undercharging a laptop

[Greg12]

I have a question.

I bought a dell desktop replacement notebook, and my car cannot power it completly. it's draw of 19.2 volts is too much for my car's alternator and the power supply cuts off due to the safety.

My question is: can i use a charger with a lower voltage? I know it wont charge the battery completly but it will suppliment the power.

will this work?

[smearbrick1]

I would say no... You can, however, try using a power inverter. It will take the 12 volt DC from your car and bump it to 110/120 volt AC. You can get these for as low as $15.00 (you get what you pay for though).

[snafu099]

I have not "played" with newer laptops but with some older ones:
In gerneral I was able to charge the battery from 12vdc source, but not always to run the laptop. Some did, some did not, depending on I suppose internal safty circuts to protect the laptop.

fried acouple with reversed polarity. Caution

Inverter should work great, and should not need to be high wattage
Caution here is needed with the type that just plugs into cigerette lighter. The care wiring will not handle high wattage. My Pontiac Vibe has a 90 w one built in and works fine. My ex has a $40,000 pu that does not it built in and uses a plug in with new hp laptop (cig plug- 150w)

Son uses high, 1000w but he hard wired it direct to battery

[Greg12]

the inverter i have cuts off after 2 seconds of charging.

[smearbrick1]

The wattage may be a bit too low.

[otpw1]

I know, I know this sounds like I've been drinking
bath water.
The inverter that I use will not power just the laptop for some bizarre reason, BUT with another load on it at the same time it is fine.
I use one of those cheap 7 watt night lights.
What else can I say? It WORKS that way.