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12Volt DC to AC adapter

fatty@golfmk6.com

fatty@golfmk6.com

Go Kart Champion
I want to do some data logs with my laptop but my battery dies after 10 minutes of use.
I'm planning on getting a 12v adapter to charge it while i'm driving. I know that when using the AC the power loss is noticeable so will using this adapter decrease the engines power as well while it's charging my laptop?

http://www.dcacpowerinverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=DX-100
 
J

jeffs3820

New member
While driving you will have no issues at all...and no, a bit of drag from the alternator to supply some power to the inverter will not be noticeable. However, be careful using an inverter when your car is not running and it is just drawing from the battery...if the 12V battery drains too much you will not be able to start the car. Good inverters have a circuit to stop drawing battery power when the voltage reaches ~10.5 volts.

You also need to buy an inverter that is sized to the device you need to charge. For example, if your laptop power supply draws 90 watts, you need at least a 100 watt inverter. Lastly, if you are plugging into the "cigarette lighter" plug, those are usually limited by a fuse to 10 amps so anything bigger than ~150 watt inverter could cause you problems if you plug in something that will draw near the limit of the inverter.

This is the model I use and has worked well: http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-PV...I0OE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328406665&sr=8-1
 
GeorgiaBII

GeorgiaBII

Drag Race Newbie
I've got a 150w unit similar shaped that works great.

Is a tight fit in the front port so I put it in the rear one.

BTW why on earth did VW put a power port in the hatch area????

Could have really used a second one in the arm rest VW!
 
fatty@golfmk6.com

fatty@golfmk6.com

Go Kart Champion
jeffs3820 said:
While driving you will have no issues at all...and no, a bit of drag from the alternator to supply some power to the inverter will not be noticeable. However, be careful using an inverter when your car is not running and it is just drawing from the battery...if the 12V battery drains too much you will not be able to start the car. Good inverters have a circuit to stop drawing battery power when the voltage reaches ~10.5 volts.

You also need to buy an inverter that is sized to the device you need to charge. For example, if your laptop power supply draws 90 watts, you need at least a 100 watt inverter. Lastly, if you are plugging into the "cigarette lighter" plug, those are usually limited by a fuse to 10 amps so anything bigger than ~150 watt inverter could cause you problems if you plug in something that will draw near the limit of the inverter.

This is the model I use and has worked well: http://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-PV...I0OE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328406665&sr=8-1
Click to expand...

thanks for the tip i'm gonna be using the 12volt source from the trunk. it will be less messy that way :thumbsup:
 
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