I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Does anyone know of a system that will convert directly DC-DC to the correct voltage? It's 24VDC, isn't it? That may be the killer, trying to up 12VDC to 24VDC. Maybe a cheaper inverter?
In article 3q8y6aaerp.fsf@redacted.invalid, Phil Stripling phil_stripling@redacted.invalid wrote:
I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Does anyone know of a system that will convert directly DC-DC to the correct voltage? It's 24VDC, isn't it? That may be the killer, trying to up 12VDC to 24VDC. Maybe a cheaper inverter?
I got a 3 amp a/c adapter from the Trash Shack (old nickname from the TRS-80 daze) for $60. There is a smaller 1.5 amper for about $30 there also. I had to get the bigger one for a different purpose, and have since used it for my powerbooks with great success.
Radio Shack. You got questions, they got cel phone you can use to call someone who might know the answer.
jt
In article 3q8y6aaerp.fsf@redacted.invalid, Phil Stripling phil_stripling@redacted.invalid wrote:
I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Does anyone know of a system that will convert directly DC-DC to the correct voltage? It's 24VDC, isn't it? That may be the killer, trying to up 12VDC to 24VDC. Maybe a cheaper inverter?
I use an iGo "Juice" power adapter. It can be powered by auto cigar lighter socket, houshold AC or an aircraft's in-flight power source. It has tips to fit both the old and new iBook sockets and can also charge many types of cell phones. You can probably see them at Staples or Radio Shack or visit their website at http://www.igo.com/.
jt august starsabre@redacted.invalid writes:
I got a 3 amp a/c adapter from the Trash Shack (old nickname from the TRS-80 daze) for $60.
Do you know what model? I'm looking at the Web site, and their max DC adapter is 12V, and the converter on the iBook says it puts out 24VDC at 1.8n Watts. Are you actually powering the iBook or recharging the battery?
SNIP< Radio Shack. You got questions, they got cel phone you can use to call someone who might know the answer.
Really funny because it's really true. :->
Tom Stiller tomstiller@redacted.invalid writes:
I use an iGo "Juice" power adapter. It can be powered by auto cigar lighter socket, houshold AC or an aircraft's in-flight power source. It has tips to fit both the old and new iBook sockets and can also charge many types of cell phones. You can probably see them at Staples or Radio Shack or visit their website at http://www.igo.com/.
At $120, it's more expensive that the Dr. Bott inverter I was whining about. iGo's web site is giving error messages when I use the product finder, so I'm not able to fully look stuff over. None of their technical specs give output in VDC, just watts, which is not what I'm interested in in DC. The Juice 70 is the least expensive model that list notebooks with, though. The cheaper units list phones, PDAs, and such lesser items.
Bummer.
Phil Stripling phil_stripling@redacted.invalid wrote:
Tom Stiller tomstiller@redacted.invalid writes:
I use an iGo "Juice" power adapter. It can be powered by auto cigar lighter socket, houshold AC or an aircraft's in-flight power source. It has tips to fit both the old and new iBook sockets and can also charge many types of cell phones. You can probably see them at Staples or Radio Shack or visit their website at http://www.igo.com/.
At $120, it's more expensive that the Dr. Bott inverter I was whining about. iGo's web site is giving error messages when I use the product finder, so I'm not able to fully look stuff over. None of their technical specs give output in VDC, just watts, which is not what I'm interested in in DC. The Juice 70 is the least expensive model that list notebooks with, though. The cheaper units list phones, PDAs, and such lesser items.
Bummer.
Search on "iGo" at PriceGrabber http://www.pricegrabber.com/ for some better prices.
It looks like the iGo units are essentially identical to the Kensington Universal line -- same Chinese factory, no doubt -- but with a longer warranty. I have used a similar Kensington model to power my Titanium PowerBook from my car dashboard's 12V "power outlet". You don't need a general-purpose inverter.
neillmassello@redacted.invalid (Neill Massello) writes:
Search on "iGo" at PriceGrabber http://www.pricegrabber.com/ for some better prices.
Yep, thanks. I'm seeing prices as low as 80 bucks, even less on eBay.
It looks like the iGo units are essentially identical to the Kensington Universal line -- same Chinese factory, no doubt -- but with a longer warranty. I have used a similar Kensington model to power my Titanium PowerBook from my car dashboard's 12V "power outlet". You don't need a general-purpose inverter.
The iGo is getting bad mouth on Amazon, though: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00009V3L6/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/104-9540718-0545524?%5Fencoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=electronics
Also on epinions: http://www.epinions.com/cmhd-Accessories-All-Mobility_Electronics_iGo_Juice_Combination_AC-Auto-Inflight_Power_Adapter_PS0055-11/display_~reviews
In article 3qwttuv8t1.fsf@redacted.invalid, Phil Stripling phil_stripling@redacted.invalid wrote:
jt august starsabre@redacted.invalid writes:
I got a 3 amp a/c adapter from the Trash Shack (old nickname from the TRS-80 daze) for $60.
Do you know what model? I'm looking at the Web site, and their max DC adapter is 12V, and the converter on the iBook says it puts out 24VDC at 1.8n Watts. Are you actually powering the iBook or recharging the battery?
It is an a/c adapter. You plug anything in this that you would plug into a wall outlet. In my case, I have plugged in regular powerbook a/c plugs - referred to casually as power bricks - into this, as well as an iBook Blueberry's yo-yo power supply. Also, my electric razor, a camcorder battery recharger, a couple boom boxes, a drop light when working on a car at night, and a 24 inch color tv that someone was throwing out (it worked, but the picture was magenta, meaing the pic tube had lost its green phosphor element drive, so I left it on the curb). The device is grey with a black tip that plugs in the lighter receptacle. Sorry, I don't know the model number off the top of my head, and it is too cold out to go out just to check it. I'll bring it in tomorrow and let you know tomorrow night.
jt
In article 3q8y6aaerp.fsf@redacted.invalid, Phil Stripling phil_stripling@redacted.invalid wrote:
I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Does anyone know of a system that will convert directly DC-DC to the correct voltage? It's 24VDC, isn't it? That may be the killer, trying to up 12VDC to 24VDC. Maybe a cheaper inverter?
Check out <http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Sacreen=CTGY&Store_Code= MTOS&Category_Code=ACCACAUTOADPT>, $30, best price I've seen for an Auto adapter for the Mac. I have the other one for older PowerBooks. It's worked great and is a lot more compact than the AC Adapter and an inverter. Especially when you are using a 12V battery pack like I do frequently. I've been trying to decide if I want to get one for my iBook and I think I will for the above reason.
jt august starsabre@redacted.invalid writes in article starsabre-8A9510.21564930012005@redacted.invalid dated Mon, 31 Jan 2005 03:57:08 GMT:
It is an a/c adapter. You plug anything in this that you would plug into a wall outlet.
I just did a Yahoo Shopping search for "inverter" and found a bunch of devices for converting 12VDC to 120VAC, some as cheap as $20. Since the precision regulation is built into the Apple adapter you don't need it on the upstream end. I'd buy an inverter with a 2x higher wattage rating than you "need" for the Apple device.
-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.
Clark Martin cmnews@redacted.invalid writes:
Check out <http://store.mcetech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Sacreen=CTGY&Store_Code= MTOS&Category_Code=ACCACAUTOADPT>, $30, best price I've seen for an Auto adapter for the Mac.
Currently out of stock, however.
I'm re-thinking my needs, after posts by a couple of guys with AC/DC combo units -- I could carry my original AC plug and yoyo plus this unit or pay three times more and get an all in one unit and carry only one piece of gear. For carry on, that has a certain allure.
On 30 Jan 2005 11:38:34 -0800, Phil Stripling wrote:
I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Why do a double conversion, causing either double loss or possibly real trouble since the inverter will not create a reasonable AC sine wave but anything with the same effective voltage - but which may cause problems for the iBook brick.
The easier solution is to create 24 V from 12 V directly.
Mine is "NTS 120" from reichelt.de for 18.90 EUR. You should be able to find something matching for less than $20.
http://www.reichelt.de/bilder/web/D400/NTS70.jpg
in: 11 .. 14 V out: 15V / 16V / 18V / 19V / 20V - 6,0A; 22V / 24V - 5,0A
In article slrncvumqn.bb7.t-use@redacted.invalid, Martin Trautmann t-use@redacted.invalid wrote:
On 30 Jan 2005 11:38:34 -0800, Phil Stripling wrote:
I'm looking for a way to power an iBook from a 12VDC cigarette lighter. Dr. Bott has an inverter that is $110 (as I recall) that inverts the 12VDC to 110VAC, and you plug your iBook's brick into that, and you then convert back to DC. Sheesh.
Why do a double conversion, causing either double loss or possibly real trouble since the inverter will not create a reasonable AC sine wave but anything with the same effective voltage - but which may cause problems for the iBook brick.
A switching power supply isn't going to care about the modified sine wave that an AC inverter puts out. I had thought the inverter to AC Adapter would have significantly lower efficiency than a straight DC-DC converter but when I tested it once the 12V DC power draw was very nearly the same (and I don't recall which was lower.)
The DC-DC converter is certainly more convenient. Especially when running the laptop off a 12V battery pack. I used velcro to attach my DC-DC converter to the battery pack making it more pertable.
The easier solution is to create 24 V from 12 V directly.
Mine is "NTS 120" from reichelt.de for 18.90 EUR. You should be able to find something matching for less than $20.
http://www.reichelt.de/bilder/web/D400/NTS70.jpg
in: 11 .. 14 V out: 15V / 16V / 18V / 19V / 20V - 6,0A; 22V / 24V - 5,0A