On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:42:37 -0700 D <[email protected]> wrote: > Anyone know of a good PORTABLE AC power source? Something like a UPS > or something, but smaller. It doesn't have to be big, just enough to > power a couple of external devices to my laptop.
Simplest solution: an inverter. Get one specifically designed for solid state electronics, e.g. laptops, etc. It must produce a sine wave, and if the salesman doesn't know what a sine wave it, it doesn't. For what you are doing, a 140 watt inverter is fine. My Lenovo R51 is rated for 70 watts and actually draws around 40. This, of course, requires a power source. Your car will supply any good inverter just fine. Plug it into the power point (cigarette lighter to us dinosaurs) socket and away you go. Just be sure that the inverter at full load won't blow the fuse. For longer term (camping, running while the engine is shut down, etc.), a deep cycle battery and an alligator clip to power point cable will do it. Put a fuse on it. I use the in-line fuse holders as that's what my car has, and that way I can draw spare fuses from the same supply. Also, put the battery into a battery case, just in (ahem) case. The battery and case should be readily available at marine, RV and solar power vendors. Try an auto parts house for the cable and fuse holder. For charging the battery from the mains, a 1.5 amp trickle charger does just fine. For faster charging, get a higher capacity charger. However, the faster the charger the more likely it is to damage the battery by charging too fast. To charge the deep cycle battery while driving, get a vehicle to vehicle battery booster cable. These go power point to power point. I use a Black&Decker Simple Start, catalog number BBC2CB. It has smarts on it, and delivers about 8 amps. I use this to run my mobile refrigerator, and it's good for several days without charging in the car even in hot Arizona summer sun. Of course your definition of "portable" may preclude a deep cycle battery. -- Charles Curley /"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign Looking for fine software \ / Respect for open standards and/or writing? X No HTML/RTF in email http://www.charlescurley.com / \ No M$ Word docs in email Key fingerprint = CE5C 6645 A45A 64E4 94C0 809C FFF6 4C48 4ECD DFDB /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
