Any tips for using a car's power point?

I'm traveling to Florida soon. I have one device that will require
(almost) constant power during the trip: an Acer Aspire One that will
be doing double-duty as a GPS device and Internet access terminal.

Are there any power considerations or limitations that I must take
into account while operating the device in a car? (It will be a
rental.)

On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:23:51 -0800 (PST), Carthell wrote:
I'm traveling to Florida soon. I have one device that will require
(almost) constant power during the trip: an Acer Aspire One that will
be doing double-duty as a GPS device and Internet access terminal.

Are there any power considerations or limitations that I must take
into account while operating the device in a car? (It will be a
rental.)

A typical laptop will pull less than 50 watts, or about 5-6 amps into an
intertor. A cigarette lighter socket is typically good for 15 amps.

When you say constant power, do you need to power it when the engine
is stopped? Think it as a draw about 1/5th that of the headlights.

On Feb 3, 1:53*am, AZ Nomad wrote:

A typical laptop will pull less than 50 watts, or about 5-6 amps into an
intertor. *A cigarette lighter socket is typically good for 15 amps.

When you say constant power, do you need to power it when the engine
is stopped? *Think it as a draw about 1/5th that of the headlights.

I don't expect to run the laptop (for long) while stopped.

I'm sure that the driving I'll be doing will exceed the (small) laptop
battery's
ability to supply power. I'm going to try to hit Key West from
Orlando while
I'm down there. I'm more concerned about draining the rental car's
battery
than anything else. (Can't you tell I haven't done anything like this
before?)

-d

The battery will only drain if you run the laptop for extended periods while
the engine is off, similar to leaving the lights on, just takes a little
longer. When the engine is running it would be powered by the alternator
just like the lights and radio.

"Carthell" wrote in message
...
On Feb 3, 1:53 am, AZ Nomad wrote:

A typical laptop will pull less than 50 watts, or about 5-6 amps into an
intertor. A cigarette lighter socket is typically good for 15 amps.

When you say constant power, do you need to power it when the engine
is stopped? Think it as a draw about 1/5th that of the headlights.

I don't expect to run the laptop (for long) while stopped.

I'm sure that the driving I'll be doing will exceed the (small) laptop
battery's
ability to supply power. I'm going to try to hit Key West from
Orlando while
I'm down there. I'm more concerned about draining the rental car's
battery
than anything else. (Can't you tell I haven't done anything like this
before?)

-d

On Mon, 2 Feb 2009 19:13:13 -0800 (PST), Carthell wrote:
On Feb 3, 1:53*am, AZ Nomad wrote:

A typical laptop will pull less than 50 watts, or about 5-6 amps into an
intertor. *A cigarette lighter socket is typically good for 15 amps.

When you say constant power, do you need to power it when the engine
is stopped? *Think it as a draw about 1/5th that of the headlights.

I don't expect to run the laptop (for long) while stopped.

I'm sure that the driving I'll be doing will exceed the (small) laptop
battery's
ability to supply power. I'm going to try to hit Key West from
Orlando while
I'm down there. I'm more concerned about draining the rental car's
battery
than anything else. (Can't you tell I haven't done anything like this
before?)

You can't drain the battery while the engine is running; it is
constantly charging.

When the engine is stopped, the laptop draws less than 1/4th the power
of the headlights. Start the engine every 12 hours and you'll be fine.

The only problem I've had w/ a laptop in the car was from using a
cheapo invertor that was underspec'd.

Carthell wrote:
I'm traveling to Florida soon. I have one device that will require
(almost) constant power during the trip: an Acer Aspire One that will
be doing double-duty as a GPS device and Internet access terminal.

Are there any power considerations or limitations that I must take
into account while operating the device in a car? (It will be a
rental.)

Buy a DC-DC converter, rather than using an inverter.

The Aspire One uses the iGo "103" tip, which ships with the base 85 watt
unit (this is what I read, I don't know for sure).

In

Carthell wrote:

Are there any power considerations or limitations that I must take
into account while operating the device in a car? (It will be a
rental.)


In some cars, the power to the outlets shuts off when the ignition is
locked (as in when you turn it far enough to take the key out).

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN

On 03 Feb 2009 13:14:24 GMT, Bert Hyman wrote:
In

Carthell wrote:

Are there any power considerations or limitations that I must take
into account while operating the device in a car? (It will be a
rental.)


In some cars, the power to the outlets shuts off when the ignition is
locked (as in when you turn it far enough to take the key out).


It is always possible to have the accessories on and the engine off.

I doubt the OP has a requirement of using the computer with the
ignition key removed.

I am not an expert by any means, but in my experience, you can get a
nice amount of power from a cig lighter....

I had a thing that converted from cig lighter to house power, and then
I plugged in a 19inch monitor and an xbox360....

we played almost the whole way from massachusetts to indiana with no
problem....