three connections and not two that the multi-volt has. Yes, my Dell new it had 12volts but did not charge.

 

If you look at the Dell PSU plug, it has an outer connection, probably negative, at the front a ring which will probably be positive and then a pin which will more than likely be the data wire. You will not find that on the multi-volt so it will not charge.

 

I had a look inside the Dell PSU and there is a lot of components so not just a simple charger that the multi-volt is

[lennyhb]

1footinthegrave - 2013-07-19 8:28 AM

 

I,m not sure how you get 19 volts out of 12 volts,

 

 

It's easy you convert the 12v dc to ac transform it up then convert it back to dc (lol)

[Mrs T]

1foot and others, what's all the fuss, we've used the one described earlier for years. It charges the laptop battery with no difficulty but as soon as its full we disconnect the plug, it used to be said that the engine should be running when plugging in and that can be done easily. Its always wise to check for heating of any 12v plug as they can often be a bit loose and may not be pushed home tight enough to make a good connection.

Info from Mr T

[Antonio]

I have a auto DC power regulated adapter, it has 8 adapters and7 settings and works fine. If you do get one make sure it has a lead from the cig lighter or it will fall out on the move. :-D

 

[sshortcircuit]

Mrs T - 2013-07-19 12:01 PM

 

1foot and others, what's all the fuss, we've used the one described earlier for years. It charges the laptop battery with no difficulty but as soon as its full we disconnect the plug, it used to be said that the engine should be running when plugging in and that can be done easily. Its always wise to check for heating of any 12v plug as they can often be a bit loose and may not be pushed home tight enough to make a good connection.

Info from Mr T

 

No real fuss, you just need to understand that some chargers are specific to the laptop and it appears you have been lucky having a laptop that does not need an intelligent charger so the mult-volt has worked. Good luck to you, but some may want to purchase a multi-volt and find it does not work so have wasted money. Cant make it any clearer. :-D

[BGD]

Antonio - 2013-07-19 1:21 PM

 

I have a auto DC power regulated adapter, it has 8 adapters and7 settings and works fine. If you do get one make sure it has a lead from the cig lighter or it will fall out on the move. :-D

 

 

Yes indeed.

 

That's the sort of thing that I'm thinking of getting.

 

I'll just need to look at the actual spec of the laptop first in order to see which adaptor and which voltage setting it needs from the range available on such 12 volt DC multi-chargers.