9100 Inspiron Auto / Air Power Inverter

Question

Has anyone finally found a combination of inverter and technique that works to power the Inspiron 9100 with an auto adapter through the cigarette lighter?   Does it work with a pure sine wave inverter, 150 watt rating, 300 watt peak with or without the battery attached?   Is a 15 amp fuse needed in the car?   Please respond with advice and brands.   Thank you in advance for any help.

Jhrea · Answer

I wanted to ask if you mean converter?  Because thats differnet from an inverter.   Well, I use an 400 watt AudioVox Power Inverter and connect the AC plug to that.  9100 draws alot of power.  I have a 5 amp fuse for the cigarette lighter.  With my old car battey I couldn't run the 9100 for log.   My inverter would power down from overload, cause of low DC power.  With the car on it worked great.  Had a friend who tried to use a 150 watt inverter for there laptop, one that used less power then 9100, and he couldn't get his to charge.

laptop9100 · Answer

Well I tried a power INVERTER by Vector that I had originally purchased to use for this purpose, namely, running the 9100 off the car battery for my kids to watch DVD's.

It worked WITHOUT the battery in! The inverter is the Vector Maxx SST 400 watt (800 watt peak) model. http://www.vectormfg.com/site2/frontpages/powerinverters.htm I bought it at Target or Wal Mart for about $60.

I think I have 15 amp fuses for the cigarette lighters.

I don't know the difference between an inverter and a converter or if it matters or may harm the computer or car; if anyone knows, please write in. The lighter socket was not hot.

I am a bit put off that this kind of information is not easier to find on the Dell web site OR from calling / online chatting with their reps. Some phone agent tried to sell me a 90 watt Lind and then a 90 watt Duracell neither of which said in their specs that they would work with the 9100!

Jhrea · Answer

Inverter  changes DC, Direct Current, into AC, Alternating Currnet,.  Most Inverter sold in U.S. make the same current thats in you home.   A Convert change Volt leaves,  also some change AC to DC.  Like the power pack that the laptop uses, it converts 110 AC to 19volts DC.   It would be nice to find a convert that plugs into the cigarette lighter then directly into the laptop.  So you wont need the powerpack, which is hugh.

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