Long trip - charging laptop - options?

[Robin Brooke]

Hi all,

We are planning an exciting, adventure packed road trip, lasting a year.

Whilst we may use campsites occasionally, we will probably wild-camp frequently.

Our California gives us pretty much everything we need, except an option to charge our laptop - ah modern life eh!

I'd love to hear what sustainable options there are out there and what solutions you guys actually use - and what actually works well!

thanks in advance,

 

[WelshGas]

You can get 12v chargers for laptops.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...charger.TRS0&_nkw=12v+laptop+charger&_sacat=0

Don't buy the cheapest.

Using an Inverter based charger, or even the California Inverter is an inefficient way of doing it.
You can get universal and Laptop make specific chargers.

 

[GrannyJen]

I use a 12V charger for my Mac, lavolta, I'm sure they also do one for a PC. Available from Amazon and other places.

 

[reserves]

Hi all,

We are planning an exciting, adventure packed road trip, lasting a year.

Whilst we may use campsites occasionally, we will probably wild-camp frequently.

Our California gives us pretty much everything we need, except an option to charge our laptop - ah modern life eh!

I'd love to hear what sustainable options there are out there and what solutions you guys actually use - and what actually works well!

thanks in advance,

Why can't you just use the inverter plug the California comes with?

 

[Robin Brooke]

Thanks - the 12v charger sounds like a good option. Do they work well? I.e. Charge relatively quick without ducking all the juice from the leisure batteries?

Re: Reserves comment. I believe the inbuilt inverter plug only works when the Cali is plugged in at a campsite so wouldn't help us when extended wild camping.

 

[jts46]

Why can't you just use the inverter plug the California comes with?

Because not every cali came with one!

John

 

[bvddobb]

Re: Reserves comment. I believe the inbuilt inverter plug only works when the Cali is plugged in at a campsite so wouldn't help us when extended wild camping.

We always use the inverter plug, it feeds off the leisure circuit, also when not on hookup. No problem, 500W is enough for charging our MacBooks.

 

[Robin Brooke]

Bvddobb, thanks and interesting....maybe I have a faulty inverter plug then as it only seems to work when the Cali is hooked up (T5 180)...will try again this evening....

 

[WelshGas]

You can use the Inverter, it is just that it is inefficient 12v - 240v - 12v. Some of the energy is translated to heat during the conversion process so you end up using more leisure battery power. Not a problem if you are on mains hookup. Every little bit helps if you are wild camping.

Obviously fitting a Solar panel would extend this even more.

 

[MarkW]

Hi Robin,

Are you sure your looking at the correct socket?

The 240v that works on hookup is a 3 pin (UK) that your laptop will plug directly into as it would at home.

The inverter requires a converter if you want to use a UK plug (I've assumed you have a UK Cali).


regards,

Mark

 

[2into1]

What this thread is missing is the actual voltage required by your particular laptop. Your home charger will give the 'output' dc figure.
Often it is around 18v. It is much better therefore to find an adapter (actually a small inverter) that just takes your 12v leisure battery up to (say) 18 rather than 12 to 230 then back down to 18.

 

[reserves]

Because not every cali came with one!

John

Never knew this! Wonder what yeah they came as standard with the Cali SE then?

 

[Robin Brooke]

Hi Robin,

Are you sure your looking at the correct socket?

The 240v that works on hookup is a 3 pin (UK) that your laptop will plug directly into as it would at home.

The inverter requires a converter if you want to use a UK plug (I've assumed you have a UK Cali).


regards,

Mark

Thanks Mark I think you have pointed out a flaw in my assumptions! I thought the 3 pin UK plug behind the passenger seat was the "inverter" plug. This is the one I refer to when I say it only works when the Cali is hooked up.

Looks like I need to go back read the manual and find out what the inverter plug actually is

WelshGas, Thanks for the advice, I'm assuming from your first response that the 12V adaptor to laptop plug is more efficient that the in-built inverter (once I've actually found it!!)?

 

[Robin Brooke]

What this thread is missing is the actual voltage required by your particular laptop. Your home charger will give the 'output' dc figure.
Often it is around 18v. It is much better therefore to find an adapter (actually a small inverter) that just takes your 12v leisure battery up to (say) 18 rather than 12 to 230 then back down to 18.

Thanks T4WFA

Don't know at this stage, as we will be buying a new laptop for the trip. Will bear in mind your suggestion.

 

[MarkW]

Hi Robin,

Looks like the attached picture and is behind the passenger seat on the side of the Cali (not the side of the kitchen unit).

You will require a convertor if you wish to use either USB or 3pin UK plug.

 

[Robin Brooke]

Mark,

Thanks so much - clears up my confusion!!

I can see there is a converter for sale in the forum shop (but only to USB).

Is the converter to 3 pin a specialist bit of kit, where did you buy yours?

 

[reserves]

Mark,

Thanks so much - clears up my confusion!!

I can see there is a converter for sale in the forum shop (but only to USB).

Is the converter to 3 pin a specialist bit of kit, where did you buy yours?

You can use a travel adaptor, something like this http://www.boots.com/en/Go-Travel-Worldwide-Twin-USB-Charger_1308615/

I got mine from boots but probably cheaper online.

That might not be the correct one, you need to make sure you can plug your UK plug in the front and use the triangle connection on the back.

Let me go find one

 

[Robin Brooke]

No Worries Mark - that's great as it is - I'll go and do some research on this and the option WelshGas/Jen offered.

thanks everyone - extremely helpful!!!

 

[reserves]

This is correct plug that fits into the wall of the cali

The UK plug then goes in the front, make sense?

 

[MarkW]

Hi Robin,

I have the one above and I purchased it from the forum shop but they don't seem to do it anymore.

I tend to use the 3 pin UK option for the inverter (charge laptop using standard UK plug) and I have a USB splitter that I use for charging phones, Bluetooth headset, bose speaker, DAB radio etc that plugs into any of the 12v sockets.

 

[WelshGas]

[QUOTE="

WelshGas, Thanks for the advice, I'm assuming from your first response that the 12V adaptor to laptop plug is more efficient that the in-built inverter (once I've actually found it!!)?[/QUOTE]


Correct.
The Inverter Socket is on the base of the pillar behind the Passenger seat.

 

[MattBW]

I've always used a 12v Lavolta charger for my Macbook Pro, I assume they do similar for PCs too?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006LMEMQ4/?tag=eliteelect-21

 

[campandfly]

This is correct plug that fits into the wall of the cali

The UK plug then goes in the front, make sense?

Have you got a link for that item please?

 

[Huey]

Have you got a link for that item please?

You may be better off* making a continental plug to UK 3-pin socket for this connection, as I find the weight of things plugged into travel adapters tends to break them free of the socket (it's only friction after all). If you make it just so long it reaches the floor then it can't fall any further. I have done this for terrestrial 2-pin sockets. You can then use all of your [low power] 230v accessories just like you would at home, rather than buying a whole new set.

*conjecture by observation

 

[reserves]

Have you got a link for that item please?

Congratulations

I got mine in Boots, here's a similar on one on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0072OOJCM/?tag=eliteelect-21