external power source

[Sabby]

alright, well i was wondering how to have the on accessories to use the stereo but i don't want to drain the battery, so i need a power source that i can plug into somewhere to the battery.
i know there is a way somehow with a generator to the battery but wasnt sure
any tips on how to have the car ON, but not use the battery?
cheers

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Any external 12v power source plugged into your cig lighter plug will power up the car but running a stereo will draw too much for the size of the wire. You will need to wire a heavy duty plug like an Engel fridge plug, into the main feed wire going to your stereo to power it up without draining the battery. I think this is your question.

[Sabby]

yeah it was hard to descirbe it.
i was at the motorshow today, and i saw a few cars that had the stereo on, and had leads going from under the car into a wall. so i was jus wonderin how they do that?
and then i heard that you could put leads to the battery terminals that will sustain the battery's power and not drain it.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can do that as well, you need a fairly high amp 12v transformer, say about 30 or 40 amp. The cars at shows are set up to run independent of the cars electrical system.

[garfa]

You can do that as well, you need a fairly high amp 12v transformer, say about 30 or 40 amp. The cars at shows are set up to run independent of the cars electrical system.

40amp constant.

[Phreddy]

Heh - at LEAST Garfa....

Even then, have the fire extinguisher handy....

(might pay to have just a litlte more than a transformer too, IMHO...)

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Heh - at LEAST Garfa....

Even then, have the fire extinguisher handy....

(might pay to have just a litlte more than a transformer too, IMHO...)

Its only a stereo, not a night club sound system. A transformer is the only thing that will convert mains power to 12v. A large enough transformer will do the job.

[davey g-force]

I once had a housewarming party where the only music was coming from the BIG speakers in my old 323 panel van. I just hooked up one of those battery charger things to the terminals of the battery and to a power point via an extension lead.

It worked a treat - we were cranking the tunes all night and the battery didnt run out. I'm not sure if this is the right way to do it, but hey, it worked for me!

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

That will work if you have a high output charger and a low draw stereo. Otherwise the battery usage will overtake the chargers ability to charge and the battery will go flat. The little cheap chargers out there won't do it as the wires are too small to cope and you could burn out the charger.

[phat_com]

yeah it was hard to descirbe it.
i was at the motorshow today, and i saw a few cars that had the stereo on, and had leads going from under the car into a wall. so i was jus wonderin how they do that?
and then i heard that you could put leads to the battery terminals that will sustain the battery's power and not drain it.

yea they have thing that looks like a battery but has a plug running off it, they are black box's with battery terminals. They cost a packet thuogh so you would be better off just buying another battery and another charger and car the new batt and the car batt and when the cars one goes flat swap them over untill you have finished your......? whatever lol

[Sabby]

ah cheers mate
my bro was saying its a generator or something, like a battery but its a transformer. i think ill get a good battery charger, and hook that up.
also just a question, would a heavy duty charger be enough for my stereo?
it has 2 12 inch 350rms subbies and ive seen them drain the power.
( when the cars on idle at night, and the parkers are on, you can see the lights dim at each BOOM )

[garfa]

well if your lights dimm with only 700wrms being drawn ou better check that the ga of all wires is good and also upgrade all 3 grounds.
phat com are you talking about an inverter OR an emergency jump starting pack?

[Sabby]

well ive been asking around.
you can buy 40amp regulators from jaycar and dicksmith, costs around 200 bux.
with these, you can totaly bypass the battery and it can last alll night.
im heading in that direction and going to buy one next month.
store ppl also said that you can use the battery charger to but have a risk of creating a spark and bang. so i guess its safe than sorry
any further suggestions?

[garfa]

play a car stereo all night and there will be some big problems from the coppers not just the batt.

[Sabby]

play a car stereo all night and there will be some big problems from the coppers not just the batt.

hahah funny. the goood thing where i live is that my neighbours are car enthusiasts to. 1 of my neighbours is a sound tech guy.
they love the music.
but i see your point, there will be times