anyone using a docking station? coupla questions

**bagwellfive** · 10-09-2007, 01:27 PM

i'm thinking a docking station would be a good solution. i'll be able to remove / replace the laptop at will and update it at home when need be. as well as take it out for security reasons.

i've ordered an 8" 640x480 screen and plan on placing the docking station under the passenger side seat.

what power solutions would you all recommend? AC->DC converter?

any other tips for docking station use?

**meddler** · 10-09-2007, 04:22 PM

You can buy a dc-dc converter to power your laptop. just get one of the in car chargers of ebay or your local computer store. (Unless it is a Dell. They have a special charging circuit)

**JC-S60** · 10-09-2007, 05:56 PM

A lot of these docking stations use the same power supply as the laptop itself. That means you can use a "car/plane" adapter - the universal ones aren't that expensive. Just make sure you get a powerfull one!

My cousin built his carpc-project around a dell latitude pIII laptop with docking. It works great, as these dockings had a power button and power/hdd leds which he connected to a switch and leds in the front of his car, while the pc is in the trunk.

Good luck!
Joachim

**bagwellfive** · 10-09-2007, 06:16 PM

cool. thx for the info guys. thru some research found this on dell's site of all places...

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...5&sku=A0406008

i'm assuming that would fit the bill?

**meddler** · 10-09-2007, 07:33 PM

yeah, but make sure that it is powerful enough to run your laptop with the docking adapter. My dell laptop was shipped with a 65w adapter and will not run if the laptop is docked. I had to buy a 90w adapter for it to work. Damn Dell's

**GizmoQ** · 10-09-2007, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by meddler

yeah, but make sure that it is powerful enough to run your laptop with the docking adapter. My dell laptop was shipped with a 65w adapter and will not run if the laptop is docked. I had to buy a 90w adapter for it to work. Damn Dell's

To reiterate the point, if your laptop power supply says 16V 3.4 Amps and you try to use one thats 16V 1.3Amps it will either burn up, burn up the motherboard, shut off intermittently, or just not post.

Get => power regardless of the source.

**meddler** · 10-10-2007, 12:48 AM

my laptop was rated at 65w. It's just when I added the docking station it consumes more power because of the extra USB ports etc. The Dell laptops are even as kind to tell you so (

) and won't boot.

**bagwellfive** · 10-10-2007, 01:38 AM

my further research isn't helping things...

my Dell D620 came w/ a 9-cell battery. Dell's user guide basically says it can't be used w/ auto/air adapters...

but Lind Electronic boasts that their 90W versions can handle D620's on their website...

then you add to that my docking station. Doesn't sound good for me. I'd really love to keep it simple w/ a DC-DC setup...

**meddler** · 10-10-2007, 01:57 AM

what wattage is on the wall power adapter?

The thing you have to be wary about with dells is if they don't get the right signals, they will not charge. Some of them won't even run.

Try here. LINK This was one of the only guys that sold a DC-DC auto air adapter that worked properly for my inspiron 8600.