Running a Computer from the Cigarette Lighter Socket

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Running a Laptop from the Cigarette Lighter Socket in your Car or Camper

We have come across dozens of fellow A'vanners using lap top computers on the road for both pleasure and business. Most are using them for processing digital photos and communication via a mobile phone. Laptops are heavy battery users and most only last around two hours on a charge. A rather odd thing mentioned quite a few times on this site is the weird voltage required - usually 19 volts DC. Anyone know why? This means you can't just make up a lead and plug it into the cigarette lighter socket. So the only safe way of charging whilst on the road is to use a full sine wave inverter - a minimum of $300.00 expenditure. Well the choices just increased. Harvey Norman have just started selling a gadget called the Targus air/power adaptor at a cost of $250.00. The unit handles up to 70 watts, but the voltage range is not specified - we assume it's automatic. The Targus also works in aircraft equipped with Empower outlets on the seats. By purchasing optional power tips (plug adaptors) you can also use it to power your mobile phone whilst on the move saving on buying another charger, but we couldn't find the RRP for spare tips. This is a minefield area so we were very interested in this, but alas the all important compatibility chart for the myriad of phone plugs would not come up on the site. The Targus website (www.targus.com/) will explain more on how it all works. Just choose Australia on their log-in page - it is NOT an easy site to navigate and being in frames we are sorry but we can't give you an instant link. Just a suggestion. Before rushing out and buying this you do perhaps need to work out if you really need to work your computer in the car as you drive along or only your computer and phone in the camper. If you don't then from our limited experience you would get more bang for your bucks out of spending say $300- $400.00 on a top quality full sine wave inverter as it will do multiple jobs whereas the Targus is virtually a one purpose product. It would be bad practice though to use this set up whilst actually driving along as 240 volt would be present - not too good to have on your lap if you crashed! So in summing up the Targus is the safest, most convenient way to power your notebook on the road, but may not be the perfect solution for you. Could anyone actually owning a Targus kindly send us in some feedback as it is doubtful if we will be buying one as we are already heavily into inverters.

Bob Eustace

UPDATE:-
For those traveling overseas with their laptops, you can now buy the Targus on Qantas overseas flights at the special price of $195.00 - a saving of $55.00 on the Harvey Norman price. (7/1/03)