Laptops

How to Charge a Laptop in a Car?

Older laptops only charge with wall-mounted AC chargers, but with the advancement in technology, the latest laptops come with various USB charging ports. If you are going on a long trip and want to charge your laptop in a car, then it is possible. Charging the laptop in the car is straightforward, but it requires the running vehicle and the right adapter. Purchase the best and most compatible adapters to do this task correctly. If you want to know the different ways and steps to charge a laptop in a car, you should read this guide.

5 Approaches to Charge Laptop in a Car

There are several straightforward methods to charge a laptop in your car while travelling:

  1. USB Type-C charger
  2. Car charger
  3. Inverter
  4. Power bank
  5. 12V power outlet

1: USB Type-C Charger

The best and easiest way to charge the laptop in a car is with the USB Type-C cable charger. For this method, your laptop must have a Type-C port to connect it with a car battery. Connect one end to the USB Type-C cable in the USB-C port of your laptop and plug the other end of the cable to the charging port of a car.

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2: Car Laptop Charger

The second way to charge the laptop in a car is by using the car charger. These chargers allow you to charge your laptop using a cigarette lighter socket in the car’s power outlet. The first thing you have to do is to purchase the car laptop charger for your laptop and ensure that the charger is compatible with your laptop. These chargers are quite affordable and available in the market. The second thing you should take care of is the car engine should be running while performing the whole process. Simply connect the charger with the power outlet of the car and the other end with the laptop.

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3: Power Bank

To charge your laptop in the car without using any car accessories can be done by using a power bank. The power bank is a device that is normally used to charge cell phones or other electronic devices, but can also be used for charging the laptop. The laptop requires 40 watts to charge up the battery; purchase the power bank of this capacity.

There are many different models of power banks available designed specially to charge the laptop. Ensure that your laptop supports charging through the power bank and the power bank is fully charged. Connect the power bank with the laptop using a USB port. Plug in the USB cable to the USB port of the laptop and connect its other end with the power bank.

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4: Car Inverter

If your laptop doesn’t have any USB Type-C or Type-A port, then you can use this method to charge your laptop in the car. Simply use the original charger of your laptop with the inverter. The car inverter converts the power DC to AC as the laptop requires AC power to charge.

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5: 12V Power Outlet

If your car doesn’t have USB ports, use the cigarette lighter socket to charge the laptop. First, plug in the power plug into the power socket and plug-in the other end of the cable to the laptop.

FAQs

Q: Is It Safe to Charge Your Laptop in a Car?

Yes, it is safe to charge a laptop in a car, just make sure to buy the right connector and inverter that satisfies the required power ratings of your laptop. The wrong adapter not only damages the car power outlet but also affects the laptop. Check the quality and compatibility of the adapter before purchasing it. One thing you should remember while charging your laptop is don’t leave the laptop plugged in for a long time.

Q: Does Charging the Laptop Drain the Car’s Battery?

Yes, if the engine is off and you are charging your laptop otherwise, no, the laptop does not draw much power until you are performing heavy tasks. The battery of the car automatically charges when the engine is running.

Conclusion

Charging a laptop in your car is easy and safe; it requires some adapters or inverters compatible with your device. The five different ways to charge the laptop in a car are mentioned above, you can choose any of them according to the situation and your device compatibility. Ensure that the adapters are of good quality and that you don’t connect them with the car’s battery for long.

About the author

Zainab Rehman

I'm an author by profession. My interest in the internet world motivates me to write for Linux Hint and I'm here to share my knowledge with others.