Hi all! Anyone power a laptop from the boat's batteries? My question is how much power does it draw. I don't fancy doing a voyage on the pc battery alone. Also how voltage sensitive is your average laptop run in this way? Any help appreciated
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Run it thru an inverter!
Julian: I just run my laptop thru an inverter that is plugged into a lighter scoket. They system is basically running on batteries and the batteries are charging thru the inverter. I tried to get one of the universal DC units Radio Shack but MY PC did not like it. I had it set to the specs that Tandy specified. So I just went back to the small inverter and it works just fine.
Julian: I just run my laptop thru an inverter that is plugged into a lighter scoket. They system is basically running on batteries and the batteries are charging thru the inverter. I tried to get one of the universal DC units Radio Shack but MY PC did not like it. I had it set to the specs that Tandy specified. So I just went back to the small inverter and it works just fine.
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Bryce
I power my pc from the house batteries, thru the 12 v cigarette adapter at the nav station. I've got a Dell Inspiron 7000. I've set the power management up so its always on when external power is detected. You'd save some power by setting up the power management by being more conservative on the power management setups. but I've got 440AH of 6V wet cells which will run the boat for at least 48 hours with everything on without recharging, so it wasn't a big concern of mine. Going directly from the house batteries is somewhat more efficient than using the invertor, since there are inherent inefficiancies in the invertor just to turn it on. Power usage on the house battereis appears pretty insignificant. If the laptop battery is discharged, it draws about 6-8 amps until the laptop batteries are fully charged, then the amp meter barely deflects so I'd guess its under an amp of power. Hope this helps. Bryce S/V Spellbinder H410
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Scott
not so sure yet Bryce...
I'm not sure about that set up being more efficient. You're point about inverter overhead I buy, but the leads me to the assumption that your dc set up for the laptop is 100% efficient. That could be the case if the laptop uses 12v only but if it's like mine it wants 18v which means that the dc set up actually steps up voltage which also has overhead maybe even more than the inverter, since I know you have a quality unit! (inverter that is)... Did you ever compare the two amperage draws on the house batts? Scott S/Y Rantum Scoot
I'm not sure about that set up being more efficient. You're point about inverter overhead I buy, but the leads me to the assumption that your dc set up for the laptop is 100% efficient. That could be the case if the laptop uses 12v only but if it's like mine it wants 18v which means that the dc set up actually steps up voltage which also has overhead maybe even more than the inverter, since I know you have a quality unit! (inverter that is)... Did you ever compare the two amperage draws on the house batts? Scott S/Y Rantum Scoot
They are 12V inside.
Scott: PC's like most computers are DC voltage on the internals. They convert the AC power to DC power through the power supplies. If you look at most of the computer fans they are all DC (AC models are available). They do the same thing with midrange and mainframe computers too. My understanding is that DC voltage is easier to control. One of our electronics gurus will explain this to us I am sure. All I know is that when I got one of those univeral adapters from Radio Shack it did not work properly (I have an old PC that someone gave me). When I just plug it into the inverter it works like a charm. GO FIGURE.
Scott: PC's like most computers are DC voltage on the internals. They convert the AC power to DC power through the power supplies. If you look at most of the computer fans they are all DC (AC models are available). They do the same thing with midrange and mainframe computers too. My understanding is that DC voltage is easier to control. One of our electronics gurus will explain this to us I am sure. All I know is that when I got one of those univeral adapters from Radio Shack it did not work properly (I have an old PC that someone gave me). When I just plug it into the inverter it works like a charm. GO FIGURE.
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Davor
12DC power
All Notebook computers nowdays have optional 12 volt DC power adaptors to run from your car lighter plug. Go to your local computer dealer or to most travel stores. Some airlines also sell them to use in the busines class seats.
All Notebook computers nowdays have optional 12 volt DC power adaptors to run from your car lighter plug. Go to your local computer dealer or to most travel stores. Some airlines also sell them to use in the busines class seats.
J
Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Powering Laptop
I have a few thoughs on laptop power since I went through this myself when I was living on my boat. First - if you are going to run your laptop through an inverter. Make absolutely sure that either your inverter outputs a true sine wave instead of a modified sine, or that your laptop charger doesn't care. You can fry eithr your charger, or on laptops where the transformer is actually inside the chasis - there are still a few like that out there - you can damage the mainboard. This is why most laptop manufacturers will void your service agreement if you use an inverter - Dell, Gateway, and Compaq included at least for systems available a year or so ago. Next, computers do not use 12 volt internals. The actual voltages vary from system to system depending on chip set, board, and processor. Typically between 4 and 6 volts. Using the OEM (or equivilant; I don't like using non-OEM stuff on things that are still under service) DC adapter should be the most efficient since you are not going to need to invert it. Make sure that you leave the battery in the system so that it doesn't have to run on the DC power coming in the port alone. If for some reason you have a voltage drop and you have the system running off of input DC power only you can ruin your system by browning it out. Last, be aware that salt air can destroy non-marinized circuit boards. Again, most manfacturers will void you for taking you laptop to sea. Friends learned this the hard way. I was refused service on my cell phone when it died after living on my boat for a few weeks because the service center could tell it had been exposed to salt air. It had never gotten wet. As always, YMMV - Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I have a few thoughs on laptop power since I went through this myself when I was living on my boat. First - if you are going to run your laptop through an inverter. Make absolutely sure that either your inverter outputs a true sine wave instead of a modified sine, or that your laptop charger doesn't care. You can fry eithr your charger, or on laptops where the transformer is actually inside the chasis - there are still a few like that out there - you can damage the mainboard. This is why most laptop manufacturers will void your service agreement if you use an inverter - Dell, Gateway, and Compaq included at least for systems available a year or so ago. Next, computers do not use 12 volt internals. The actual voltages vary from system to system depending on chip set, board, and processor. Typically between 4 and 6 volts. Using the OEM (or equivilant; I don't like using non-OEM stuff on things that are still under service) DC adapter should be the most efficient since you are not going to need to invert it. Make sure that you leave the battery in the system so that it doesn't have to run on the DC power coming in the port alone. If for some reason you have a voltage drop and you have the system running off of input DC power only you can ruin your system by browning it out. Last, be aware that salt air can destroy non-marinized circuit boards. Again, most manfacturers will void you for taking you laptop to sea. Friends learned this the hard way. I was refused service on my cell phone when it died after living on my boat for a few weeks because the service center could tell it had been exposed to salt air. It had never gotten wet. As always, YMMV - Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I stand corrected!
Justin: Thank you, I stand corrected. What I really ment was that they are DC voltage and as you stated, there are various voltages in the system.
Justin: Thank you, I stand corrected. What I really ment was that they are DC voltage and as you stated, there are various voltages in the system.
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Don Alexander
The Answer to Your Question
is about 2 amps from the boat's 12 V domestic supply. I run my laptop all the time when I am sailing because it constantly plots my position on the navigation program. I bought the 12V car adaptor which contains a DC/DC converter which makes 19V. The laptop then converts this back to the 12 V required to run the computer AND charge the battery. Sounds daft but it is not particularly inefficient. On a previous laptop I simply connected the boat's supply to the DC Input connector. Everything worked fine but I don't think it was capable of recharging the computer's battery if it had been used - the Cigar lighter plug often almost came out of the socket on the nav table. Merry Christmas.
is about 2 amps from the boat's 12 V domestic supply. I run my laptop all the time when I am sailing because it constantly plots my position on the navigation program. I bought the 12V car adaptor which contains a DC/DC converter which makes 19V. The laptop then converts this back to the 12 V required to run the computer AND charge the battery. Sounds daft but it is not particularly inefficient. On a previous laptop I simply connected the boat's supply to the DC Input connector. Everything worked fine but I don't think it was capable of recharging the computer's battery if it had been used - the Cigar lighter plug often almost came out of the socket on the nav table. Merry Christmas.
J
Julian Sandford
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Larry Mongeon
Power Source
I purchased a used 12V emergency battery from a guy on E Bay last year. The battery is about 12in long 4.5 in high and came out of medical life support sytems. (Back Up) Cost was about 20.00 US. I have this battery hooked up to my Dell laptop and it will power it for 4 days without recharging. The battery is also capable of starting my 15 HP Merc in an emergency. Sorry I don't have the company name but check it out on E-Bay under Battery (search) Best 20.00 dollars I ever spent. By the way batteries on this equipment must be changed by law every X months so in effect they are new/used. To date I have over 130 charges on it and it is still preforming well.
I purchased a used 12V emergency battery from a guy on E Bay last year. The battery is about 12in long 4.5 in high and came out of medical life support sytems. (Back Up) Cost was about 20.00 US. I have this battery hooked up to my Dell laptop and it will power it for 4 days without recharging. The battery is also capable of starting my 15 HP Merc in an emergency. Sorry I don't have the company name but check it out on E-Bay under Battery (search) Best 20.00 dollars I ever spent. By the way batteries on this equipment must be changed by law every X months so in effect they are new/used. To date I have over 130 charges on it and it is still preforming well.
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