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CX2SA > SATDIG 01.05.09 05:04l 877 Lines 30606 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
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Today's Topics:
1. Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (Clint Bradford)
2. Re: May AO-51 schedule-OZ7SAT to the rescue! (Mark L. Hammond)
3. AMSAT Awards (Bruce)
4. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (n3tl@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx
5. AO-7 withdrawal (w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxxx
6. AMSAT Field Day 2009 Rules (Bruce)
7. Re: AO-7 withdrawal (D. Craig Fox)
8. Re: A Fully Rechargeable Satellite Station (Edward Cole)
9. New version of AO-27 Schedule Lister released!!! (George Henry)
10. Re: A Fully Rechargeable Satellite Station (Tim Tapio)
11. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (Ben Jackson)
12. Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net (Cotejaune2@xxx.xxxx
13. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (Tim Tapio)
14. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (Clint Bradford)
15. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations (Mark Spencer)
16. Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
(Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK))
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:35:23 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <87D70DBB-6311-43E0-92DA-6E24D9093988@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>> ... Most cigarette lighters circuits have a 15 to 20 amp fuse on
them. That ought to work fine for charging/using with your computer ...
That amount of current can/will destroy sensitive electronic devices.
(20A??? That's more than what an Icom IC-706MKIIG uses at 100W TX
power ... )
Personally, I would never run my laptop off a vehicle's charging
system while the vehicle is running. You won't find many reputable
laptop manufacturers recommending this.
And all power feeds to my radio gear are properly conditioned and
filtered.
If I needed to run my laptop for extended periods on a 12VDC system, I
would use nothing less than a ...
Tripp Lite PVINT375
(although this model comes with a cigarette lighter plug, that
connection has to be one of the electrically most UNreliable for what
we are doing - so the plug gets whacked off and the unit is wired
directly) ... or
Astron Pi-250W
12VDC-to-120VAC inverter made for such circumstances. Wire it in to
your vehicle's 12VDC system, and simply use your existing AC power
supply. Immediate benefit is the ability to power/ charge other
electronic items you may have using regular AC chargers.
There's no need to know the voltage/current/connectors of the laptop.
The laptop's manufacturer already did all that work for you when they
supplied the AC adapter.
Another downfall of using the cig lighter circuit for comms: very
rarely is that line filtered for noise and such. I mean, who needs
that line filtered to heat up a cig lighter? More intelligent cars do
have filtered/conditioned "power ports." But I do not leave anything
to chance, and make sure my equipment is properly protected.
Then there are folks who run their 100W HF rigs through a cig lighter
plug and swear that all's well with the world ...
And so it goes.
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
http://www.clintbradford.com
909-241-7666
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:35:54 -0400
From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: May AO-51 schedule-OZ7SAT to the rescue!
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<5d8cecfe0904291235g4b3dd30dn96bafa8615d2932@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Friends,
You can almost always see the power output (and a bunch of other
telemetry channels!!) of AO-51 via this very handy web resource:
http://www.amsat.dk/oz7sat/tlm/view.php?sat=ao51
So, it *IS* published frequently.
73,
Mark N8MH
> ? 4. Re: May AO-51 schedule (Josh Smith)
> From: Josh Smith <juicewvu@xxxxx.xxx>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: May AO-51 schedule
> To: Luc Leblanc <lucleblanc6@xxxxxxxxx.xx>
> Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Message-ID:
> ? ? ? ?<d3bf5a870904291050l687503f2p3faa7d03301b06e0@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I agree with LUC it would be very interesting if the ouput power was
> published when it was changed.
> Thanks,
> Josh Smith
> KD8HRX
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:45:48 -0500
From: Bruce <kk5do@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Awards
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <49F8AE6C.6090101@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
There continues to be a very high interest in AMSAT Awards which means a
lot of new operators on the satellites.
We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They
have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT
Satellite Communicators Club.
Benigno Gomez, XE2YBG
Chris Lemon, KB9CL
Evangelos Kafetzopoulos SV1EEK
James Cutter, W7OJS
Jim McCullough, KI4TWA
Steve Niles, N5EN
The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement
Award.
L. Val Hanney, KN7D #486
Benigno Gomez, XE2YBM #487
Steve Niles, N5EN #488
(We are approaching number 500 on this award)
To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or
http://www.amsatnet.com
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE
Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network on
Galaxy-25 @xxx West, Transponder 23 (12115 Vert), Symbol Rate: 22425,
APID: 1794 (DVB Free To Air)
Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com
Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes
Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News
http://www.arrl.org
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:25:17 +0000
From: n3tl@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<042920092025.26539.49F8B7AC000CA142000067AB22218675169B0A02D2089B9A019C
04040A0DBF049BCC02@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain
This is definitely one of the areas I need to investigate further in light of
multiple requests to expand my original post and submit it to the Journal for
possible publication.
There are a couple of other areas I need to do more work on, too.
-------------- Original message from Clint Bradford
<clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>: --------------
> >> ... Most cigarette lighters circuits have a 15 to 20 amp fuse on
> them. That ought to work fine for charging/using with your computer ...
>
> That amount of current can/will destroy sensitive electronic devices.
> (20A??? That's more than what an Icom IC-706MKIIG uses at 100W TX
> power ... )
>
> Personally, I would never run my laptop off a vehicle's charging
> system while the vehicle is running. You won't find many reputable
> laptop manufacturers recommending this.
>
> And all power feeds to my radio gear are properly conditioned and
> filtered.
>
> If I needed to run my laptop for extended periods on a 12VDC system, I
> would use nothing less than a ...
>
> Tripp Lite PVINT375
> (although this model comes with a cigarette lighter plug, that
> connection has to be one of the electrically most UNreliable for what
> we are doing - so the plug gets whacked off and the unit is wired
> directly) ... or
>
> Astron Pi-250W
> 12VDC-to-120VAC inverter made for such circumstances. Wire it in to
> your vehicle's 12VDC system, and simply use your existing AC power
> supply. Immediate benefit is the ability to power/ charge other
> electronic items you may have using regular AC chargers.
>
> There's no need to know the voltage/current/connectors of the laptop.
> The laptop's manufacturer already did all that work for you when they
> supplied the AC adapter.
>
> Another downfall of using the cig lighter circuit for comms: very
> rarely is that line filtered for noise and such. I mean, who needs
> that line filtered to heat up a cig lighter? More intelligent cars do
> have filtered/conditioned "power ports." But I do not leave anything
> to chance, and make sure my equipment is properly protected.
>
> Then there are folks who run their 100W HF rigs through a cig lighter
> plug and swear that all's well with the world ...
>
> And so it goes.
>
> Clint Bradford, K6LCS
> http://www.clintbradford.com
> 909-241-7666
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:39:10 +0000 (UTC)
From: w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 withdrawal
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<607616560.3384711241037550341.JavaMail.root@xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xx.xxxx.
xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
To my friends on AO7
I will be conspicuous by my absence.? My 70cm radio is sick and therefore off
to the radio doctor.? The repair is out of my pay grade.? I may try some HF,
remember that!
73 Bob W7LRD
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:27:08 -0500
From: Bruce <kk5do@xxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Field Day 2009 Rules
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <49F8C62C.8030400@xxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Once again we are approaching the 4th full weekend in June and that
means Field Day.
I have posted the AMSAT 2009 Field Day rules on my website in both pdf
and doc formats.
http://www.amsatnet.com/2009fd.pdf
http://www.amsatnet.com/2009fd.doc
It will appear in the May/June issue of the AMSAT Journal and at
http://www.amsat.org (soon).
73...bruce
--
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE
Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network on Galaxy-
25 @xxx West,
Transponder 23 (12115 Vert), Symbol Rate: 22425, APID: 1794 (DVB Free To Air)
Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com
Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes
Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News
http://www.arrl.org
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:27:04 -0700
From: "D. Craig Fox" <DFox@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 withdrawal
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID:
<A8E6E57AFA652D419A823F42AD6ACBDE028AA16F@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
We'll miss you here in socal but be waiting on your return Bob!
Craig
N6RSX
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxxxx
Behalf Of w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxx
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:39 PM
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 withdrawal
To my friends on AO7
I will be conspicuous by my absence. My 70cm radio is sick and therefore off
to the radio doctor. The repair is out of my pay grade. I may try some HF,
remember that!
73 Bob W7LRD
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or
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delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the
contents. Thank you.
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:45:18 -0800
From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: A Fully Rechargeable Satellite Station
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <200904300145.n3U1jIIJ011110@xxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Sorry if this slightly non-satellite chatter:
Lots of folks are amazed how far Alaska is from anywhere. Well, it
is 2400-miles by road from Seattle to Anchorage (traveling over the
Alaska Hwy). We traveled west from Pass Christian, MS (about
50-miles east of New Orleans) on I-10 to southern California and then
up I-5 to the Canadian border. If you look at a map of US roads
there are no tangental roads from the south to the NW so one will
travel west then north then west then north, whatever route you
take. It is something like 1800-miles from LA to the Canadian
border, alone. We did a small detour over to the Oregon coast which
added a couple hundred miles. The trip took 22-days. We took one
day off in Gold Beach , OR for clothes washing and visiting with my
wife's mother whom she had not seen in ten years. BTW I live on the
same longitude (151)as Hawaii (152).
photos of the van are here (scroll to bottom of page):
http://www.kl7uw.com/mw10g.htm
I spent about $10-15 on my wiring vs. $150+ for an AC inverter. nuff said!
73, Ed
At 07:12 AM 4/29/2009, Jack K. wrote:
>To say I am amazed is not doing the English language justice, 6000
>Miles from Ms to AK must have been via a round about route indeed.
>My Driving recollections would guess it is more like 3800 miles from
>St. Lou to Anchorage... But then I was not in your mini van or shoes...
>
>However the real comment is this, why don't you just get a 40 dollar
>inverter, plug it into the ciggie lighter hole or hard wire it and
>you have all the commercial type (117VAC) power you need, I ran one
>in my semi for years, have one in my Dodge Nitro and it powers my
>Dell Laptop, The HP printer/scanner I use for my business, charges
>my cell phone, razor and anything else I need up to a 800 watts of
>power. Rather than trying to re invent the wheel, why not use the
>technology that is available, and in common usage by almost every
>truck driver in the USA.
>
>DE Jack KD1PE
>
> I was able to run that computer charging off
>>my wife's Ford minivan for the 6000 mile trip from MS to AK in spring
>>of 2004. The vehicle voltage is damped by the car's battery and runs
>>about 14.2 volts when the engine is running and sags to 13.2v when
>>off. I never had the computer running when starting the engine. The
>>computer battery will also act as a huge capacitor for smoothing out
>>any voltage spikes.
>>
>>Most cigarette lighters circuits have a 15 to 20 amp fuse on
>>them. That ought to work fine for charging/using with your computer.
>>
>>73, Ed - KL7UW
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:59:28 -0500
From: "George Henry" <ka3hsw@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] New version of AO-27 Schedule Lister released!!!
To: "amsat bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <93097770FCEA4CC68C1F79BAE42439D7@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
A new version of the AO-27 Schedule lister is now available!!!
The original version required one to toggle back and forth between the
Schedule and List tabs in order to update the "Schedule Time" and "Time
Remaining" values in the scroll box on the Schedule tab. This new version
refreshes these values for you every 10 seconds, automatically. It also
corrects a typo in the list of satellite frequencies on the Schedule tab.
The lister is available for download at
http://sites.google.com/site/ao27satellitescheduler, both in a
cross-platform Java version, and as a Windows executable.
Enjoy!
73,
George, KA3HSW
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:57:59 -0400
From: "Tim Tapio" <tim@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: A Fully Rechargeable Satellite Station
To: "'Edward Cole'" <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <004a01c9c960$ffba69a0$ff2f3ce0$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Tripp Lite PV375 PV 375W 12V DC to AC Portable Inverter with DC Auto Power
Outlet
$45.24 at Amazon.com....
TRIPPLITE PV150 150-Watt Power Inverter
$39.95
For roughly 10% of the cost of the computer (or considerably less in the
case of my Dells) and the flexibility of being able to plug in basically
anything I would normally use (camera battery charger comes to mind) and
having the correct voltage, I'll spring for the extra $$$.
73 de Tim, K4SHF LM 2336
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Edward Cole
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 9:45 PM
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: A Fully Rechargeable Satellite Station
Sorry if this slightly non-satellite chatter:
Lots of folks are amazed how far Alaska is from anywhere. Well, it is
2400-miles by road from Seattle to Anchorage (traveling over the Alaska
Hwy). We traveled west from Pass Christian, MS (about 50-miles east of New
Orleans) on I-10 to southern California and then up I-5 to the Canadian
border. If you look at a map of US roads there are no tangental roads from
the south to the NW so one will travel west then north then west then north,
whatever route you take. It is something like 1800-miles from LA to the
Canadian border, alone. We did a small detour over to the Oregon coast
which added a couple hundred miles. The trip took 22-days. We took one day
off in Gold Beach , OR for clothes washing and visiting with my wife's
mother whom she had not seen in ten years. BTW I live on the same longitude
(151)as Hawaii (152).
photos of the van are here (scroll to bottom of page):
http://www.kl7uw.com/mw10g.htm
I spent about $10-15 on my wiring vs. $150+ for an AC inverter. nuff said!
73, Ed
At 07:12 AM 4/29/2009, Jack K. wrote:
>To say I am amazed is not doing the English language justice, 6000
>Miles from Ms to AK must have been via a round about route indeed.
>My Driving recollections would guess it is more like 3800 miles from
>St. Lou to Anchorage... But then I was not in your mini van or shoes...
>
>However the real comment is this, why don't you just get a 40 dollar
>inverter, plug it into the ciggie lighter hole or hard wire it and you
>have all the commercial type (117VAC) power you need, I ran one in my
>semi for years, have one in my Dodge Nitro and it powers my Dell
>Laptop, The HP printer/scanner I use for my business, charges my cell
>phone, razor and anything else I need up to a 800 watts of power.
>Rather than trying to re invent the wheel, why not use the technology
>that is available, and in common usage by almost every truck driver in
>the USA.
>
>DE Jack KD1PE
>
> I was able to run that computer charging off
>>my wife's Ford minivan for the 6000 mile trip from MS to AK in spring
>>of 2004. The vehicle voltage is damped by the car's battery and runs
>>about 14.2 volts when the engine is running and sags to 13.2v when
>>off. I never had the computer running when starting the engine. The
>>computer battery will also act as a huge capacitor for smoothing out
>>any voltage spikes.
>>
>>Most cigarette lighters circuits have a 15 to 20 amp fuse on them.
>>That ought to work fine for charging/using with your computer.
>>
>>73, Ed - KL7UW
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:27:37 -0400
From: Ben Jackson <bbj@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <49F9B559.1010607@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I did some research into this many moons ago and compiled a good amount
of information.
Clint Bradford wrote:
> Personally, I would never run my laptop off a vehicle's charging
> system while the vehicle is running. You won't find many reputable
> laptop manufacturers recommending this.
I know for a fact that Dell, HP, and Acer all make car chargers. I
consider them fairly reputable. :)
What kills laptops are adapters that don't "insulate" (for lack of a
better word) the initial spike when you start your car. That can be
fairly crazy on voltages and if the adapter passes that through, it can
be fatal to computer equipment.
> Tripp Lite PVINT375
> (although this model comes with a cigarette lighter plug, that
> connection has to be one of the electrically most UNreliable for what
> we are doing - so the plug gets whacked off and the unit is wired
> directly) ... or
>
> Astron Pi-250W
> 12VDC-to-120VAC inverter made for such circumstances. Wire it in to
> your vehicle's 12VDC system, and simply use your existing AC power
> supply. Immediate benefit is the ability to power/ charge other
> electronic items you may have using regular AC chargers.
While, yes, these will work, this is the most inefficient way of
charging your laptop. Essentially you're getting AC from the alternator,
converting it to DC for the car, converting it back to AC via the
inverter, only to convert it back to DC to charge your laptop. Not good..
--
Ben Jackson - N1WBV - New Bedford, MA
bbj <at> innismir.net - http://www.innismir.net/
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:46:13 EDT
From: Cotejaune2@xxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <c76.458b7281.372b13b5@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Don't miss the Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net tonight, April 30. At 8 PM on
eholink node n2eyh-l. Or on the Mt.Beacon 146.970 repeater PL 100. Please
join us and share your satellite knowledge with the group.
73
Gary wa2aqh
**************Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and
Desktops!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219491521x1201306563/aol?re
dir=http:%2F%2Fad.double
click.net%2Fclk%3B214102108%3B35952091%3Bs)
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:21:22 -0400
From: "Tim Tapio" <tim@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: "'Ben Jackson'" <bbj@xxxxxxxx.xxx>, "'Clint Bradford'"
<clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <004201c9c9a7$55de6750$019b35f0$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Ben,
You will find many military power supplies that do the inverse, convert DC
to AC back to DC...my 50 KVA UPS units at work convert AC to DC to AC....
If your engine is already running and already producing DC, I think the lack
of efficiency is of very little consequence....especially if you're looking
at the 90 watts or less that is required to run a fairly powerful laptop.
Many people drive with their lights on during the day, I'd say that is less
efficient than charging/running your laptop from an AC inverter.
73 de Tim, K4SHF
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Ben Jackson
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 10:28 AM
To: Clint Bradford
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
I did some research into this many moons ago and compiled a good amount of
information.
Clint Bradford wrote:
> Personally, I would never run my laptop off a vehicle's charging
> system while the vehicle is running. You won't find many reputable
> laptop manufacturers recommending this.
I know for a fact that Dell, HP, and Acer all make car chargers. I consider
them fairly reputable. :)
What kills laptops are adapters that don't "insulate" (for lack of a better
word) the initial spike when you start your car. That can be fairly crazy on
voltages and if the adapter passes that through, it can be fatal to computer
equipment.
> Tripp Lite PVINT375
> (although this model comes with a cigarette lighter plug, that
> connection has to be one of the electrically most UNreliable for what
> we are doing - so the plug gets whacked off and the unit is wired
> directly) ... or
>
> Astron Pi-250W
> 12VDC-to-120VAC inverter made for such circumstances. Wire it in to
> your vehicle's 12VDC system, and simply use your existing AC power
> supply. Immediate benefit is the ability to power/ charge other
> electronic items you may have using regular AC chargers.
While, yes, these will work, this is the most inefficient way of charging
your laptop. Essentially you're getting AC from the alternator, converting
it to DC for the car, converting it back to AC via the inverter, only to
convert it back to DC to charge your laptop. Not good..
--
Ben Jackson - N1WBV - New Bedford, MA
bbj <at> innismir.net - http://www.innismir.net/
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:10:15 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: Ben Jackson <bbj@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <2070E862-1CBB-4732-ABE3-93774BF522B4@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>> ... I know for a fact that Dell, HP, and Acer all make car
chargers ...
Sorry - semantics coming into play. It's a little different "charging"
versus "operating" ...
Clint Bradford
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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:43:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Spencer <mspencer12345@xxxxx.xx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>, Ben Jackson
<bbj@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <563346.80682.qm@xxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Lenovo also makes Laptop power supplies that are designed to be powered from a
nominal 12 volt power source as well as AC wall outlets.?? (I have one for my
work provided laptop.)
?
----- Original Message ----
From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Ben Jackson <bbj@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:10:15 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
>> ... I know for a fact that Dell, HP, and Acer all make car?
chargers ...
Sorry - semantics coming into play. It's a little different "charging"?
versus "operating" ...
Clint Bradford
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Message: 16
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:50:52 -0700
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Mobile Computer / Radio Installations
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<2e18ad3e0904300950i666eeac6l7c32f4b947e1e77@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> ?>> ... I know for a fact that Dell, HP, and Acer all make car
> chargers ...
>
> Sorry - semantics coming into play. It's a little different "charging"
> versus "operating" ...
Only if the "car charger" supplies less power than the normal AC power
supply. Otherwise, if the "car charger" supplies at least the same power
level as the AC supply, then there is no issue of semantics. Look for
DC-DC units that supply the same voltage and wattage as your AC power
supply, and you should be in good shape. The laptop manufacturers
sometimes have these DC-DC units, and there are after-market suppliers
that can fill in if the laptop manufacturer doesn't have anything that works
for your laptop.
The Acer Aspire One that N3TL and I (and a few others) have only uses a
30W AC supply that puts out 19 VDC. This is easy to address in a car
charger. My old Dell Inspiron 8200 (mobile Pentium-4 CPU) laptop has a
110W AC power supply that puts out 16 VDC (I think - it is at home, and I'm
not there). A laptop like this is a tough one to get a car charger/adapter
for,
due to the higher power requirement. I think I have seen one that would
supply 90W or maybe 100W, but force the CPU to run at a slower clock rate -
something supported in the mobile Pentium-4 CPU - to compensate for the
high power consumption in that chip and dealing with smaller power
supplies people might have to use with these laptops. With the netbooks, I
don't have to lug that old Inspiron to hamfests or places unless I know there
is AC power available and I need a second laptop with a larger screen.
N3TL mentioned having a 6-cell lithium-ion battery for his Acer netbook. This
is now the standard pack supplied in later versions, where a 3-cell pack was
originally supplied when I bought mine late last year. There are after-market
lithium-ion packs that have 9 cells, which can run the Acer netbook for 6 to 8
hours depending on how many peripherals you have connected to USB ports
and power requirements for those peripherals. I have one of these 9-cell
packs,
which makes this netbook very nice for hamfests and field operating. I had to
order the pack from a Hong Kong-based online shop, since I could not find it
anywhere stateside. It's worked perfectly since I received it in December.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 206
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