Laptop LCD gone... no 2nd VGA port. How do I adapt/convert old LCD cable to 15pin VGA ?
Panasonic CF-M34 ToughBook - built-in cell-phone card.
Used in our motorhome while travelling. Had a little accident and the top lid was torn off, but it still works ! Would like to adapt it to use standard vga monitor.
New cell contract w/card co$t more than new laptop !
( FYI: USB convertors are avail, but cannot use the USB 1.1 port)
( eBay found an old 'base station' which has a VGA port, but,,, its 110vac only.)
Any thoughts ?
Used in our motorhome while travelling. Had a little accident and the top lid was torn off, but it still works ! Would like to adapt it to use standard vga monitor.
New cell contract w/card co$t more than new laptop !
( FYI: USB convertors are avail, but cannot use the USB 1.1 port)
( eBay found an old 'base station' which has a VGA port, but,,, its 110vac only.)
Any thoughts ?
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In a laptop, the LCD drivers are typically integrated into the main board; there may not be a good point at which to pull normal video out unless it's designed in from the beginning. The LCD cable isn't going to do it for you.
But if the base station has the VGA connector, the circuitry probably is there; the hard part would be connecting to it.
Were I you, I'd investigate that docking station more closely. Often (a) the "110VAC" is actually just a matter of plugging the laptop's normal charger into the docking station, and (b) much/most of the docking station will work when operated off the laptop's battery. The latter would solve your problem; the former requires that you have a car adapter for the laptop, which I suspect you have already invested in.
If it really does need 110VAC, there's the option of getting a decent inverter -- sine or modified-sine -- and running 12V into that to get the 110VAC needed to power the docking station. Less efficient, but it would do the job, and since it doesn't have to be a _large_ inverter (I'd expect 100W to be plenty) it should be fairly affordable. And it would give you the option of running other house-current devices if you ever need to. Were I setting up a camper, an inverter would certainly be on my equipment list...
But if the base station has the VGA connector, the circuitry probably is there; the hard part would be connecting to it.
Were I you, I'd investigate that docking station more closely. Often (a) the "110VAC" is actually just a matter of plugging the laptop's normal charger into the docking station, and (b) much/most of the docking station will work when operated off the laptop's battery. The latter would solve your problem; the former requires that you have a car adapter for the laptop, which I suspect you have already invested in.
If it really does need 110VAC, there's the option of getting a decent inverter -- sine or modified-sine -- and running 12V into that to get the 110VAC needed to power the docking station. Less efficient, but it would do the job, and since it doesn't have to be a _large_ inverter (I'd expect 100W to be plenty) it should be fairly affordable. And it would give you the option of running other house-current devices if you ever need to. Were I setting up a camper, an inverter would certainly be on my equipment list...
Jul 30, 2010. 1:59 PMQuercus austrina
says:
100 watts should be plenty. I have a Black and Decker 100 watt inverter and it runs both my kids laptops in the car. It is about 1.5 times the size of a standard deck of playing cards, so no problem there with space.
Good luck on your "adaptation".
Qa
Good luck on your "adaptation".
Qa
Jul 30, 2010. 10:04 PMorksecurity
says:
Depends on the machine. My laptop's power supply is rated at 90W. Faster machines with bigger screens do tend to draw more power. And if the base station has its own power supply, its own circuitry may have been designed for cost reduction rather than efficiency and compactness as in the laptop itself. So: Better to check the specs before you buy the inverter. You may not need to draw all the rated power, but if you shoot low you risk eventually causing the inverter to either pop a fuse or go into thermal shutdown. (Which reminds me: If an inverter is needed, check its specs too and make sure you get one which can _continuously_ deliver the needed power. I've seen some which are good for 100W but which are not supposed to deliver that much power for more than 10 minutes at a time.)
Jul 30, 2010. 10:55 PMQuercus austrina
says:
One's a 90, the other's a 65, 155 W total if used to the fullest extent(s). The B&D inverter doesn't miss a beat with both plugged in and charging while the computers are in use, and we have used it on some rather lengthy trips. It even has cooling fan. I don't have the model # handy, but can get it if need be. Qa
Which one is it?
http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/cgi-bin/itn/toughbook/dl01.cgi
(specifically)
What's this "base station"?
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