Thread: carnetix and laptop question helpp

just get a Carntiex P1290 and your laptop will work fine with 12 volt rather than 14.4 volt.

yea i thought about that but then i dont know how to power my screen...any ideas

Originally Posted by W3bMa5t3r

Just a quick note, PowerStream (google them) makes a HUGE selection of dc-dc power supplies with different voltages available for decent prices.

The W3bMa5t3r

hey thanks...i saw those and those from that site and they look very useful. I am not exactly sure which ones i should be looking at, so some guidance in that department would be great. Do you suggest using this as a standalone or hooking this up to the cnx1900

Originally Posted by racerboy0712

do you mind explaining the inverter thing again; by it did u mean...connect the inverter to the 18V?.....the screen to the 12V and what ever else i used to the 5V

I understand why I wasn't super clear now, it's been a while since I did the car install where (in hindsight) the P1900 really isn't the best chice but it works and I already had it. I'm not using the primary output (18-20), I'm just using the secondary (12V) to power the monitor and the inverter (and I've got no 5V source). A 12V/5V ps would be a better/cheaper option than the P1900 if you can't directly power the laptop from the primary (i.e you're going to use an inverter or a car adapter). In my van (and originally in the car), I'm using the primary to power the laptop directly with no inverter which is why I got the P1900 in the first place.

ok but is it possible to hook up a dc-dc converter...say from 19V to 14V to the cnx1900....or is it possible to connect an inverter to the cnx1900

Please take a look at this thread...

Cartenix 1900

hm when will that be complete....and im curious..what does "program jumpers" does that mean ill have to buy something seperate?

its possible but wastefull. You're laptop should handle 12v just fine. Go find a car adapter for your laptop instead of getting the carnetix if it truly requires 14V. It'll be cheaper in the end. Car adapter $20-80.

Then if you do get the carnetix it would provide power for your screen and your usb devices.

Don't use an inverter. They're innefficient. Noisy, And throw of EMF/EMI like crazy. Trust me I have a hardwired inveter in my car right now and its terrible. Going from DC(Car) to AC(Inverter) Back to DC is retarded.


But as I said your laptop should be able to handle 12 volts. Most laptops have a wide voltage range of 3 volts up or down. The power adapter for my laptop got lost. Got a replacement. The on I have is 2 volts under what the factory one was. Still works just fine and it's made specifically for my laptops model #.

sorry for the noob question but, is the only way to find the laptop's power output from online or a manual or is there something on teh computer that tells me.

also, if i plug in my gps reciever to my laptop, does that mean the Volts usage goes up?...and what if i use a docking station...does that have the same voltage need as the computer