Camaro ChriSS

LS1 Edit states that you shouldn't have your car battery connected to a battery charger when connecting with a laptop (using Edit) which makes sense to me due to the increased risk of a power fluctuation.

But can you safely power your laptop from an AC outlet (via an extension cord) rather than using an invertor or the laptop's battery, and safely connect the laptop to the OBDII using Edit?

SS SLP2

iTrader: (8)

yep. rite on, best way

Camaro ChriSS

Is there a possible ground loop issue?

deezel

No.
Ground loops can occur when multiple components are powered from the same source. With the car battery powering the PCM and a wall plug powering the laptop, there will be no ground loop.

Camaro ChriSS

Actually, I thought a ground loop occurred when you had two items powered at seperate locations where the polarity is not the same, and if you had them powered at the same location, it eliminates the risk?

PoorMan

They would have to share the same ground though, which they are not.

Y2K2LS1

So ground loop is not a probelem when using a cig lighter-power inverter setup?

What kind of car inverter do you guys reccomend? Any minimum requirements, or can i just go to best buy and get one.

deezel

Yes, ground loops are a concern with a power inverter. The car battery powers the PCM through one ground and the laptop (through the inverter, through the cig lighter) on a different ground. These different ground points can have different voltages because they take different paths to the connection on the battery.