[rlockwood]

Originally Posted by aneblanc

Would a car charger work also with a 12 V boat battery (sail boat) where the voltage might fluctuates between 12 V and 15 V, the battery being charged by a solar panel?

Or do I need to get something special that would stabilize the input voltage?

Voltage at a car battery fluctuates between 12v and (typically) 14.4v depending on if the car is running or not. Voltage also fluctuates some with engine RPM, although if your alternators voltage regulator is working properly, it shouldn't be much. Anyway, I dont see why the boat would be any different. In fact, the voltage fluctuation is probably more pronounced in the car.

[aneblanc]

Originally Posted by rlockwood

Voltage at a car battery fluctuates between 12v and (typically) 14.4v depending on if the car is running or not. Voltage also fluctuates some with engine RPM, although if your alternators voltage regulator is working properly, it shouldn't be much. Anyway, I dont see why the boat would be any different. In fact, the voltage fluctuation is probably more pronounced in the car.

There is no engine only a solar panel, but thanks for the answer.

Thierry

[amthar]

If you want to avoid the usage of an inverter but wish to keep things as power efficient as possible, check out a dc-dc regulator. I have one of these and have used it on some car PC projects and it works great.

http://store.mp3car.com/Carnetix_CNX_P2 ... wr-026.htm

It works at 12v, 18.5v or 20v. I believe I read that the mini will function on 19v +/- 1v so this should work well. You would just need to either hack the tip off of your dell mini ac adapter or go find a usable tip at radio shack and solder it to some wire and into the outputs of the regulator.

[HandHeld]

Do you think this one would work? http://cgi.ebay.com/CAR-UNIVERSAL-LA...QQcmdZViewItem

[giangpoh]

Originally Posted by HandHeld

Do you think this one would work? http://cgi.ebay.com/CAR-UNIVERSAL-LA...QQcmdZViewItem

Does it work?? I would like to know too..

[aneblanc]

Originally Posted by giangpoh

Does it work?? I would like to know too..

I bought one of those. Yes it works but I don't know for how long, so my answer might not help you much.

[Rikki]

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trks ... Categories

[giangpoh]

Originally Posted by aneblanc

I bought one of those. Yes it works but I don't know for how long, so my answer might not help you much.

Do u mean it became faulty after u use it?

[xokeman]

Originally Posted by UnaClocker

I have a 4kw inverter in my work van, but still prefer a charger that goes into the cigarette lighter and converts straight from 12v to 19v.

your 4kw inverter might not be enough !!! hehe!!!! j/k

[Clintre]

These guys have one http://www.allfreeship.com/shopexd.asp?id=2594&bc=no

I do not have it myself, but I have ordered through these guys and got what I ordered. Just in case you are worried about ordering through them (a bit unknown).