Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpl-opus!hpspdra!tomm
From: tomm@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM (Tom Menten)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Re: Can Laptops be powered from Car Batteries?
Message-ID: <18820003@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM>
Date: 20 May 91 00:54:16 GMT
References: <18820001@hpspdra.spd.HP.COM>
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 24

|In article <CPETTERB.91May15171332@mickey.glacier.sim.es.com> cpetterb@glacier.sim.es.com (Cary Petterborg) writes:
|>
|>I saw in a magazine (or catalog) a converter which you could plug into
|>a car cigarette lighter and get 110V AC out.  Anyone else know about
|>...
|>
|The thing you're talking about is a "voltage inverter" - Radio Shack has
|been selling these things for years, as have any electronics supply companies.
|All it is (basically) is a transformer that steps 12V to 110V with a few 
|rectifiers and assorted filters.
   
   Well, this weekend, I heard the "voltage inverter" (12DC to 110AC) 
   described as a preferred solution, allowing all sorts of things to
   be plugged in.  Then I spoke with a technical support person for one
   of the mail order laptop companies who pointed out some problems:
   apparently the inverters (at least some of them, presumably including
   the less expensive variety most of us would consider purchasing) cause
   a radio frequency "hash" that could cause problems for some plugged in
   appliances, and also for nearby electronics (especially boat electronics!)
   He was much more comfortable with generating systems than inverters.

   The bay area doesn't seem to have much retail expertise in marine
   electronics; I'll probably call around in Seattle and post a followup
   note.