Travelmate TM P214-52 I am thinking of buying in-car charging

simonc8
simonc8 Member Posts: 16 Troubleshooter
edited August 2023 in TravelMate and Extensa

I am thinking of buying this power unit for in-car charging of my Acer Travelmate. How can I be sure that the required power plug is one of the ones included with this item? I can't find any specs anywhere in the Travelmate documentation to say what the size of the power socket is.

On a similar topic I bought this item to try and charge the Travelmate in the car using the USB-C socket as it seemed to meet all the requirements. It was a complete failure - the charging light flashed on only intermittently, and after a 4 hour car journey on French motorways it had only added about 2% to the battery charge. Can anyone suggest what the problem might be?

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,191 Trailblazer
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/689645/travelmate-tm-p214-52-in-car-charging

    I read that your model supports USB-C power delivery: DC-in port 5 or 9 or 15 or 20 V; 60 W. So you need at least a 65-Watt USB-C charger to charge your laptop, for fast charging you need a 90-Watt USB charger like one of these: https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-usb-c-laptop-charger/

    Forget about car DC jack barrel plug chargers, I tried that it won't work properly. USB car chargers is the way to go, my car has USB ports everywhere. A Power bank is another option: https://www.amazon.com/100W-Portable-Laptop-Charger-Cable/dp/B0B1M35SNM

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    Typically a power jack in a car can provide around 10A of 12V, so 120W. It's going to be tough to get a device that actually delivers that current after the voltage conversion, but I wouldn't be surprised if you could get 20V@3.25A or 65W out of it. Since yours isn't a 'G' model, it only needs a 45W charger, the specs are: 45W 19V 1.1x3.0x7.7, so the T8 connector in that package you link will likely work. (1.0x3.0mm)

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • simonc8
    simonc8 Member Posts: 16 Troubleshooter

    This is very confusing! One reply says I shouldn't try to use the 12V car socket and the other says it should work ok.

    @Puraw: could you give a bit more detail about why the 12V barrel connector won't work? Also, the USB-C connector I tried seems to meet the specs you quote (it is 70W according to the manufacturer) yet it failed to produce more than a minute charge over a long period. Is there any guarantee that going to a higher wattage will do any better?

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    You have to have a gizmo that converts the 12V (actually between 12 and 14+V) into stable 19V or 20V power for the laptop. Both the devices you linked in your original post should do it, but often with the generic Chinese adapters they don't actually meet their own spec. The key in your case is either a USB-C output with 20V@2.25A (45W) or 20V@3.25A (65W) or a 3.0x1.1mm barrel connection with 19.5V and either 45W or 65W. You won't be successful with an adapter that just takes the car voltage and passes it to the laptop without converting.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • simonc8
    simonc8 Member Posts: 16 Troubleshooter

    Thanks for the clarification, billsey. I suppose the only way to be sure a device will meet its own specs is to buy it and try it out.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,101 Trailblazer

    That is often the case when buying something not from a name brand. Just be sure to get it from a venue that has a good return policy.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • ecocleanse104
    ecocleanse104 Member Posts: 1 New User

    To ensure compatibility when buying a power unit for in-car charging of your Acer Travelmate, it's essential to check the power plug size and specifications of the unit. If your Travelmate documentation lacks this information, consider contacting the seller or manufacturer for clarification. Additionally, it's advisable to seek a unit that offers compatibility with your laptop model.

    Regarding the USB-C charger's performance issue during a car journey, several factors may contribute to slow charging, including the power output of the charger and the laptop's power consumption. To troubleshoot, consider using a charger with a higher wattage rating, as laptops like the Acer Travelmate often require substantial power for efficient charging during extended drives. Furthermore, ensuring your laptop is in power-saving mode and not running resource-intensive tasks can improve charging efficiency.

    Car detailing is an excellent practice to maintain your vehicle's appearance. It involves thorough cleaning and enhancement of your car's interior and exterior, keeping it in top condition. While troubleshooting charging problems, remember that car detailing can help ensure your vehicle looks its best, even during long journeys.

  • simonc8
    simonc8 Member Posts: 16 Troubleshooter

    Just to update this thread:

    This is the item I bought

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BS3LRPSG?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

    and it worked really well, putting most of a full charge in the laptop in a couple of hours. Hooray!

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