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+--- Thread: Running MacBook From Marine Generator (/thread-223.html)
Running MacBook From Marine Generator - s/v Doodler - October 2, 2006
We'll be taking off on our sailboat in a few months for an extended cruise to the Bahamas. We'll be using our MacBook (and sometimes our iBook G3) while onboard. Will I have any problems trying to run them (or charge them) from my marine generator? Do I need some sort of surge protection? Also, has anyone heard when Mac will make a 12v adaptor for the new MacBooks (with the MagSafe cord)? Thanks!
Running MacBook From Marine Generator - adjuvantjfoster - October 3, 2006
Quote:Will I have any problems trying to run them (or charge them) from my marine generator?Is your marine generator a device powered by a gas or diesel powered engine? Or do you refer to a device powered by your DC battery system? Do you have a marine generator on the boat now or are you shopping for one?
Please be more specific about your marine generator. What are the rated output voltages and wattages of the "generator". The answers will shape a more reasoned response to your question.....(grin).....
John
Re: Running MacBook From Marine Generator - s/v Doodler - October 5, 2006
[Please be more specific about your marine generator. What are the rated output voltages and wattages of the "generator". The answers will shape a more reasoned response to your question.....(grin).....
John[/quote]
We have a 5 kw Onan diesel-powered generator that sends out 120 volts.
Thanks!
Meredith
Re: Running MacBook From Marine Generator - adjuvantjfoster - October 5, 2006
Quote:We have a 5 kw Onan diesel-powered generator that sends out 120 volts.When you said generator, you really meant it....(grin).... Your Onan in any sailboat environment I can imagine, is putting out a cleaner 120 volts source than your home, marina or office environment, as there are fewer devices starting and stopping operation to produce voltage sags or voltage spikes.
You will not need surge protection.The power supply in computer equipment produced in the last 10, maybe even 20 years, use what is known as a switching power supply. That means that the incoming voltage to the computer is chopped into very short duration pieces, and those pieces are turned into an amazingly clean DC voltage from even a very electrically noisy ac line voltage source.
That said, if you want to put an office quality surge protector in front of your power cord, go ahead, it is cheap peace of mind if you have lingering doubts.
I am curious as to why you want to run your Macs from the generator at all, unless things are set up on your ship ( I suspect your boat may be a lot closer to ship size than my present little boat) so that the generator is on all the time anyway for other reasons.
Have you considered using small inverters plugged into cigarette lighter outlets to power your Macs? Or even a larger inverter to handle all your AC needs while the generator is off?
Re: Running MacBook From Marine Generator - s/v Doodler - October 5, 2006
Have you considered using small inverters plugged into cigarette lighter outlets to power your Macs? Or even a larger inverter to handle all your AC needs while the generator is off?[/quote]
I would love to use a 12v inverter from a cig plug (and I will for my old iBook) to charge but they don't make one yet for my new MacBook with the Magsafe plug. I just assumed there would be one available and didn't even ask when I bought the new one! We have to run the generator for about 2 hours per day to power the refrigeration and charge the boat batteries and run our watermaker,so I plan to charge the laptops then as well. Not sure why husband hasn't considered an inverter. Thanks for your help!
Meredith
Re: Running MacBook From Marine Generator - outstripp - October 6, 2006
I would love to use a 12v inverter from a cig plug (and I will for my old iBook) to charge but they don't make one yet for my new MacBook with the Magsafe plug.
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I bought an auto/air adapter for my powerbook and was using it on my boat but it got very hot and scared me. Draws 75 watts it says.
http://macwizards.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=32
Steve
- jagasail - October 6, 2006
"I would love to use a 12v inverter from a cig plug (and I will for my old iBook) to charge but they don't make one yet for my new MacBook with the Magsafe plug."
Meredith,
I think you're confusing a 12v invertor with a 12v adapter. The invertor is generic, with a 120 outlet like you have on the wall at home. Simply plug the invertor into the Cigarette lighter outlet, then your macbook power supply (the same one with the Magsafe plug you would use to power it at home) into the invertor, and you're in business. The only trick is to make sure you get an invertor large enough to handle the load you're plugging into it. I suspect a Xantrex XPower 175 invertor (for about $25) would do the job quite nicely, and would be available to power other small AC appliances as well. Would certainly beat having to run the generator anytime you wanted to run your Mac.
Scot
MacBook power supply - s/v Doodler - October 9, 2006
I think you're confusing a 12v invertor with a 12v adapter...
Scot,
Yes I was confused! Thanks for the information. This sounds like the solution to my problems...
Meredith