Permanant Standby

Charlie87 · 08-08-2009, 05:33 PM

My CarPuter is almost at the point of being installed into my car but im stuck on one last thing. Im using a laptop that i have modded the power switch to so that i is run to the front of the car (Laptop is in the boot) and this works well. What i am struggling with is powering the laptop without flattening my car. I can by a small DC-DC laptop car charger that would simply plug into the laptop then be chopped and wired into my cars battery. My question is would the laptop drain power from the battery when it was off (If the battery was fully charge) and if i used standby instead of hibernating the pc would it drain the battery to much or would it last a long time.
Thanks for any help

NSFW · 08-08-2009, 06:11 PM

I have my laptop taking power from an accessory circuit, so it can only pull power when the key is in. It's been working great for over a year now. The laptop shuts itself down about 15 minutes after I take they key out, and it tops off while I'm driving.

Charlie87 · 08-08-2009, 06:14 PM

That was my exact plan so thanks for letting me know that will work. I was just wondering if when it was connected strait to the battery if it would drain to much

Thanks for help

NSFW · 08-08-2009, 06:42 PM

I'm sure there's a little bit of drain but it's way less than leaving the headlights on. Once the battery is charged the drain is negligible.

Flaring_Afro · 08-08-2009, 07:23 PM

You should have it get no power from the battery when the engine is off. It'll stay in sleep mode from its own battery. Otherwise, the drain will be bad for your battery and could drain it too much, especially if you dont drive it on weekend, etc.

Charlie87 · 08-08-2009, 07:47 PM

The laptop normaly can run for about an hour and a half before it goes flat normaly so what sort of time can i expent in standby? a couple of days maybe?

moelsaied88 · 08-08-2009, 08:38 PM

im interested in this also because this is pretty much my setup as well. standby is great because it loads sooo much faster than hibernate.

Charlie87 · 08-08-2009, 08:51 PM

Im sure the laptop will be able to power itself for atleast 4-5 days without a charge in standby and if i know im not gonna use it i would just boot the PC down or hibernate it.
all i was im just also wondering what sort of drain a laptop in standby would drain of the car battert if it was alwasy conected
Think ill jsut wire it to the ignition though.
Thanks for the help.

Djole501 · 08-10-2009, 04:08 AM

You could meassure the current drawn while charging and only on standby. My setup is currently only charging when key is turned but i think i will connect it permanently, my car has a big battery but i will do some meassurements first.

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