CD image .... this is easier than you think. Using Nero for example create an ISO image file and load that to virtual Image disk. Nero has plug-in that will handle this. Roxio has also.

Reference current draw and converters .... the high figs of Voltage / Current are based on being able to recharge the battery pack. The actual PC draws a lot less for ops.

I can honestly say that I've used same 19V setting on my converter on all notebooks incl's IBM Thinkpad 600E rated at 16V, Maxdata rated at 19V, Acer rated at 18.5V, HP at 20V ...... none have complained or burnt out. The only item that has not been supported fully is the recharge of battery and is why I reckon to take it out ! Acer in fact advise to remove the battery if using PC on power pack for long periods.

You will also find that most notebooks run of straight 12V direct as long as battery pack is out.

I have Nero so may try that out-did manage to get a virtual drive for plotter up and running on my PC-BUT the old 600 thinkpad whilst quite happy to run Plotter off CD doesnt have enough HD capacity;memory or processing speed to deal with large image files concerned.

Of course the only time The Plotter refs. the CD is when switching to a new chart which if you are using it onboard is not that often.

The 600E also has a bios limit on memory / hard drive sizes. Makes no difference if you upgrade operating system either.

I tried putting a 60Gb disk in my 600 and it refused it. I even split the drive up into 2 x 30Gb's ... it was unreliable and kept losing the disk. So I resigned myself to replacing the 20Gb disk and staying with that. My 600 even though on limited 64Mb memory runs XP fine. Basically because I don't have Office loaded !! I reckon most people have trouble with machines slowing down not because of XP on unsuitable machine as the 600, but because like I used to do - loading extras that hog the machine, have loads of start-up crap and need loads of processing power ! = MS Office !

My 600 runs Maxsea 10.1.3.2, Seaclear and Ozi-Explorer. For text or general docs Wordpad or a freebie package "Jarv" that I found purely by accident satisfies any "office" work I might want to do, without taxing machine.

Let's be honest - most boats are moving slow enough for even the most budget plotter / PC to keep up !

NZ RNCs are now free to download-irrelevant to most but NZ gov. are now offering their whole series of Charts as free download-includes most of Polynesia and W. Pacific-paper charts are only about £8

Perhaps mayby(or not)sooner or later or never Admiralty will finally do the same as ENC charting takes over for commercial shipping?

You will need an Arcs type Navigation software to read it as like Arcs its encrypted-something about improper use but as NOAA offer US charts and updates free! and not encrypted-well?!.

Phil

OK, the promised figures...sorry it took a while longer than anticvipated!

Inverter (350W):

Quiescent current (no load) 0.5A draw, PC on 3.5A draw, Max draw (during boot up) 4.2A

DC-DC supply @ 19V:

Quiescent current (no load) 0.14A draw, PC on 2.0A draw, Max draw (boot up) 3.6A

The draw whilst using the plotter is the same as the PC on draw, increasing to 3.2A for around 3 seconds when loading a new chart from CD.  Once the chart is loaded, the CD is not accessed, so I believe this to be insignificant.

Based on 120Ah battery (2x60Ah), this should give around 60 hours of plotter use on the DC - DC converter (depending on how many map changes), or 34 hours on inverter - so quite a difference!  I know these figures a theoretical and don't tkae into account battery age, performance, other loadfs etc, but my aim here is purely to compare laptop power supplies.

The DC-DC supply was £4.99 plus £4.99 P & P (from the UK) from eBay.

Steve

Looks like Steve wins on best value DC to DC convertor-when you think it can cost you up to £60!

Phil

Yes, I have to say I was put off experimenting by prices at some of the high street shops, but passion_automotive came up trumps in his eBay store, although there was no plug for my Sony Vaio - again quickly fixed by a different eBayer!

With 1.5A difference on the current draw from the batteries, it seems this is definitely an improvement over the inverter - and at this price considerably cheaper to buy too...