Powering Laptop

Cardi · 04-27-2005, 03:02 AM

Right I plan to use a laptop as my car PC so it can be removed whenever I want. I understand the monitor and sound issues but I'm concerned with my power connections.

The opus type units appear to be suited for the ITX style PC's whilst the inverters for laptops do not have the automatic shutdown and the ignition surge type protection. I hear that I'd need a shutdown controller but again these seem suited to ITX pc's.

I want to be able to plug a feed into the laptops supply jack that boots the computer when the ignition is turned on and shuts it down when the igniton is switched off. I then want to be able to unplug the power, monitor and USB connection and remove the laptop from my boot to use it as a normal laptop...ie press the power button to switch on. How do you do this?

jamiewhittingha · 04-27-2005, 03:47 AM

Hi

not exactly the answer your looking for but here is what I have done

I have a 1000 WATT inverted hardwired to my battery with a universal power cable running to my laptop. i leave my laptop on standby so when I touch my wireless keyboard or touch the screen it soft boots into windows and when i want to shut it down i just put the laptop back into standby - this my cheap and VERY effetive startup shudown controler :P

hope this gives you a few ideas.

oh and i have the universal power supply so i can leave my good HP one in the laptop case at home for when i use it as a normal laptop like yourself.

If you would like some help or pictures i would be hapy t email so please email me at jamie.whittingham@gmail.com

cheers

Jamie aka Quest

Cardi · 04-27-2005, 08:10 AM

cheers for the reply jamie, but if you leave the laptop plugged in to the battery on the inverter for long periods of time will it not drain the battery as its still drawing current whilst on standby? Although I guess you can get around this by using the inverter is feed from the ignition live line.

How about when you first put the lap top in the car after working at home with it I'm assuming you still need to press the ON button?

DarquePervert · 04-27-2005, 08:31 AM

Get a DC adapter for your laptop.

KyleYankan · 04-27-2005, 08:46 AM

Cardi: You can make a laptop goto standy by it's own battery reaches oh say 95%, and to shutdown when it hits 10%, or 5%. This way you can have the inverter shutdown (no var battery being used). I've let me laptop on standby for well over 15 hours once. 4