Hi, I've got this car charger for my previous

[Lars Karlslund]

Hi,

I've got this car charger for my previous notebook (a Dell C400) lying around. It supplies 20V DC rated at 3.5 amps.

The TC1000 should be charged at 18.5V DC rated at 3.5 amps ...

... so pretty close, but close enough?

Has anyone here tried something similar?


Lars

[TMetzinger]

I bought the Targus Universal Air/Auto adapter on the recommendation of the fine folks at www.laptopinc.com. It takes in 11-16 VDC at up to 8A and puts out 3-24 VDC depending on the adapter pin used. It will put out the 18.5 VDC at 3.5A and charge the TC1000 when used in a car. It's incredibly small and thin - I'm very happy with it.

-Tim

[TechSATE]

I tested 20V,21V,22V,23V just ago

it working with no problem

[duts]

I am not an electrical engineer and I have forgoten some of my physics but putting in more voltage than specified seems to be a sure way to shorten the life of your componentry (battery, cpu, etc.). Everything is made to perform within a certain spec with a tolerance for a bit of variation. I am sure that you may be running fine now, but you could be doing damage slowly as you might be running on average at the higher end of the spec, you are limiting your threshold for accommodating blips of higher voltage (and power).

Anyway, I do not think it is worth messing around with the amount of power you are pumping in there with the potential of slowly hurting your new system. The cost of getting the correct power supply will probably outweigh the downstream costs of slower (or no) computing, reduced battery life, etc.

I was a thin films engineer for mainframe processors but not of the electrical variety, if any or others in the know care to opine and lend guidance that would be great.

Cheers

[Appraiser]

If you want a less expensive option than the car adapter, try a small inverter - you should be able to get one for $30 or less. In the U.S. you can try Wal-Mart or any auto parts store. No idea where to try outside the U.S.

[canlogic]

I have searched the Targus website but they don't list it as compatible as the tips are listed for particular models and not how many volts and amps the output is. Do you know the model number of the Targus tip that works with the TC1000, also do you have the model of the unit itself as they seem to have at least different ones.

Thanks

[oblio]

here in oz, out tc1000 came with a car charger... and a second battery and spare pen [thumbsup]

[TMetzinger]

Tip 44 for the TC1000.

Targus part number is... PA-AA-70W-CWT

-Tim

[canlogic]

Thanks for the reply on the part numbers. My TC1000 power supply died on me while out of town so I had no way of recharging battery. Had to maximize battery conservation and managed to use it for three days on one charge. I will get one of the targus units and keep it in the car. Thanks again.

[rheuter]

quote:Originally posted by oblio

here in oz, out tc1000 came with a car charger... and a second battery and spare pen [thumbsup]


hmm, let's see...

Current price in AUS: (from Compaq store online)

3795 which is about 2330 USD

And on the online store it doesn't mention anything about comes with car charger, a second battery and spare pen. (let's just for a moment assume that it does)

In Hong Kong's online store the same config will costed about 16000 HKD which is about 2050USD

In US's online store the same config will be 2076USD.

[oblio]

that's life down here. the dollar used to be closer to 50 us cents when they set the price. c'est la vie...

in any event, the tablet can be had for around $3650 and the freebies are part of the 'launch promo connectivity pack'

we'll take anything we can get

[Dennis Rice]

I still like the idea of the inverter myself, instead of the dedicated auto adapter. It actually is pretty cheap, and it has flexibility to run mutiple devices.....!

[Kupe]

I went the invertor route too tabpcman. Allows me to charge my phone, Tablet, Pocket PC, or Gps ... 2 at a time. :-) Not bad for $30!

Kupe

[robdam]

Will this work?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004XRDM/qid=1047910832/sr=8-7/ref=sr_8_7/104-4947954-4193522?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

[James Sonne]

I don't see why it wouldn't

[csbrown]

I'm a little confused. I've never used one of these things.

I can plug one of these into the cigarette lighter and then use any "plug in device" while I drive?

Are there any consequences (run down car battery, wear and tear on the electrical system etc.)?

Thanks!

Craig

[motion1]

csbrown..-..I have been using a power inverter that plugs into Cigarette lighter for 3 years w/o adverse effects. Just don't use Very long With motor off

[James Sonne]

csbrown, it just changes your regular cigarette lighter plug into a two pin electrical wall outlet style plug so you can plug whatever you want into it. If you run the thing with your ignition turned off for a couple hours then you'll drain you battery, but that's a normal consequence of using anything without the engine running such as your headlights or the car radio.