Electronic chargers/inverters for cars (for laptops and other devices) - Team-BHP

naveendhyani · 5th July 2006, 12:47

hi all!

is there a device which plugs in the cigerette lighter adapter & can b used 2 charge ny 220 v device?

i mean something like a power strip which takes in 12 V, amplifies it to 220 V & has normal extension cords on the other end. sometimes need to charge the laptop & other electronic devices while on travel.

Rehaan · 5th July 2006, 14:13

Hi Naveendhyani,

They are commonly known as "Inverters".

I have one which is 12v DC > 110-120VAC 400W.
Have only got around to using it once! (and am considering putting it in the marketplace....?)

cya
R

nitinbhag · 5th July 2006, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by naveendhyani

i mean something like a power strip which takes in 12 V, amplifies it to 220 V & has normal extension cords on the other end. sometimes need to charge the laptop & other electronic devices while on travel.

Its better to get 12V power adapters for these devices.. inverters are very inefficient and probably unrelaible too..

mithun · 15th March 2007, 06:08

Is it possible to install after-market power [COLOR=#000000][FONT=verdana,geneva,lucida,'lucida grande',arial,helvetica,sans-serif]sockets[/FONT][/COLOR] so that we can charge cellphones etc to cars which are not having any original provisions like cigarette lighters ?

Even some scooters are having provision for charging cellphones etc.

srishiva · 15th March 2007, 10:07

I have the 12 V -> 110V converter too. I haven't seen a 220V one yet. But then you can use only devices made in U.S or computer accessories which are always 110/220V. I use it for my laptop, mp3 players etc., and works fine.

rishibravo · 15th March 2007, 10:23

I remember seeing one on ebay. 12V-220V (with different wattage 75W to all the way to 500W) . Price was around Rs 2,500 after conversion (I think I saw it on ebay.au and the product was to be shipped from Hongkong) . Though I dont know how efficient it would be but people in australia are using it for charging their laptops.

esteem_lover · 15th March 2007, 10:24

Yes, there is & costs around 800 - 1200 bucks. have not tried it.

tsk1979 · 15th March 2007, 10:39

You can go for it, but there are a few precautions you need to take w.r.t wattage.
Your 12V socket has 10amp capability, that translates to around 110-120W. If you take losses into consideration, the 220V adapter you take can power 80W devices at most without blowing fuse.
So you are left with laptop at most, or mobile phones.
Most such things like ipods, laptops, etc., have cheap third party car adaptors, so better get those.

ajitkommini · 15th March 2007, 10:51

As many have said, it makes little sense to do what you're planning. consider the two alternatives

1. 12V DC from Car battery --->[Inverter]---> 220V AC --->[laptop pwer adapter] ---> 12V DC again.

2. 12V DC ----> laptop

Method 2 seems more direct, efficient and reliable right? Why dont you look for a laptop car adapter accessory?

rishibravo · 15th March 2007, 10:54

What is your exact purpose ..If the purpose is charging the laptop then Its better to get a 12V Laptop charger.

tsk1979 · 15th March 2007, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

As many have said, it makes little sense to do what you're planning. consider the two alternatives

1. 12V DC from Car battery --->[Inverter]---> 220V AC --->[laptop pwer adapter] ---> 12V DC again.

2. 12V DC ----> laptop

Method 2 seems more direct, efficient and reliable right? Why dont you look for a laptop car adapter accessory?

Laptops use 40/35V DC.
So you still need a DC-DC converter, and that is more efficient.

low_bass_makker · 15th March 2007, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Laptops use 40/35V DC.

are nahi bahi...what I have seen is from 15 volts to 21 volts max.......with different companies but the 19 volt is the most common....

tsk1979 · 15th March 2007, 12:19

yup, my mistake, its 19V actually.
Dell uses 19V.
You will need a DC-DC converter for a laptop.

gd1418 · 15th March 2007, 12:42

When I purchased a Garmin GPS device for self - iQue3200, it never came with a car adaptor. Its battery used to last for hardly 5-6 hrs. The GPS dealer then sold me an invertor - 12v to 220v AC ~ 150W for Rs.2500. That was 1.5 years ago. It is working fine and runs my laptop, DVD player, charges my GPS device etc.

Have not encountered any problem whatsoever.

Quote:

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

are nahi bahi...what I have seen is from 15 volts to 21 volts max.......with different companies but the 19 volt is the most common....

amohit · 17th August 2007, 10:15

to make a laptop draw power from the car battery?
Not sure why any one wud do that...but still then.
If so how?

5th July 2006, 12:47	#1 (permalink)
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 549	Electronic chargers/inverters for cars (for laptops and other devices) hi all! is there a device which plugs in the cigerette lighter adapter & can b used 2 charge ny 220 v device? i mean something like a power strip which takes in 12 V, amplifies it to 220 V & has normal extension cords on the other end. sometimes need to charge the laptop & other electronic devices while on travel.

15th March 2007, 06:08	#4 (permalink)
mithun Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin/Bangalore Posts: 1,072 View My Garage	Is it possible to install after-market power [COLOR=#000000][FONT=verdana,geneva,lucida,'lucida grande',arial,helvetica,sans-serif]sockets[/FONT][/COLOR] so that we can charge cellphones etc to cars which are not having any original provisions like cigarette lighters ? Even some scooters are having provision for charging cellphones etc. __________________ Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams dry, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

15th March 2007, 10:39	#8 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,044 View My Garage	You can go for it, but there are a few precautions you need to take w.r.t wattage. Your 12V socket has 10amp capability, that translates to around 110-120W. If you take losses into consideration, the 220V adapter you take can power 80W devices at most without blowing fuse. So you are left with laptop at most, or mobile phones. Most such things like ipods, laptops, etc., have cheap third party car adaptors, so better get those. __________________ .--- ..- ... - - .-- --- -- --- .-. . -.. .- -.-- ... - --- --. --- !!

15th March 2007, 12:19	#13 (permalink)
tsk1979 Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Noida, New Delhi Posts: 8,044 View My Garage	yup, my mistake, its 19V actually. Dell uses 19V. You will need a DC-DC converter for a laptop. __________________ .--- ..- ... - - .-- --- -- --- .-. . -.. .- -.-- ... - --- --. --- !!

17th August 2007, 10:15	#15 (permalink)
amohit BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 208	Is it possible... to make a laptop draw power from the car battery? Not sure why any one wud do that...but still then. If so how?

5th July 2006, 14:13	#2 (permalink)
Rehaan Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay / New York Posts: 7,575	Hi Naveendhyani, They are commonly known as "Inverters". I have one which is 12v DC > 110-120VAC 400W. Have only got around to using it once! (and am considering putting it in the marketplace....?) cya R

15th March 2007, 10:07	#5 (permalink)
srishiva BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 648	I have the 12 V -> 110V converter too. I haven't seen a 220V one yet. But then you can use only devices made in U.S or computer accessories which are always 110/220V. I use it for my laptop, mp3 players etc., and works fine.

15th March 2007, 10:23	#6 (permalink)
rishibravo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 579 View My Garage	I remember seeing one on ebay. 12V-220V (with different wattage 75W to all the way to 500W) . Price was around Rs 2,500 after conversion (I think I saw it on ebay.au and the product was to be shipped from Hongkong) . Though I dont know how efficient it would be but people in australia are using it for charging their laptops.

15th March 2007, 10:51	#9 (permalink)
ajitkommini BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 275	As many have said, it makes little sense to do what you're planning. consider the two alternatives 1. 12V DC from Car battery --->[Inverter]---> 220V AC --->[laptop pwer adapter] ---> 12V DC again. 2. 12V DC ----> laptop Method 2 seems more direct, efficient and reliable right? Why dont you look for a laptop car adapter accessory?

15th March 2007, 10:54	#10 (permalink)
rishibravo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 579 View My Garage	What is your exact purpose ..If the purpose is charging the laptop then Its better to get a 12V Laptop charger.

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