This 12 volt laptop discussion might be better dealt with on this Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.boats.electronics/topics?hl=en There seem to be a lot of EE's and other experts on there who know more about marine electronics than I ever will. Most of the time, I have no idea what they are talking about. Check it out.
Phil McGovern s/v Sunshine On Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 7:28 AM, Philip McConnell < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Same here. I thought the sine wave form was only an issue for desk top > computers. Notebooks run on DC whether from brick or battery. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I'm not an engineer like some of you, but I run my computer on a > > square wave inverter (as in cheap) and have no problems. I perceive > > that as long as the battery is in the computer it absorbs (filters) > > whatever comes in and cleans it up enough for the computer to handle > > it okay. This may not be great for the long term, but I've had no > > problems. > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 6:24 am > > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] 12v computer > > > > Philip & Marilyn wrote: > > > Does any one run their laptop directly from the house mains? The > > > output from my power brick says 17 volts, but the internal battery > > > supplies 14.4 which most likely drops to less than 13.8 when under > > > load - so nominal ~13v dc aught to run it. Question is where to make > > > the connection. Just plug into the power inlet in the back like the > > > brick does? > > > > > > Any problems with this hook--up? > > > > > > Thanks > > > Philip > > For all the reasons the others mentioned, you probably don't want to do > > that. A small inverter is one way, however I have heard but can't > > verify that the typical computer power supply does not like modified > > square wave inverters. It is said that the circuitry in the power > > supply that senses 120/220 is confused by a square wave and switches to > > 220 mode for a brief instant which will cause premature failure. I > > can't verify the accuracy of those statements. > > > > If you believe that two solutions come to mind. > > > > 1) Buy a true sine wave inverter. > > This is a fairly expensive proposition. Also an unnecessary waste of > > energy. Why convert 12v DC to 120V AC and then to 18 V DC? None of > > these conversions are 100% efficient. > > > > The better choice is a DC/DC converter. These folks look like they make > > them for about any laptop on the market. > > http://www.powerstream.com/ > > > > I have a Targus for my Dell laptop and it works fine. > > > > There are lots of other universal laptop auto/12V adapters on the > > market. Let you fingers (and Google) do the walking. > > > > Jim. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Liveaboard mailing list > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > > To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto: > [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Get the Moviefone Toolbar > > < > http://toolbar.aol.com/moviefone/download.html?ncid=aolcmp00050000000011>. > > Showtimes, theaters, movie news, & more! > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Liveaboard mailing list > > [email protected] > > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > > To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html > > -- > Philip McConnell > USSV Gryphon > 1987 Tayana 52 CC Cutter > Punta Gorda, FL > > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >
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