Electronics help needed!

The_blue · 30 Jan 2008 at 16:02

Whats the cheapest way of converting 12V DC from a car to 19v DC for an old laptop?

I could use a 12v -220v AC inverter and the regular lappy charger but thats got to be a waste, plus i'd like something i can leave in the camper.

Is there anything simple i can build? Have solder and ******s

The_blue · 30 Jan 2008 at 16:09

I've just seen em, but i was hoping for some solution under a fiver

The_blue · 30 Jan 2008 at 16:47

Best i've found it £20 from highstreet electronics store

The_blue · 30 Jan 2008 at 21:28

RobH said:
That probably is the cheapest way of doing it unless you can buy a notebook charger that runs off 12v for less. It isn't a waste, just because a notebook is using 19 volts doesn't mean that the rest is being wasted, current is the important measurement.

I didn't mean waste it that context.

A 12v to 22v inverter is about 60-80% efficient, then add on the loss from the lappys power brick = one quickly flattened battery.