From N1KHB at aol.com Mon Jun 27 10:15:23 2016 From: N1KHB at aol.com (N1KHB at aol.com) Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:15:23 -0400 Subject: [Mobile-Portable] Computers Message-ID: <29f198.15a854e6.44a28efb@aol.com> Hi All, In consideration of a suitable external power source for a laptop while on portable ops such as portable ham radio, I'm wondering how accurate the common 19 volts needs to be for proper operation. I've already thought about running the normal power supply from an inverter, but I'm looking for alternatives nonetheless and in any case I remain curious about the voltage spec. Thanks! Sonny N1KHB From 6meterdxhunter at gmail.com Mon Jun 27 11:23:00 2016 From: 6meterdxhunter at gmail.com (Carl Cook) Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2016 11:23:00 -0400 Subject: [Mobile-Portable] Computers In-Reply-To: <29f198.15a854e6.44a28efb@aol.com> References: <29f198.15a854e6.44a28efb@aol.com> Message-ID: Hello Sonny, I know it may not be the "Right" way of doing things but I have ran many laptops on just 12 volts when I needed them. I am running a Panasonic Toughbook CF-28 on 12 volts right now. So it works for me. YMMV. I hope this helps. 73 de N4ERO Carl On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 10:15 AM, N1KHB--- via Mobile-Portable < mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net> wrote: > Hi All, > In consideration of a suitable external power source for a laptop while > on portable ops such as portable ham radio, I'm wondering how accurate the > common 19 volts needs to be for proper operation. I've already thought > about running the normal power supply from an inverter, but I'm looking > for > alternatives nonetheless and in any case I remain curious about the > voltage > spec. Thanks! > > Sonny N1KHB > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Mobile-Portable mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mobile-portable > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Mobile-Portable at mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > -- Carl Cook Seti Member NAQCC #7323 Flying Pigs QRP Club, International FP#-3725. Six Meters World Wide Member N4ERO 6 Meter DX Hunter 73 and God Bless This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. WARNING: Computer viruses can be transmitted via email. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. Warning: Although the company has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments. From JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net Mon Jun 27 11:22:57 2016 From: JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net (Jim Miller) Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:22:57 -0500 Subject: [Mobile-Portable] Computers In-Reply-To: <29f198.15a854e6.44a28efb@aol.com> References: <29f198.15a854e6.44a28efb@aol.com> Message-ID: <002501d1d087$c8d37a40$5a7a6ec0$@STL-OnLine.Net> I can't answer your question BUT, I had a laptop in which the internal regulator shorted and would not allow external power input, period. Being scrap, I cut the internal regulator away from the main board and connected wires to go to a 12 volt (13.8v) supply. It worked just fine. I am not recommending this because you do not need it and it disables the batteries and internal regulator, but the 19v is not needed to RUN the laptop. It is needed to charge the batteries which then feed through the internal regulator to run the laptop. Bottom line, it likely is not critical at all. It is a battery charger. My recommendation is - You have a 12v supply (battery?) to run your radio with you. Take an extra 6 volt supply with. Connect them in series to create 18 (13.8 and 6.9 = 20.7v right off the charger but only for a few minutes) and that will work just fine for you. For a stationary supply - I don't think I would use a 24v DC supply direct unless you at least get inside and see if you can adjust it down to something closer to reasonable. And put a few dropping diodes in series with the higher voltage until you drop it to the 19 or 20 volts or put an LM317 chip regulator (on some sort of small heat sink) on the 24v supply and set to what you want. Just adding diodes is the cheapest, easiest, and fastest (use 1 amp diodes). 24 volts to 19.5 volts = 4.5 volts drop even if you don't adjust the 24v supply. Diodes are about .66 volts drop each so about 7 diodes will do it. 73, Jim KG0KP -----Original Message----- From: Mobile-Portable [mailto:mobile-portable-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of N1KHB--- via Mobile-Portable Sent: Monday, June 27, 2016 9:15 AM To: mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net Cc: N1KHB at aol.com Subject: [Mobile-Portable] Computers Hi All, In consideration of a suitable external power source for a laptop while on portable ops such as portable ham radio, I'm wondering how accurate the common 19 volts needs to be for proper operation. I've already thought about running the normal power supply from an inverter, but I'm looking for alternatives nonetheless and in any case I remain curious about the voltage spec. Thanks! Sonny N1KHB ______________________________________________________________ Mobile-Portable mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mobile-portable Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Mobile-Portable at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html