So you’re working on the road, and your laptop’s battery is running low. Don’t worry; charging the battery in your car is simple. Here’s how you charge a laptop in a car:
- Make use of power inverters.
- Purchase laptop car chargers.
- Take the power back with you.
- Consider using a universal charger.
- Purchase battery chargers.
5 Methods for Charging a Laptop in a Car
Your car runs on gas, but the battery is in charge of all the electrical hijinks. When you open the hood, you’ll notice it staring directly at you. It’s a type of universal need for every car in the world. In reality, many people are shifting away from traditional fuel sources and toward batteries.
Before I go any further, let me show you how to charge your laptop battery from the luxury of your driving seat.
1. Make use of power inverters.
Power inverters, as the name indicates, convert the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).
Because your laptop is charged by alternating current, you cannot connect directly to the car battery, which is powered by direct current.
Furthermore, precise amperes and volts are required. That is efficiently controlled by this apparatus.
However, keep in mind that you may need to connect the power inverter to your car’s battery directly.
It has two battery connections or clutches, whatever you want to call them, that you must connect to the positive and negative terminals of your car battery. Once you’ve done that, the rest is simple. There are several USB ports to choose from, as well as additional outlets such as three-prong plugs.
Some variants do not require direct battery connections. I urge that you get them since who has time to stop the car in the middle of nowhere and then charge the laptop?
In either case, connect your laptop charger to a three- or two-prong socket and charge the battery as usual.
2. Purchase Car Chargers for Laptop Computers
These are individual chargers that may be purchased online. Instead of pronged wires, they feature inlets intended for the car’s cigarette outlet.
As a result, employing them is simpler. Furthermore, they are smaller in size when compared to a power inverter. Yes, they are a little pricey, but given all of the perks, why not get them?
You must understand, though, that you will be unable to charge anything else. That is solely for the power inverter’s numerous outlets.
3. Utilize USB-C Power Banks
These days, USB-C charging connectors have greatly reduced the hassle of carrying bulky chargers. So, if your laptop supports it, you’re in excellent hands.
Purchase a power bank designed for charging high-intensity electric devices such as your laptop. Power Delivery (PD) power banks are what they’re called.
Their outlet is suitable for a laptop. However, keep in mind that the charging rate will be insufficient.
You may have to wait a long time for a full charge, or you may have to keep the two devices connected until you’re finished.
In turn, you may charge your power bank using method 1.
4. Attempt a Universal Charger
A universal charger is a laptop charger that has more than one pin. It’s a little big for one laptop, but it’s great for multiple.
So, if you’re going on a road trip with your friends, this charger is a must-have.
Don’t be concerned about whether the output or input will be compatible; they are usually. The charger is universal for a purpose, you see.
Many of these chargers have nice 100+ watts, so you should expect faster charging or at least more than what you get with the car laptop charger.
However, despite its universality, I recommend that you should not overload the laptop with it.
I use it in an emergency to charge my machine to approximately 30 to 50 percent — plenty for a decent run.
5. Charge the battery by themselves
Batteries may be charged both online and offline. These are very useful if you’ve misplaced your original charger or it has died along the road.
By the way, there is a little drawback to utilizing them. You’d have to remove the laptop battery every time you wanted to charge it on the fly.
Although the charger features indicators that show how much it has charged the battery, this isn’t always enough. You tend to overpay the poor creature, which works against it.
I only propose battery chargers if there is an issue with the charger, as previously stated, or if your laptop’s charging pin or connector has been damaged.
Otherwise, why go all that trouble only to charge your laptop? The other approaches are considerably superior to this one.
FAQs on How to Charge a Laptop in a Car
Learn how to charge your laptop in a car hassle-free! Check out our FAQ guide on how to safely and easily use car chargers, inverters, and portable power banks.
Which Method Do I Recommend?
To everyone his or her own, I suppose. I mean, you have your own criteria, but instead of telling you what you should do, I’d tell you what I do most of the time on the highway.
I bring a power inverter and a power bank. Except for my phone, the power inverter will serve as a wall socket for all of the items I own. That I charge using the power bank. In turn, I use the same inverter to charge the power bank. That’s all there is to it.
Is Charging Your Laptop in Your Car Bad for Your Car Battery?
Yes, of course, it does. You’re utilizing the battery’s power to charge other batteries, therefore it will eventually shut down. That is why, for the benefit of your car battery, I advise you not to charge it excessively.
You don’t want to put too much strain on it, especially while you’re on the road. This is because it already powers your car’s electric components, including the starting plug.
Conclusion of How to Charge a Laptop in a Car?
It is simple to charge your laptop in a car, but you will need to purchase specific items.
A power inverter is required to serve as a power outlet source for your devices, but whether you get a car laptop charger, a power bank, a universal charger, or a battery charger depends on the amount of convenience you desire.
Finally, I suggest you should get an M1 MacBook Air to cure this charging issue.
Because the battery life on these M1 MacBooks is so outstanding, easily 10 hours with moderate use, you’ll probably never need to consider charging your laptop in a car again.
Read more: How to Fix Your Laptop’s Touchpad
