Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!peregrine!ccicpg!felix!tgate!ka3ovk!drilex!axiom!linus!alliant!merk!xylogics!cloud9!jjmhome!cpoint!frog!barr
From: barr@frog.UUCP (Chris Barr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: car battery adapter for '386 Zenith Turbosport laptop
Summary: Best I found is 100-watt, 115 V, AC inverter.
Keywords: laptop battery zenith turbosport
Message-ID: <1972@frog.UUCP>
Date: 19 Sep 89 06:24:00 GMT
Expires: 10 Oct 89 04:00
Distribution: usa
Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA
Lines: 30

Zenith refuses to sell a car battery adapter for their '386 laptop,
the Turbosport, because 'its quick-charge batteries draw too much
current for a car battery'.  

A friend of mine dearly needs this.  I found some solutions, and 
pass them on here, while wondering if better ones exist:

The Turbosport battery is labelled '24 V, 2.0 amp'.  The AC adapter
and computer's baseplate label give voltages & amperages ranging
from 27 to 37 V, 0.18 to 1.8 volts.  Most importantly, Zenith tech
support says their ac adapter draws 1.1 amps from a wall socket.
I assume this is a peak value.

Two types ofsolutions: 

I. AC adapter from cigarette lighter/car battery:

a. Zirco, Wheat Ridge Colorado sells a 115 volt/100 watt 
   inverter, in a very small (< 1 lb.) package.  It has auto
   shutdown when either it or the car battery approach a danger point.

b. 'PowerVerter', sold by local electronics shop, in several
   wattages: 100-250-400.  Heavier, no cigarette lighter adapter.

II. DC->DC adapter

a. Axonix, Salt Lake City, sells one designed to power both a
   '286 laptop and a printer, so it puts out 26 V/ 2.0 amps.  This
   would probably work - if it mated with the Zenith's unique 4-prong
   external power connector!