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01-06-2010, 16:01
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada on Lake Ontario
Boat: Roberts Offshore 38
Posts: 1,287
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How Do I Supply My Laptop with Juice without AC ?
I recently bought a laptop for navigation software and internet/email connection afloat. This beast comes with a 110v charger which puts out 19.3VDC (i forget what the wattage or current is) So my question is, how do I get that DC voltage from 12volt batteries? If I put two of them in series I can get 222-26v. But what do I use to step that down to the required 19.3V? Also how would I go about charging that? My panel is 12v. My charger for shorepower is 12V. Seems to me I'd be connecting and disconnecting batteries all the time.
Sabre
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01-06-2010, 16:17
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: U.S., Northeast
Boat: Currently boatless
Posts: 1,643
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The simplest and safest solution is to get a 12V DC charger for your laptop.
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01-06-2010, 16:21
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: PNW
Boat: Knutson K-35 Yawl "Oh Joy" - Mariner 31 Ketch "Kahagon" - K-40 "Seasmoke" - 30' Sloop "Baccus"
Posts: 1,289
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That or a small inverter that plugs into a 12V socket. I use one I bought off eBay for $30.
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01-06-2010, 16:22
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Kingston / Thousand Islands, Ontario
Boat: C&C 35 Mk.II
Posts: 343
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Most laptop chargers I've encountered will work fine on a $40, 300-watt inverter. This is, however, not an efficient solution if you are concerned about the drain on your house bank, in which case a car-to-laptop charger is called for. These can sometimes be hard to find. Personally, I'd be more likely to make one out of a DC/DC converter and some filtering circuits.... but most folks would probably prefer to just go out and buy the thing.
__________________
Matt Marsh
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01-06-2010, 16:23
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Puget Sound, USA
Boat: Lyman-Morse 54
Posts: 219
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You will likely want to find a transformer for your laptop that can plug into a 12V outlet (like a cigarette lighter outlet in a car). Depending on the brand of PC, the manufacturer might already make such a beast, I have a Lenovo and they make an adapter that I use on our boat. If the manufacturer does not make a 12V transformer, you can check at a store like Radio Shack as I know they sell "universal" transformers that you can plug into multiple voltage sources, can set the output voltage, and select the appropriate tip and the polarity of the tip for your laptop.
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01-06-2010, 16:40
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Boat: Monk 36 Trawler
Posts: 679
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There is an accessory made by "I Go" called I Juice. it comes with an A/c and DC adapters and you can buy tips which supply different DC voltages for computers, phones, portable radios etc.
I have one it works fine but I believe cost about $70.oo with assorted tips.
Got it at radio Shack probably available elsewhere also.
Here is the address www.igo.com
Good luck
Steve
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01-06-2010, 17:31
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#8
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Eternal Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Boat: Vancouver 36 cutter????
Posts: 620
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You're going to have to convert the boat 12V to what your computer uses. You've got 2 choices: (1) AC inverter; or (2) DC-DC converter. Losses will be about the same (converting 12VDC to 19.2DVC takes energy) but using the inverter is going to be less efficient than using the DC-DC converter (two conversions: 12VDC-120VAC, 120VAC-19.2VDC).
If it were my choice, I'd go with a good 300-400W true sine wave inverter. The losses will be higher but I can use the inverter for so many other tasks where the DC-DC converter is pretty much dedicated to the computer.
__________________
Capt. Douglas Abbott
USCG/MCA IV/M.I./C.I. 500-ton Oceans
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01-06-2010, 18:00
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada on Lake Ontario
Boat: Roberts Offshore 38
Posts: 1,287
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Thanks for the replys. I'll have a look around for a DC-DC converter or a ready made car charger. I'll have to get on with the manufacturer by phone n see what they have.
Sabre
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01-06-2010, 18:05
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: San Diego
Boat: Grand Banks 36
Posts: 42
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DC-DC chargers on Ebay
There are a lot of 12 VDC chargers for laptops on Ebay. Just type in 12 VDC and the name of your laptop and see what happens. I have one for my car to charge my Dell laptop.
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