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    Power inverter for R2

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by dohboi75, Mar 8, 2011.

  1. dohboi75

    dohboi75 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello all just got my M11 and was wondering if anyone uses a power inverter for theirs? I bought a 400w one made by Black and Decker but kept getting overload fault. Obviously it was too small and I took it back. I would love to game with this thing while killing time in my work truck but dont know what size I should try to buy . Any help would be appreciated.
     
    dohboi75, Mar 8, 2011
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  2. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

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    Thats odd, my 100 watt power inverter works just fine.

    Edit: I have a r1 though, so less power from mine.
     
    ejohnson, Mar 8, 2011
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  3. cappielloa

    cappielloa Notebook Consultant

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    It shouldn't be using more than 90 watts, since that's what the AC adapter is rated for. More likely that the inverter you bought was a dud. Given that it was Black and Decker, it wouldn't surprise me either. Did you test it with anything else?
     
    cappielloa, Mar 8, 2011
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  4. dohboi75

    dohboi75 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Nah I just returned it . Gonna try to pick up another one and hopefully all will work out.
     
    dohboi75, Mar 8, 2011
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  5. i has m11x

    i has m11x Notebook Evangelist

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    I bet it didn't work because a cigarette lighter isn't designed to carry 400 watts.
     
    i has m11x, Mar 8, 2011
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  6. tendomentis

    tendomentis Notebook Enthusiast

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    Dell actually makes a m11x compatible car adaptor. I think it's a 65 watt adaptor, and it works beautifully. I leave it hooked up in my car all the time.
     
    tendomentis, Mar 8, 2011
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  7. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    Yep, the old inspiron travel adaptor :) (well, I call it that since I got it with my M1210 :D)

    It also has the airplane power adaptor (US airplane).

    65W is fine for the R2 - the unit adapts automatically to the lower power input capacity.
     
    jeremyshaw, Mar 8, 2011
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  8. cappielloa

    cappielloa Notebook Consultant

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    Then there would be no sense in making inverters rated for 400 watts.
     
    cappielloa, Mar 9, 2011
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  9. i has m11x

    i has m11x Notebook Evangelist

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    Inverters rated that high have additional wiring besides the cigarette lighter adapter that usually hook up directly to a car battery. A cigarette lighter can't supply 400 watts. The draw shouldn't have been very high though so technically his inverter should have been able to power his M11x with just the cigarette lighter wire, as long as nothing else was sucking power besides the laptop. Most factory car wiring can't do more than 100-120w on the cigarette lighter.


    OP, if you only want to power your M11x I would go with a 100w adapter. It shouldn't draw more power than a cigarette lighter socket can handle. I used one to power my old Inspiron 9300 while I was running diagnostics and tuning my Firebird for a few years. I never once had an issue.
     
    i has m11x, Mar 9, 2011
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  10. dohboi75

    dohboi75 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank for the help everyone. I did hook it up directy to the battery as well so I know the Cig lighter was'nt the issue. I bought 150 watt one from newegg so I'll hopefully get better results.
     
    dohboi75, Mar 9, 2011
    #10