power drain

**greddy0** · 01-05-2004, 04:00 PM

Finally got my carputer installed into the LX450 =) still needs a little cleanup but the bulk install is done. I'm running a IBM Thinkpad T23, Lilliput TS 7", D-Link usb radio, usb 2.0 dvd, serial gps. Problem Im having is power supply. I currently have the laptop connected to switch power and monitor connected to constant power. But when I turn off the car the laptop senses this and go into battery conservation and the monitor goes blank in 1 min (no video signal) but the laptop stays on battery. This drains and eventually run the LT battery down. Then I have to power on the LT for the pw switch (Located in the ps front foot well!!) The wireless keyboard and TS doesn't wake up the LT from standby!! One option I was thinking was to swap power and have the lilliput with the switched power and LT with the constant.... but will this drain my car battery to a point where it won't start? How long will it last? Any suggestions would be great. Pics to follow

**stevedg35** · 01-05-2004, 06:23 PM

Hey I just over the weekend installed my laptop and xenarc 7" screen in my car...

I wired the laptop and the monitor into the battery directly.. always on.. Im not sure what this is doing to my car battery.. the car is brand new though so hopefully the battery isn't too bad.. whenever I leave my car I put the laptop in standby to hopefully conserve soem power.. so far everything seems to be working ok as far as battery power.. I dunno if its slowly but surely draining to nothing and sometime soon ill be stranded or what, but till that happens Ill just hope everything is a-ok.

Unfortunately like you I have been unable to wake my laptop from standby with my touchscren which sucks.. I am looking to get a tiny wireless keyboard that can hopefuly wake it up.. be nice to have a kb up front anyways.. for the meantime i have remedied the problem with a usb optical mouse.. that will wake up my computer from standby. although im wondering if i shouldnt swap it out for a cheap non-optical usb mouse since the optical probably sucks up mre juice.

**unsavory** · 01-05-2004, 07:14 PM

Yes, you will eat your car battery very soon. Even if you drive your car often, the trickle de-charging that is taking place will eventually kill your battery.

Btw the power from the optical mouse is negligible. I have a wireless optical and it runs on 2AA's for about a month.

**greddy0** · 01-06-2004, 11:23 AM

I'm gona wire the LT to constant 12vdc and the lilliput to switched 12vdc. Can't see any other way because the LT battery doesn't last more than a night. I'll just have to carry my portable jumper with me =(

**greddy0** · 01-09-2004, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by greddy0

I'm gona wire the LT to constant 12vdc and the lilliput to switched 12vdc. Can't see any other way because the LT battery doesn't last more than a night. I'll just have to carry my portable jumper with me =(

Well, my battery lasted ~36 hours before the battery was dead and I couldn't start the car anymore!!! Next route is to wire a remote switch to my LT PW switch so I can press that and wake my LT from sleep. I am also putting the LT back on switched power =( But it was great while it lasted... Instant on PC =)