PC DC supply

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BruceK

BruceK

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Jul 26, 2005
74
Hunter 33 Portland, ME
I want to use my laptop on board, and understand a DC/DC converter, not an inverter DC/AC is a better alternative unless your running off the altenator, not battery, for conservation of juice....what's the experience, and what are the sources for a 12DC to 16 or 20VDC converter??:doh:
 
Chuckbear

Chuckbear

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Jan 3, 2009
821
Marine Trader 34 Where Ever I am
Bruce, If you Google dc to dc converters you will find all kinds of sources. This is a much better solution for a computer since most run off of 19 volts and a small inverter is not very efficient for this. They can range in price from $30 to $90. We have had great service out of the $30 units. Radio Shack also sells them or you can get them from most any computer store. You just need to be sure you use the correct tip and most aftermarket units come with a variety of tips. Chuck
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Check out IGO.COM. They have adapters for a multitude of portable electronics.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
That would be true so long as you never need 110v AC for anything else. But I would be lost without AC on the boat. And since I have it I just plug in my regular laptop charger.
 
Don12364

Don12364

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Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
If you use a laptop for navigation; which means you run it all the time whilst sailing, then a dedicated DC/DC power brick is the way to go.
Running a more powerful DC/AC inverter is somewhat less efficient when only producing a few watts - and then you also need to use the laptop's AC/DC power brick as well to get back down to 19 volts. Feel it and notice how warm it gets after an hour to get some impression of the wasted energy. i.e. you start with 12 V DC and step it up to 110 or 240 V AC. Then you reduce it back down to 19 V DC for the laptop. This means a double conversion of energy with the attendant losses.

It is also possible to run most laptops directly from the boat's 12V DC supply but this usually means it doesn't charge the computer's internal battery - so you never know how much you have in reserve (for when the cigar lighter plug fails to make contact as they always do at some time!)
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Check your PC battery specs

My Dell has a 19.? volt DC input for the power jack. When you look at the battery however, it is only 12 volts :) so I can just wire a back panel power jack to the ships power!!!! The specs are on the battery info sticker.
Apparently the 19 volts is used to fast charge the battery and mostly useless for anything else.'
another option is your manufactures version of a "car jack" for the cigarette lighter. Just neuter the cigarette lighter plug and wire it to ships power.
 
Chuckbear

Chuckbear

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Jan 3, 2009
821
Marine Trader 34 Where Ever I am
Wiring your laptop directly to a 12 volt system with variables in the voltage very well may damage the laptop and at the very least the expensive battery. It does not make sense when inexpensive DC to DC converters are available. Chuck
 
BobT

BobT

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Sep 29, 2008
239
Gulfstar 37 North East River, Chesapeake Bay
PC specific power supply for 12v

shopbattery.net has units for specific laptops. I bought one for my old Dell and it works very well. About $40.
 
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