# Can I run/charge my laptop on 12V DC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648 "2008-04-16T20:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648/1 "2008-04-16T20:56:12Z")
I’m going on a camping trip this weekend where AC power will not be available, but I would like to take my laptop along. FWIW it’s a Compal HE81 made in Taiwan, and the AC power supply lists the output voltage as 19 VDC 3.95 Amps. I know the 12V from my trailer battery is less than 19V, but I was wondering if anyone knows whether it would be sufficient to power the laptop. I have an inverter that I could use, and probably will unless someone assures me that it’s OK, but it seems very inefficient to convert from DC to AC and then back to DC again. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648/2 "2008-04-16T21:09:34Z")
Very unlikely. Many batteries output to the motherboard at higher voltages than 12V, so you certainly couldn’t charge them with 12. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648/3 "2008-04-16T21:09:35Z")
What you need is a “car” power supply. They exist, but not cheaply. The first one I found available for sale in the US goes for [nearly $80.](http://www.powerstream.com/ADC-compal.htm) The same model power adapter will work with many models of Compal laptops, but that doesn’t seem to help make them cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648/4 "2008-04-16T21:15:27Z")
Thanks for the prompt replies. Looks like I’ll be using the inverter. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-run-charge-my-laptop-on-12v-dc/445648/5 "2008-04-16T21:18:13Z")
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