12 VDC power for netbooks?

[ntsqd]

I received an Eee PC 1000HD for Christmas and my primary use will be in a vehicle. Radio Shack has power cords that would appear to work, but what about voltage spikes etc.?

First idea that pops into mind is to install a stereo amplifier application capacitor across the common wires for my power points.

Is there a better way to deal with this?

 

[tdesanto]

I received an Eee PC 1000HD for Christmas and my primary use will be in a vehicle. Radio Shack has power cords that would appear to work, but what about voltage spikes etc.?

First idea that pops into mind is to install a stereo amplifier application capacitor across the common wires for my power points.

Is there a better way to deal with this?

Install a dedicated outlet that draws power directly from the battery or from a junction block that runs directly to the battery. This should also be appropriately fused, of course. Then you should be able to use the cable you found at Radio Shack.

I would think this should suffice. Even sensitive electronics, such as HAM radios, are wired directly to the battery.

I'm no electrical engineer, and I didn't stay at a holiday inn express last night, so others may wish to chime in here if I'm wrong.

 

[ntsqd]

I have a dedicated power supply pair of wires direct from the battery already. They supply power to the 3 in-cab power points as well as to the stereo and to the never used cb.

The problem with directly off the battery is that while the battery is there, so is the direct connection to the alternator. My concern is from starting spikes and similar events. I'm not sure what the source of the spikes might be, battery or alternator, but I have read of this phenomenon being somewhat common. I'd expect mobile electronics to have some method of dealing with spikes, but I doubt that the Eee was designed with this in mind.