Laptop Car Adapter Question

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liam

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# 15144 6-Aug-2007 21:49

I've been hunting around for a laptop car adapter for my new Toshiba Satellite A200 laptop.

Reason why is I have a DC Invertor from Dick Smith's but that seems to make my current AC power adapter run reaaally hot.
So I decided it may be better to use a DC-DC adapter -

My current AC adapter output is 19V @ 4.74A (90W) -
I've found a DC adapter on laptopbattery.co.nz that will do that.

Is it risky / more likely to damage the laptop running through that car or should it be fine?

Cheers.

rscole86

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# 81373 6-Aug-2007 22:39

I assume that you are wanting one of these?

M9694

Im not sure on this, but it wouldnt surprise me...

Depending on the invertor you have, you will be producing an AC current, that instead of being a true sine wave, it will square edges, this could be what makes your AC power adapter get realyl hot.
It is getting an AC current it is not use to, so it is having to do a lot of work to, at a guess, convert it into something it can use, and then convert that to DC.

paradoxsm

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# 81377 6-Aug-2007 22:48

Second that, Stay away from the 12v - 240v inverters unless you really need to.

Get a 12v - 18v adaptor but get a reliable brand, I now use an "compaq" one for my Toshiba. The Jaycar model blew up but it felt cheap and was a large sized thing.

liam

13 posts

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# 81400 7-Aug-2007 08:01

Thanks for that -

I was looking at this model here:
http://www.laptopbattery.co.nz/products.asp?product_no=196

This will run 19V at 4.74A.
It looks like a bit of a cheapo one though - that DSE adapter has a overcurrent protection features which is good -

You guys know of / can recommend where to buy reasonably good quality one?

liam

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# 81401 7-Aug-2007 08:09

I take it this was the Jaycar adapter you wouldn't recommend getting:
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=MP3467&CATID=27&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=381

rscole86

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# 81402 7-Aug-2007 08:17

That Jaycar one does not have a very good picture, DSE sell a similar model, if not the same, that is Projecta branded.

They seem to do very well, however I would get the more expensive one and it has higher tollerences and has an USB on it, aswell as it being able to be used on an aeroplane.

Fossie

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# 81479 7-Aug-2007 17:37

Dse eh rscole?

liam

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# 81510 7-Aug-2007 22:14

Yeah the Kerio one from DSE I think will be the go.
It's the only one with output current protection built in.

It's a bit of a concern when running in the car - ie someone starts the car when the charger is plugged into the laptop -
I guess that could cause a power / current spike possible damaging the laptop.

Worth spending $150 versus $50 and less risk damaging a $2500 laptop.

Thanks all.