I have a Sony auto lighter charger plug with an outlet plug on it
which exactly matches my ipaq 3600 handheld (yellow plastic tip).
The voltages listed on the plug are 12V to 4.5V and 500 mA.
What matters in these connections? Will this work safely with my iPaq?

Hello paternostrum-ga,

From HP's site on the IPAQ 3600, the AC Adapter has the following ratings:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/10632_na/10632_na.HTML

Power Supply Ratings
Voltage Range	100 to 240 V Switching	
Input Current	0.3 A	
Input Frequency	50 to 60 Hz	
Output Voltage	5 VDC	
Output Current	2 Amp

Note the output voltage and current. Since your lighter charger has
variable voltage, that's not the problem, but there is a problem with
the power output, because your cigarette lighter charger can only
output 1/4th of what the IPAQ is used to getting. So in short, it
shouldn't harm your IPAQ to try it out, but you may get very poor
recharge times, or if you're using it as a primary source, it may not
stay powered for long, if at all.

skermit-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by paternostrum-ga on 11 May 2004 07:48 PDT

You're looking good. Are you saying that I'm not going to hurt my
little dog by applying this voltage; it's going to charge some, but
would take a long time to charge fully? I just want it to get throught
a car trip of two with some help until it can suck up from Nevada
Power once again. That's what I understand from you.

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Clarification of Answer by skermit-ga on 11 May 2004 07:52 PDT

Yeah, that's what I'm pretty much saying. The voltage is rated within
the limits, so there shouldn't be a problem there, and there's no
danger of overamperage so you shouldn't burn it out, but please
remember, that using any non-standard charger might void your warranty
and has the possibility of damaging your electronics no matter how
logical reasoning is.

skermit-ga

There is an auto (cigarette lighter) power supply available for the
iPaq 3600 (works with all other models as well), but HP doesn't seem
to have specifications for it on their website (that I could find). 
It would make more sense to compare to that, rather than to the AC
adapter.  Perhaps someone else can find the specs for it, or has one
that they can just read the specs off of.

Thanks a lot.

Warranty is a strange land and I never submit myself there. Besides it
left this stuff years ago.

I had tried to figure this out from the H-P site but found that a
losing battle for me. That's why I love Google Answers. If you come up
with anything else, please notify Google and I think they notify me.