What Power Supply for Laptop Install?

**D3LTR33** · 05-22-2008, 10:43 PM

Hey guys. I was ******* around with a dead laptop today and managed to fix it so now i'm gonna turn it into a carpc.

How does a laptop install differ from a pc install? I've read the laptop faq and it was all pretty much common sense stuff.

I realise that i will need one of webmaster's auto power on modules to turn it on and off. But what about power supply? Do i just use the same power supply as i would for a carpc? I assume i would have to hack up the laptop power cord to wire it to the PS yes? And don't most power supplies have startup sequences or something built in? Would it conflict? How would the power supply know when to supply power if the auto startup module is handling that?

So basically;
Auto startup module connected to laptop
laptop cord hacked into regular power supply
xenarc connected to regular power supply
power supply connected to battery

What is missing?

Just trying to get everything clear as possible in my mind before i take the first steps.

Cheers

edit: my power cord has INPUT: 100-240V 1.5A OUTPUT: DC 19.5V 3.34A

edit: Would the startup module built into the carnetix do exactly the same thing as the webmaster module? It appears that the carnetix one needs to be soldered in, the same way the webmaster module needs to. So it would be easy to pick one or the other and i see how they couldn't conflict.

**xelz** · 05-22-2008, 11:58 PM

there are 2 ways of doing this. The better more expensive way is:

power supply (like carnetix) w/ builtin startup mod, so you wouldn't need webmaster's auto power on mod.

the cheaper way (the way i do it) is:

get a cheap laptop car adapter on ebay, hack it up and connect that to the battery along with the xenarc, and get the auto startup mod. (of course connect the screen and adapter to a relay to turn them on when the car turns on).

Another way is use an inverter to power the laptop.

James

**D3LTR33** · 05-23-2008, 12:13 AM

Thanks xelz.

I been doing more reading and i think i'm getting the gist of it. It appears that by using the carnetix, my laptop battery won't charge? I've only seen this mentioned in older threads, is this still an issue? Something to do with the "Charger ID" wire in the power cord.

Also, the carnetix supports 18V, 19V, or 20V. My power brick says 19.5V. Is this a big enough difference to be a problem?

**xelz** · 05-23-2008, 12:26 AM

i'm pretty sure .5v won't really make that much of a difference. i'm powering a 12v router right now with a 19.5v input power, but i tried the same thing w/ a 12v tv antenna and i saw sparks fly.

another option is get the ebay car adaptor and connect that to the 12v of the carnetix.

James

**FusionFanatic** · 05-23-2008, 12:50 AM

I think I remember reading that the "no battery charging" issue was only on certain model Dell laptops.

I used an old Dell Inspiron 8000 in my previous carPC setup. I used a cheap eBay auto adapter to power it. the OEM power cord has 3 wires, the eBay adapter cord had only 2 wires but the battery still charged up fine.

**D3LTR33** · 08-04-2008, 12:42 AM

Going back to this, i've bought all the components for my install and i'm gonna wire it all in as soon as i get an answer to this question:

How exactly do i wire the laptop to the Carnetix? My power cord has the barrel connector on the laptop end, a brick in the middle, and the ac mains plug.

Do i chop off the brick and ac mains plug so that i'm basically just attaching the barrel connector to the Carnetix?

**DarquePervert** · 08-04-2008, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by D3LTR33

Going back to this, i've bought all the components for my install and i'm gonna wire it all in as soon as i get an answer to this question:

How exactly do i wire the laptop to the Carnetix? My power cord has the barrel connector on the laptop end, a brick in the middle, and the ac mains plug.

Do i chop off the brick and ac mains plug so that i'm basically just attaching the barrel connector to the Carnetix?

Yup.
That or purchase another barrel connector from an electronics shop.