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Posted by LurfysMa on January 26, 2008, 12:52 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:05:03 -0500, Barry Watzman
>It will work in MOST cases, but it's really clunky because then you need
>both the inverter and the laptop AC adapter/charger.
I don't care much about clunky if it works.
>There are adapters like the one that you used to have that are
>"universal" and will work with most laptops by using an interchangeable
>"tip" that changes the voltage, polarity and connector on the end of the
>cable that plugs into the laptop. Targus is the largest manufacturer.
>They even make some models that take both AC (110/220) and DC (auto/air)
>as an input AND that have interchangeable tips for different laptops.
>
>Note that sometimes you will find that officially your laptop isn't
>supported, but in fact you may find that an available given tip has the
>correct voltage, connector and polarity. Sometimes, the mfgr. (of the
>power adapter) just hasn't gotten around to testing it with your laptop,
>sometimes the current capacity isn't up to spec (but note, in such cases
>you can often get away with using it (safely) ANYWAY), some of these
>feature "current limiting" and the maker says that the adapter is
>capable of providing too much current (capable of ... so what? ... it
>won't. That's like not being willing to use a car that can go 80mph
>because the speed limit is only 55mph).
I did look into some of those. I even talked to a tech at one of the
companies. (I forget the name of the company. They are located in
Utah.) When I told him that I have a Dell Inspiron, he said their
adapters won't work because Dell has added some sort of "pin" to the
adapter that the PC detects and won't run if it isn't a Dell adapter.
I am completely fed up with Dell. Their service is the pits and now I
discover that they do this. Bastards. Last Dell I will ever own --
ever.
>LurfysMa wrote:
>> For years, I used one of those cigarette lighter adapters for my
>> laptop when I flew. It had two plugs: one for a cigarette lighter and
>> one for the airline outlet. It worked great, but it only worked for
>> that laptop. Every time I got a new laptop, I had to buy a new
>> adapter.
>>
>> I have a new laptop and I'm wondering if there's a better way.
>>
>> I see several of these "auto inverters" on the market that plug into
>> the cigarette lighter and generate 110 AC power, so I can just plug my
>> regular laptop adapter into that. They can be used for all kinds of
>> appliances such as portable refrigerators and the like.
>>
>> At least one has an airline adapter:
>>
>> http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=PNOTEAC150A
>>
>> Has anyone had any experience with these? Do they work? Any problems?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
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