I've been using the same 90 watt DC to dC laptop car adapter for 6 years. PWR+ brand. 22$, and have results proving it is significantly more efficient than powering an inverter to power the original power brick, and more so when doing light internetting with a full laptop battery.
The only issue with it was the Ciggy plug overheating and melting its surrounding plastic.
No more issues once I cut it off and installed 30 amp Anderson Powerpoles. The 15/30 and 45 amps versions are all the same size and interconnect with each other. I now just buy 45s for everything and right at this moment one connector is passing 40 amps and are 106.5 degrees. 45's are harder to crimp properly without their special tool for doing so, 30's and 15's can be crimped with a simple dimple crimper.
I do have the Blueseas 12v receptacle and plug. They are definitely higher quality than most 12v plugs and receptacles. I never bothered installing them in the my Van though.
Here is a 12v receptacle that is claiming a rating of 20 amps:
http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-Outlet/dp/B00FBY3WPK/ref=pd_sim_263_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41QedQYKLqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0CNEFZJMDA3G3WKTDTR0Just realize their limitations. I have 7 different 12v ciggy receptacles wired with 10 or 12AWG, and none of them are ever asked to pass more than 1.3 amps.
The 90 watts this laptop can sometimes pull is simply too much for long term use of a ciggy plug and receptacle. Why waste battery power heating spring steel?
Why waste battery power running an inverter to convert DC to AC then back to DC?
INverters are a necessary evil, and I will try to bypass their use whenever possible, and this DC to DC laptop car adapter with ciggy plug cut off, is by far the best energy saver I employ, other than using LEDs in place of incandescent lighting. Number 3 energy saver is extra insulation on my 12v compressor fridge and the extremely efficient fan sucking cool filtered air from the floor and blowing it through condenser, once, with no chance to recycle.
NO way in heck would I ever consider using the original powerbrick on one of my 2 inverters. The extra energy used would be enough to power my compressor fridge. When i am plugged in I don;t even use the original power brick, letting my Meanwell power supply take over.
My original 115Vac to 19vDC power brick only comes out when I fly cross country, and the **** thing gets way hotter than my DC to DC car adapter ever does.
Here are some Pics showing SAE 12v connectors next to 30 amp anderson powerpoles:
Here is the Blue seas 12v receptacle:
Here is the inside of the 12v plug where one 'might' be able to shoehorn 12AWG wire:
One thing to note is the Ciggy plugs have fuses in them rated to protect the wire leaving the plug. If cutting the plug off one effectively removes the fuse and the wire protection from there to powerbrick.
