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Car battery charger regulation
I have an older Motomaster (Schumacher) model 11-1159-4 6-amp manual battery charger. I would like to use it to power my car stereos on the bench. Any suggestions on what to use for outboard voltage regulation?
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#2
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Besides the voltage, you'll get lots of hum from a battery charger, unless you hook it to a battery to smooth things out.
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#3
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Even with a battery, you'll get some hum - I had my Honda Accord in storage for a while, and had the battery go down. I used my lil' Shumacher battery charger to charge the battery, and tried the radio while it charged - pure 120Hz hum.
It's probably best to hold out for a regulated 12/13.8V power supply - an Astron, an old Archer (Radio Shack), a Pyramid, or any one of the many off-brand supplies. I pick them up at flea markets - many sellers can't guarantee them or hook them up, so I offer what I'm willing to pay and usually it's accepted. Cheers,
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Brian USN RET (Avionics / Cal) CET- Consumer Repair and Avionics ('88) "Capacitor Cosmetologist since '79" When fuses go to work, they quit! |
#4
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I have a "DVE" model DVP-112 power supply here... the output is only 2 amps and I have no idea if it's regulated. Would that be good enough for old car stereos?
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#5
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If it is a 60Hz transformer and diodes style unit try a 2200uF 25V+ cap on the output...I use that and a 70's Tripplite 500W inverter/battery charger to run car radios with little hum.
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Tom C. Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off! What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4 |
Audiokarma |
#6
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I assume it's that type... it's quite heavy for its size and hums a little when powered up. It's worth a try, thanks.
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#7
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I used to have a Pyramid-branded supply. It was supposed to supply 12 amps constantly, yet it wouldn't power a high-beam headlight. My battery charger will power it, and only about half of the available 6 amps are used, go figure.
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#8
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From a review on eHam:
Quote:
jr Last edited by jr_tech; 05-22-2015 at 07:36 PM. Reason: add link to reviews |
#9
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For bench-testing car stereos, I use a PC power supply. They usually have a decently strong 12v rail. Even a little 350w has a 13A 12V output (and a 12A 5v should you ever need it).
What self-respecting nerd doesn't have a pile of PC power supplies laying around? |
#10
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This one. AT supplies are hard to come by here, and I'm still not sure how to keep ATX supplies going without a motherboard attached.
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Audiokarma |
#11
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You just jump the PS_ON (pin 14, usually a green wire) to the common (black, usually right beside it).
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#12
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Quote:
Also, don't forget that you can come up with some weirdo voltage combos with all the assorted rails, just mind your chassis ground reference. Examples: using the hots of the -12V and +12V rails will give 24V between them (max current here == max capacity of -12v rail, not usually a lot, 100mA min, 300mA average...) Need 9V? Easy to access using the +3.3V and +12V rails. (Yes, yes, 8.7V isn't 9V... Close enough!) How about some "A" battery? +3.3V and +5V, give 1.7V between them... That will extend filament life compared to 2V. (Switching noise is posibly an issue here, don't have any working farm-sets to verify with...) The possibilities aren't endless, but there's a whole buncha different ways. Quote:
They're usually all quite thoroughly hosed though. (Skulls for the Skull Throne, etc.) We keep the one known-good unit that is on-hand in a secured location. Last edited by NoPegs; 05-26-2015 at 05:25 PM. |
#13
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I'm more of a math and science nerd, so any computer part that's no good has to go.
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#14
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I still have the charger, but selected this a while back for car stereo use and whatever other ~12 volt device I may want to use indoors. It powers my headlight just fine, which draws about 3 amps. I'm curious about how much a low-beam light would draw.
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#15
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Quote:
Halogens are usually in the 55 watt range for low-beam and 70 watt for hi-beams. I can't speak for the sealed-beam types but my initial thoughts would be "At least as much as halogens, probably quite a bit more because they're less efficient." Suffice to say the fuse for my low-beams is 10 amps, and high beam circuit is 15. Strictly speaking your rather handsome boatanchor there could run all four of my bulbs and still have a bit of margin left. |
Audiokarma |
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