H2 Laptop w/ 115V outlet

[LasVegas]

Bought a Sharp MP 30 laptop (10.4" screen) for my H2. Got the Verizon PC5220 wireless broadband card so linked up driving down the road! Works very well. Soooo, decided to add a 115V AC outlet to the H2. Used a Radio Shack 220 watt inverter. That runs most portable appliances. If you do this and want more wattage be careful. Inverters go up in size in direct relation to the wattage & that was the biggest problem, finding a place to hide the inverter. Ended up in the rear of the console and just did fit (tightly). I used the inverter end plate with the receptacle & switch as the mounting plate in the H2 panel & just extended the wires & made a new end plate for the inverter. Here's some pics of the install & final result. I'm posting this from my H2! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif P.S. The MP 30 has some neat features. Plays dvd's without even booting up the OS! Weighs a total of 2.8 pounds. Sorry DRTY...it's not a MAC.

[LasVegas]

Bought a Sharp MP 30 laptop (10.4" screen) for my H2. Got the Verizon PC5220 wireless broadband card so linked up driving down the road! Works very well. Soooo, decided to add a 115V AC outlet to the H2. Used a Radio Shack 220 watt inverter. That runs most portable appliances. If you do this and want more wattage be careful. Inverters go up in size in direct relation to the wattage & that was the biggest problem, finding a place to hide the inverter. Ended up in the rear of the console and just did fit (tightly). I used the inverter end plate with the receptacle & switch as the mounting plate in the H2 panel & just extended the wires & made a new end plate for the inverter. Here's some pics of the install & final result. I'm posting this from my H2! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif P.S. The MP 30 has some neat features. Plays dvd's without even booting up the OS! Weighs a total of 2.8 pounds. Sorry DRTY...it's not a MAC.

[RIC-H0]

Nice install, but you might wanna get that outlet covered. Maybe an spring loaded outlet cover, or a childproof outlet cover would be the easiest to do!

Ric-H2

[Kevin B]

That looks nice, have you had any heating issues?

[LasVegas]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by N2ITNSD:
That looks nice, have you had any heating issues? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not so far. Inverters usually come with a cooling fan (this one does) that cycles on under heavy loads. It's rated at 220 watts (about 2 amps 115V) continuous, 400 watts for 20 minutes & 600 watts short period. The charger for the laptop only pulls about .2 amps. Obviously not necessary for portable devices but just thought it would be a nice touch to have 115V on board. You never know.

[Dug]

Nice job vegas. Thanks for sharing.

[tower]

Jonahs,

I've just gotta ask, since the computer runs on DC, why bother with the inverter? There's not enough power there to perk a pot of coffe.

[LasVegas]

tower....you are 100% correct! I just wanted 110V ac in the rig. Actually, I was bored that day & wanted something to do. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif But if I'm ever in the boonies and want to charge the laptop battery up it will do it.

[John Stead]

Nice install LasVegas!

For those of us that are less inventive, there are "kits" from American Technology Components that have everything to to the job and more.

http://www.atcomp.com/pdf/NP110-006.pdf

http://www.atcomp.com/pdf/NP110-008.pdf

.. John Stead