This approach is certainly one that could be taken. The difficulty with using inverters and then using the AC power supply is the rather large losses you incur. I am expecting that there is at least a 30 to 40% loss of batter power in doing the double conversions.
There are some DC-DC converters for laptops and while not low cost, would be a much better solution. I think that powering the computer is the number one issue for portable/emergency digital operation. And if we need more powerful computers to handle new sound card modes, it will only become more of a problem. The computer system can take more power than the radio equipment since it must operate continuously at a given current and many ham rigs can get by on an amp at 13.8VDC with no loss from multiple conversions. We need computers that work directly from 13.8 VDC and are not so very expensive. Considering all the portability desires, it surprises me that we don't have a number of products like that. 73, Rick, KV9U DuBose Walt Civ AETC CONS/LGCA wrote: > >Rick, > >A friend found an old P-II or maybe it was a P-III laptop with a bad >screen and keyboard at a swapfest for $100 and it really did work. Had >256M RAM and 20GB HDD. > >He purchased a used 15" LCD monitor and cable to run an external >keyboard and mouse. He also purchased a 140 watt interter. He uses a >small keyboard with mouse on it. > >The inverter and computer are under the front passanger's seat and the >LCD monitor and keyboard are on the dash and the monitor is removable so >the front seat passanger can use it (and of course the driver). > >One flip of a switch to turn on the inverter and he is on. > >Amateur radio at its best. Hi Hi. > >73, > >Walt/K5YFW > > > > > >Announce your digital presence via our DX Cluster >telnet://cluster.dynalias.org > >Our other groups: > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxlist/ >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/contesting >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wnyar >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Omnibus97 > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >
