Cigarette Lighter Adapter- Cessna 172

"RST Engineering" wrote:

I don't mean to be pedantic...

LOL

B A R R Y wrote:
On Fri, 04 Aug 2006 07:15:03 GMT, Grumman-581
wrote:
Even though I've never smoked, I don't want to give up my
lighter plug in my aircraft or any of my cars... I use them for too
many other gadgets that I don't want to do without...

Many new cars include multiple outlets.

It would make a lot more sense to include a 110V ac outlet (using an
inverter) instead of the 12V/24V plug. That way you can use the
standard wall connector and not have to worry about carrying special
adaptors.

RST Engineering wrote:
I don't mean to be pedantic, but you can't "transform" a DC voltage;
transformers only work on AC. Do they use a center tap on the battery or a
regulator? If they use a regulator, it had damned well better be a hefty
one to take the slug of current that a cigarette lighter draws.

Jim


Only if it is indeed a cigarette lighter and not just a cylindrical 12V
power outlet. My plane has the latter (it just has a plastic cap on
it). I would blow the breaker if I tried to stick a cigarette lighter
in there.

Andrew Sarangan wrote:

Do people really smoke cigarettes while flying?


The DE who gave me my private checkride smoked a pipe
while flying. The ashtrays in the planes pretty much
showed that someone else in the right seat used to smoke
(my flight instructor was a smoker, but he never smoked
while instructing to my knowledge).

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote

It would make a lot more sense to include a 110V ac outlet (using an
inverter) instead of the 12V/24V plug. That way you can use the
standard wall connector and not have to worry about carrying special
adaptors.

Do you have any idea how much power that would require, and the cost of the
inverter for a good sized, powerful laptop computer?

With the inefficiency of most inverters, at least 1000 watt, and the price
goes into hundreds of dollars.
--
Jim in NC

On Thu, 3 Aug 2006 20:05:39 -0700, "RST Engineering"
wrote in
:

If they use a regulator, it had damned well better be a hefty
one to take the slug of current that a cigarette lighter draws.

That would be about 10 amps if it's similar to an automobile.

Morgans wrote:
"Andrew Sarangan" wrote

It would make a lot more sense to include a 110V ac outlet (using an
inverter) instead of the 12V/24V plug. That way you can use the
standard wall connector and not have to worry about carrying special
adaptors.

Do you have any idea how much power that would require, and the cost of the
inverter for a good sized, powerful laptop computer?

With the inefficiency of most inverters, at least 1000 watt, and the price
goes into hundreds of dollars.
--
Jim in NC

I have an inverter that I bought for $19.99. It has a 150W contunuos
power rating. It runs my laptop just fine. Why do you need 1000W?

It would make a lot more sense to include a 110V ac outlet (using an
inverter) instead of the 12V/24V plug.

My Toyota has both! G

How many watts, or amps?
--
Jim in NC

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote:
Morgans wrote:
Do you have any idea how much power that would require, and the cost
of the inverter for a good sized, powerful laptop computer?

With the inefficiency of most inverters, at least 1000 watt, and the
price goes into hundreds of dollars.
--
Jim in NC

I have an inverter that I bought for $19.99. It has a 150W contunuos
power rating. It runs my laptop just fine. Why do you need 1000W?

If the expectation is that the inverter is terribly inefficient (say ~10%)
I could see it needing to draw 1000 W DC to produce 100 W AC. But I believe
they are generally 80% efficient or better - otherwise they'd fry
themselves. Laptops aren't supposed to be very power hungry - even my floor
standing "tower" computer (excluding my CRT monitor) typically draws under
100 W AC (I used a portable power meter to measure the power draw of my
computer equipment to size the UPS I needed for my home office).

Morgans wrote:

"Andrew Sarangan" wrote


It would make a lot more sense to include a 110V ac outlet (using an
inverter) instead of the 12V/24V plug. That way you can use the
standard wall connector and not have to worry about carrying special
adaptors.


Do you have any idea how much power that would require, and the cost of the
inverter for a good sized, powerful laptop computer?

With the inefficiency of most inverters, at least 1000 watt, and the price
goes into hundreds of dollars.

What? I have a 150 watt inverter that works just fine for
recharging/running laptops, PDA's, cell phones, etc. It's an all in one
unit, no separate cord and device. About $20 at Walmart.