From: Miker and Andy Kunz
Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 17:44:26 -0800
Subject: Automobile power

on the subject of a plain power adapter for the automobile -

> >Please don't use this plain adapter. It presents dangerously dirty power
> >direct from the car. You would want a conditioner/converter.
> 
> The power is fine WHILE THE MOTOR IS OFF, and while your radio is not
> playing loudly.  

AND
if you don't turn on/off anything, heater, headlights, horn.

>The alternators are not the nicest pieces of equipment.

The alternator is "buffered" by the relatively low impedance of the
battery and ain't nothin' compared to the starter. It won't take long
to forget to unplug the computer before starting the engine.

Remember that auto electrical transients are huge and that computers
often depend on the "12V auto adapter" to protect them.

If I had a $4000 computer, I wouldn't use anything but the auto adapter
supplied by the computer vendor.  And I'd still worry about starting the
engine with it plugged in.

miker