GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

So, does anyone know how much time I can run my laptop computer using the household prong outlet with the car running?How about when the car is not running? Sorry if this is a dumb question: is there a safeguard to prevent the battery from going dead if I take power from the the household prong outlet?

quote:So, does anyone know how much time I can run my laptop computer using the household prong outlet with the car running?Until you run out of gas.quote:How about when the car is not running?Until your battery dies.quote:Sorry if this is a dumb question: is there a safeguard to prevent the battery from going dead if I take power from the the household prong outlet? No.

Great answers, Mike! Succint, to-the-point, accurate and dead-pan FUNNY! Are you British?

Almost "Nova-esq" in nature! LOL!

quote:How about when the car is not running?Until your battery dies..How long, on average, would that take?

Depends on the condition of the battery and the amount of power the item plugged in uses. A TV would drain it quick but a small light could last for a long time.

quote:How about when the car is not running?Until your battery dies..How long, on average, would that take?As Nova said, it depends what is hooked to the power outlet. But for sure, even with a small light, it won't last 2 days. I drained my battery by forgetting 1 light in the cental mirror for 1 night.So I wouldn't plug anything in the outlet for more the 2-3 hours without starting the engine.

quote:I've had recurrent battery problems, but 10 minutes with the map light on while cleaning the car resulted in a dead battery and a call to CAA for me. I would be careful about leaving stuff plugged in while car isn't on.J.Only 10 minutes!!! There's a problem somewhere. How can you go to the drive-in with a 10 minutes life battery?Nevermind, go to the cimema, sound better and the image is by far more clear.

You still have drive-ins up there????Anyway, Juliana, yeah, battery should DEFINITELY last more than 10 minutes!!! Perhaps you need a check of your battery and/or charging system. I put my car in accessory, with interior lights on, and radio going, and have left it going for 2-3 hours like that, no problem.And that's with only a 310 battery...now if I had the 550...mmm...sweet...

quote:You still have drive-ins up there????Absolutly. You don't have anymore drive-in??If so, don't ask why the population is growing faster up north!

there is a drive in around here, but i haven't been w/the vibe yet. (i bet it would be awsome with all six speakers blaring and the subs booming!) as far as power, i have the stock battery and have run my stereo & amp with volume up for hours at a time w/no problems. oh, i also had the hatch open, so the domes were on also

"until the battery dies"-- hey, wow, thanks!back to my original question: With the engine off, how long do you think on the average I can use a laptop computer? if it is only a short time (like an hour), then its not really a big advantage over a car without an outlet...

Mike,How can one get the 550 battery? Is that an option at the dealer or not? Thanks

quote:"until the battery dies"-- hey, wow, thanks!back to my original question: With the engine off, how long do you think on the average I can use a laptop computer? if it is only a short time (like an hour), then its not really a big advantage over a car without an outlet...For an 1-2 hour it would be safe.quote: How can one get the 550 battery? Is that an option at the dealer or not? You can try to have it changed by the dealer at no charge, but I tried it and it depends on the dealer. Mine didn't want to change it for a bigger CCA rate.So for me, I have to buy a new battery.You can buy it at the dealer or anywhere you want.

My guess is that the length of time you can run your laptop off the power outlet depends on how much current the laptop draws. My laptop draws too much to run off the 100 watt inverter in the vibe. Another factor is how good your battery is. A new battery can handle more of a draw than an old one, and I don;t think anyone here has done any measured tests to see how much/how long before the car won't start. Probably not good for the battery to deep discharge it a lot, but you could always just try it once to see just how long it lasts. Make sure you have a way to get the car started or battery recharged if your test runs it down too much.There's math that can be used to figure out a reasonable time expectation, but there's a lot of factors I don't know if I could even remember the math to calculate the answer.There was a lot of discussion on higher capacity batteries here, especially last winter and from those in colder climates. A search may turn up some good threads. There was some talk of having Pontiac provide a free replacement higher capacity battery, but if it's important to you anytime soon it might be better to go buy one at Walmart. Guessing about $60.. I don't think there is a current option to buy a new Vibe with a heavier duty battery, but a dealer will be able to sell you one after the fact, but getting one from a dealer may not be the most cost efficient place to get one.

Thanks for all the help!

quote:So, does anyone know how much time I can run my laptop computer using the household prong outlet with the car running?Until you run out of gas.How about when the car is not running?Until your battery dies. ROFL O'man you should join the comedy circut

quote:"until the battery dies"-- hey, wow, thanks!Ask a stupid question . . . . . .

I don't think it was a stupid question. I've seen (and asked) stupider questions than that here. I think Mike was just feeling his oats.It would be good to know how long you could run the inverter before you risk not being able to start the engine to recharge.I haven;t used the AC inverter much , but wish the console 12V outlet had power without turning the key.

I do it constnatly...never had a problem...