I have a Vauxhal Corsa 1.2. I want to be able to power a laptop via
the cigarette lighter socket while the engine is switched off.

I have an ac/dc converter thing that works fine and powers the laptop
perfectly.

However to get the cigarette lighter to work I have to have the car
ignition switched on, either have the engine running or not running but
all of the dashboard icons/lights on.

Running the engine while parked is a waste of fuel, etc.

My question is: Am I in danger of causing problems to the vehicle's
electronics if I switch the car ignition on and leave it on for
(maybe) an hour or so at a time without starting the engine, in order
to power the laptop? Car battery life withstanding.

It would be quite simple to use a separate car battery with a
standalone cigarette lighter socket so that I could plug the ac/dc
converter in but I don't know where to get a cig'socket on its own.

psb154 wrote:


> It would be quite simple to use a separate car battery with a
> standalone cigarette lighter socket so that I could plug the ac/dc
> converter in but I don't know where to get a cig'socket on its own.


http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055&doy=6m8

branches all over the country

-- 
stuff for sale: - laptop, memory,graphics card
<http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZtimfromhull>

"Tim S Kemp"  wrote in news:1dudnYvgo8fKHGnfRVn-
jA@karoo.co.uk:


> psb154 wrote:
> 
>> It would be quite simple to use a separate car battery with a
>> standalone cigarette lighter socket so that I could plug the ac/dc
>> converter in but I don't know where to get a cig'socket on its own.
> 
> http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055&doy=6m8
> 
> branches all over the country
> 


Alternatively, just run a new feed from the accessory circuit to the 
existing socket. Re leaving the ignition on: if it's a modern car with fuel 
injection, there should be no problem, as the coil(s) will not energise 
unless the engine is being cranked. I'm not absolutely sure though, so wait 
for another reply. Plenty of people on here with more knowledge of EFi 
systems than me :-)


-- 
Stuart Sharp

Poundland do a 4 way lighter socker on a bit of wire with a plug attached 
.... for a quid !  Cut off the plug, and connect to any live point under the 
dash, that doesnt need the ignition on ...  and you've got a few spare 
sockets too ! .... Did I say for a quid !


Steve

"Stu"  wrote in message 
news:Xns96AA7027E166nobodyhomecom@216.196.109.144...

> "Tim S Kemp"  wrote in news:1dudnYvgo8fKHGnfRVn-
> jA@karoo.co.uk:
>
>> psb154 wrote:
>>
>>> It would be quite simple to use a separate car battery with a
>>> standalone cigarette lighter socket so that I could plug the ac/dc
>>> converter in but I don't know where to get a cig'socket on its own.
>>
>> http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055&doy=6m8
>>
>> branches all over the country
>>
>
> Alternatively, just run a new feed from the accessory circuit to the
> existing socket. Re leaving the ignition on: if it's a modern car with 
> fuel
> injection, there should be no problem, as the coil(s) will not energise
> unless the engine is being cranked. I'm not absolutely sure though, so 
> wait
> for another reply. Plenty of people on here with more knowledge of EFi
> systems than me :-)
>
>
> -- 
> Stuart Sharp 

Snag is they tend to melt when you pull 10A through them :-(

On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 18:32:41 +0100, Nat  wrote:


> Poundland do a 4 way lighter socker on a bit of wire with a plug attached
> ... for a quid !  Cut off the plug, and connect to any live point under  
> the
> dash, that doesnt need the ignition on ...  and you've got a few spare
> sockets too ! .... Did I say for a quid !
>
>
> Steve
>
> "Stu"  wrote in message
> news:Xns96AA7027E166nobodyhomecom@216.196.109.144...
>> "Tim S Kemp"  wrote in  
>> news:1dudnYvgo8fKHGnfRVn-
>> jA@karoo.co.uk:
>>
>>> psb154 wrote:
>>>
>>>> It would be quite simple to use a separate car battery with a
>>>> standalone cigarette lighter socket so that I could plug the ac/dc
>>>> converter in but I don't know where to get a cig'socket on its own.
>>>
>>> http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=1055&doy=6m8
>>>
>>> branches all over the country
>>>
>>
>> Alternatively, just run a new feed from the accessory circuit to the
>> existing socket. Re leaving the ignition on: if it's a modern car with
>> fuel
>> injection, there should be no problem, as the coil(s) will not energise
>> unless the engine is being cranked. I'm not absolutely sure though, so
>> wait
>> for another reply. Plenty of people on here with more knowledge of EFi
>> systems than me :-)
>>
>>
>> --
>> Stuart Sharp
>
>




-- 
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

psb154 wrote:

> I have a Vauxhal Corsa 1.2. I want to be able to power a laptop via
> the cigarette lighter socket while the engine is switched off.
>
> I have an ac/dc converter thing that works fine and powers the laptop
> perfectly.

<snip>

Whilst not an answer to your specific question I would recommend using
a DC/DC converter to power your laptop rather than
DC/AC(inverter)-AC/DC converter (I assume you are using an inverter?)
as there's little point in introducing unnecessary losses, particularly
where battery conservation is important.

One such device can be had for £20 at:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36836&&source=14&doy=8m8

Of course an inverter may be useful for other applications, and indeed
you have already purchased it!

Mathew

"Mathew J. Newton"  wrote in 
news:1123504401.063408.165400@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:


> psb154 wrote:
>> I have a Vauxhal Corsa 1.2. I want to be able to power a laptop via
>> the cigarette lighter socket while the engine is switched off.
>>
>> I have an ac/dc converter thing that works fine and powers the laptop
>> perfectly.
> <snip>
> 
> Whilst not an answer to your specific question I would recommend using
> a DC/DC converter to power your laptop rather than
> DC/AC(inverter)-AC/DC converter (I assume you are using an inverter?)
> as there's little point in introducing unnecessary losses, particularly
> where battery conservation is important.
> 
> One such device can be had for 20 at:
> 
> http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=36836&&source=14&doy=8m8
> 
> Of course an inverter may be useful for other applications, and indeed
> you have already purchased it!
> 
> Mathew
> 

Yes, this is  a far better solution. You can get the socket to power up 
on position 1 (i.e. accessory circuit) of the ignition switch by running 
an extra wire in. Get an auto electrician to do it if you're not sure and 
you don't like leaving the ignition on. In  any case, dont run the laptop 
for long without the engine running as they use a surprising amount of 
energy and may drain your battery! My advice would be to buy the adaptor 
from Maplin, charge your laptop on the move from the cig lighter, then 
run it off it's own battery whilst on the job.

-- 
Stuart Sharp

> My advice would be to buy the adaptor
> from Maplin, charge your laptop on the move from the cig lighter, then
> run it off it's own battery whilst on the job.


Yeah, you wouldn't want wires tangling up in the process of using the laptop 
whilst on the job.

-- 
Peter

"You're not a real UKRCMer until you've had your big end bearings go."

"AstraVanMan"  wrote in
news:HDLJe.15971$hc4.7025@newsfe6-win.ntli.net: 


>> My advice would be to buy the adaptor
>> from Maplin, charge your laptop on the move from the cig lighter,
>> then run it off it's own battery whilst on the job.
> 
> Yeah, you wouldn't want wires tangling up in the process of using the
> laptop whilst on the job.
> 

Shouldn't be a problem if you get it in the right position ;-)

-- 
Stuart Sharp