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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / October 2005DC power supply
I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor battery around... =:-0 I've read lots of posts about cheap DC power supplies but can't seem to find anything. Googling turns up lots of pricey lab equipement or low-amperage units for powering computers. Can anyone point me to a web-order source of affordable (read: cheap) power supplies suitable for my application? Thanks for any tips, desmobob Robert Scott wrote: > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Hi, Go here http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com/ and in the scroll menu on the left towards the bottom are instructions for converting a pc power supply into a power supply for a dc battery charger. I converted a 350w power supply for my use and have no trouble powering my Triton. You could convert whatever pc power supply you can get a hold of. I think 300w or more is sufficient. You could even ask at your local computer repair shops if they have any spare power supplies that they want to give away or sell for cheap. You can get a brand new 350w supply for around $20. If you are not comfortable reworking a PC supply, here are three on line sources at good prices. http://www.efunctional.com/new-pyramid-power-supplies.html http://www.millionbuy.com/caudio-kit-sup.html http://www.buyreliant.com/psupplies/pyramid_power_supplies.htm  SignatureRed S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks for any tips, > desmobob > If you are not comfortable reworking a PC supply, here are three on line > sources at good prices. Thanks for the information, guys. I found a place to order from in a neighboring state so I'll get it quickly but not pay sales tax. :-) Here's the one I picked: http://www.vector-audio.com/web/mdl/PS9KX/detail.asp It even has a cigarette lighter jack, in case I take up smoking! ;-) I think it would be easier for me to buy one at this price rather than hunt down a PC power supply and try to make it work. I'm good with electronics... I know how to quickly let the magic smoke out of almost any device. Good flying, desmobob Hi Robert I looked at the one you bought and it's less than 70 watts continuous, (5 amp x 13.8V = 69 watts) so, IMHO, it wouldn't have enough juice to run, say, a Triton charger at more than about half rate. Of course you didn't say what kind of charger you were using, so maybe the 5 Amp Pyramid you've ordered will be OK. Good luck with it! Bill D > Hi Robert > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Of course you didn't say what kind of charger you were using, so maybe > the 5 Amp Pyramid you've ordered will be OK. Oh(m) my goodness! There's my lack of basic electrical knowledge rearing its ugly head.... I was thinking I never charged at more than a couple of amps so 5 would be plenty! :-( I use an FMA DigiPulse and a SimProp Intelli-control. I rarely use them for anything other than flight pack and on-board glow battery charging at home. Flight packs I usually charge at the field. What (watt?!) rating would be appropriate for all my charging needs (even my flight packs). Maybe I can change the order before it goes through tomorrow. Thanks for any help, desmbob In sizing power supplies to use with our chargers its the watts what count. :-) If you are charging a 4.8 volt receiver pack at 2 amps, you will need a power supply that can handle at least 12 watts, allow some for inefficiency in the system - take it to 15 watts. This would be a 12 volt (actually 13.6 volts in most cases) supply capable of delivering 1.25 Amps, and that would be tight. A converted PC supply capable of 5 Amps will cover any charging chore up to 50 watts or a bit more. SignatureRed S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. > > Hi Robert > > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Thanks for any help, > desmbob Most newer PC power supplies should be capable of 10A or more on the 12v lines. When looking for a PC power supply, look at the 12 ratings as they vary GREATLY even within the same wattage ratings. SignaturePaul McIntosh RC-Bearings.com "when steel just isn't enough" > In sizing power supplies to use with our chargers its the watts what > count. [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] >> Thanks for any help, >> desmbob | I looked at the one you bought and it's less than 70 watts continuous, | (5 amp x 13.8V = 69 watts) so, IMHO, it wouldn't have enough juice to | run, say, a Triton charger at more than about half rate. Of course, if you don't get into the larger electrics, you'll probably never need to feed your Triton more than 5 amps. And even if you do get into the larger electrics, the Triton limits LiPo charging to 2.5 amps for some strange reason, so even then you probably won't need more than five amps. And even if you do get some big 24 cell NiCd pack that can be charged at 5 amps, you can still charge it with your power supply and a Triton -- just charge it at 1.9 amps or so. It'll take longer, but it should work fine. So don't sweat it that your power supply doesn't match what your charger might use -- | Of course you didn't say what kind of charge | you were using, so maybe | the 5 Amp Pyramid you've ordered will be | OK. It should be OK with any charger. Just keep the charge rates down well below 5 amps if your battery pack needs more than 12 volts, and below 5 amps if the battery pack needs less than 12 volts. And if all you fly are park fliers, it'll probably never be an issue. SignatureDoug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com Heavy, adj.: Seduced by the chocolate side of the force. Consider also when you are using a 12 volt supply, it is usually in the shop where you really don't need to fast charge. Just charge whatever at the lower rates and your batteries will love you for it. I run 3 or 4 chargers at a time from an 8 amp converted PC supply. SignatureRed S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. > | I looked at the one you bought and it's less than 70 watts continuous, > | (5 amp x 13.8V = 69 watts) so, IMHO, it wouldn't have enough juice to [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > below 5 amps if the battery pack needs less than 12 volts. And if all > you fly are park fliers, it'll probably never be an issue. Red, What happens if you set your charger (my Simprop Intelli-control, for example) to the "Auto" mode on a flight pack and it tries to use too many amps/watts. Does it overload/shut down the power supply or does the charger not try to use more energy than it can get? Just curious.... Good flying, desmobob > Consider also when you are using a 12 volt supply, it is usually in the > shop [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >> below 5 amps if the battery pack needs less than 12 volts. And if all >> you fly are park fliers, it'll probably never be an issue. If the charger demands more than the supply can provide the supply voltage usually drops and the charger gives a low voltage alarm. Most power supplies are overload protected and will simply shut down if you put too much of a demand on them. SignatureRed S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. > Red, > [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > >> below 5 amps if the battery pack needs less than 12 volts. And if all > >> you fly are park fliers, it'll probably never be an issue. You should be real happy with that one. Very good price also.With the banana jacks and cig lighter you could have two chargers running at he same time. Pick up a cig lighter plug at Radio Shack or auto parts place, add a couple feet of lamp cord terminated with brass tubing (3/16 OD if I recall) and some heat shrink over the tubing, then you can use banana jacks on your chargers both at home and at the field. SignatureRed S. Red's R/C Battery Clinic http://www.rcbatteryclinic.com Check us out for "revolting" information. > > If you are not comfortable reworking a PC supply, here are three on line > > sources at good prices. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Good flying, > desmobob Strange that whenever I click on that link, my browser opens then immediately closes! SignaturePaul McIntosh RC-Bearings.com "when steel just isn't enough" > You should be real happy with that one. Very good price also.With the > banana [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >> Good flying, >> desmobob go to: www.hamradiooutlet.com These folks have some power supplies with serious output in amps. They are not inexpensive, but they are not in the lab range of prices. Ed Cregger > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my > peak chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks for any tips, > desmobob Radio Shack has a 15A for 80 bucks online and a 25A for about $100. I have been using the 15A with no problems for quite a while. It is quiet, small, light, and stays pretty cool. Rather than pay $80 online price, I picked it up in store for $69. Kind regards, Dave Robert Scott wrote: > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I got a pc power supply from Goodwill(around $10). I converted it myself. If I can do it anyone can. mk > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks for any tips, > desmobob ATX computer power supplies are about as cheap as they come. For about $25.00 you can have a 12v, 10A supply. All you need to do is tie the green and a black wire together to turn it on and place a 10 ohm, 10 watt resistor from one red wire to one black wire. The 12 volt wires are yellow. SignaturePaul McIntosh RC-Bearings.com "when steel just isn't enough" > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my > peak chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks for any tips, > desmobob Robert Scott wrote: > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Go to Walmart or Target a get one of these: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3942756 refer to Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Web Links http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/ sub section "Battery care, Chargers & Power Supply." amongst others = 12 Volt SLA Charger - simple circuit PC Power Supply Conversion - Pat Harvey PC Power Supply - convert to power a 12VDC Battery Charger PC Power Supply Conversion (110/230 Vac to 12V ) regards Alan T Alan's Hobby, Model & RC Web Links http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/ ................................................................. > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my peak > chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling motor [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanks for any tips, > desmobob > I'd like to get some kind of AC-powered DC power supply so I can run my > peak chargers around the house and shop without lugging the darn trolling [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Can anyone point me to a web-order source of affordable (read: cheap) > power supplies suitable for my application? Convert an "AT" style computer power supply. I have converted several, as have friends of mine, and they work well. Search on the internet and you'll turn up some good sites. Take your time and pick the conversion that sounds best to you (I found some rather questionable from a safety viewpoint). AT power supplies are the easiest to convert and are readily available from obsolete donor machines. Ignore ATX supplies, it's a much more complex conversion. Been using mine with my SuperNova 3000 for close to a year without a single problem. I charge almost everything via this supply. Conversion cost, splurging for new components, cost me less than $15 per conversion. Most of that is for the mains switch, 12V indicator lamp, a couple of resistors, and some "binding posts" to plug things into it. SignatureThe Raven http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3 ** Now I will bring chaos to the world! |
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