Car Stereo Running Off Mains Power

[mutchumbo]

I can't seem to find much suitable info of the net, i'm hoping I can get some advice here. I'm looking at running a head unit and speakers only (no amp) of regular household power. What would my best power source be? Is there a suitable power supply that can give me the amps I need? I've considered using a PC ATX power supply as I know others have been successful doing this but is there a better option?

[pr0n]

12 volt battery charger? maybe it could work, although ive heard it pumps more than 12 volts in so it might kill it

[davey g-force]

Is it going to be in a car or just indoors?

How bout one of those little 12V transformer things from Dick Smith or Jaycar?

You wouldn't need too much current if you're not running an amp...

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

A transformer will work as long as it has a high enough amp output, 40 at least. And put an inline fuse in the power wire as well.

[Tasmaniak]

40 amp is nowhere even close to what a HU will pull. 5A,10 at the absolute most.

Do not use a battery charger, it supplies over 14Volts and does it in pulses.

ATX power supply from an OLDER PC FTW.

[Tasmaniak]

Or spend some money and do it this way...it's what I use these days for a soak bench machine.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...=&SUBCATID=381

There is a cheaper one that will give upto 8Amps but it is a switchmode power supply like an ATX but can be a little noisy thhrough the stereo.

[matty88]

My mate did it, and he used an old computer power supply.

[kopper69]

OK, yes you can use old computer power supply. Very easy, just take the 12V supply. Nothing more than cutting two wires and connecting them to the head unit. Great thing with these are that A) Most people have an old working power supply laying around B) If you dont have one, you will probably know someone who can get you one C) You can pick a brand new one up off ebay for next to nothing. A 450W power supply can put out about 16A, so you should have enough power for a standard head unit running standard speakers. A computer power supply is a switch mode power supply, which do make a bit more electrical noise, which can carry through the speakers, but most are pretty clean outputs because the will need to work in a computer where they shouldn't be able to corrupt data.

Other thing is a dicky smith. They sell a variable power supply that can drive up to 25A at between 3-15V. If you were going to go for one of these, wait until they are on special, drops $50 or so off the price.

A car charger could work. Cheap battery chargers can go much higher when they are lightly loaded, maybe 17V. That may be a problem for some head units, but thats only when its unloaded. When its loaded (ie head unit turned on) it should drop to normal. Wouldnt be too hard to put in a regulator and a couple of caps to make the output nice and smooth, but not really recommended unless you have a fair understanding of electronics. Thing is though, most are only designed for outputs of about 4 amps. Might not be enough.

Cheap battery chargers have no regulation or feedback at all. They basically take 240Vac, pump out a rough 17Vdc, which loads down to 13 or so volts as they charge the battery. Alright for charging a battery, not really suited for head units. Depends on the design of the head unit, if it has a good regulation system, it might take it, or you could cook it trying. Probably not really worth it.

Is this going to be a long term thing? Like you want to run an old head unit and speakers in your shed? If so, you could setup a solar fairly easily. You can set one up fairly cheap. Say $30 for panel (ebay) $30 for regulator, a couple of metres of wire to hook it up and a battery. You can go as cheap or as fancy as you want. I might be able to help if you are after a bit of help with that.

Just had a look at the link Evil One put up for the jaycar supply. For $70, thats probably most simple/reliable option.

[Tasmaniak]

When I said it does over 14 volts...I meant it does OVER 14 Volts. MOST battery chargers will do this, not just the cheap ones. But it is not a continous supply of power. Although it's not AC it does switch on and switch off at set cycle rate.

[dan-wess]

I have a pioneer hu, pioneer 6x9's and a couple a cheap 6" running off a 3 amp 12 volt dick smith brand power supply. Sounds ok in the shed, if you turn it up to loud it cuts out and then back in again, but it goes loud enough.
Dan

[ad45]

get a 240 volt step down transformer which puts out 12 volts ac, get a bridge rectifier convert it to dc and your laughin oldmate.

[vt com]

jaycar 15amp power supply, cost around $100

[mutchumbo]

How would something like this go?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Power-Supply-...QQcmdZViewItem

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

That would work.

[SoulGrind]

get a 240 volt step down transformer which puts out 12 volts ac, get a bridge rectifier convert it to dc and your laughin oldmate.

don't forget a few caps to filter the voltage ripple. eh

[Sabby]

i made a thread named "external power source"
its very similar to this thread but in mine i needa run 2 amps.
what ive done is i bought a 40amp regulator from jaycar for $200.
it supplies a constant 12v source and 40amps. it attaches to the battery terminals ( not using battery) so you bybass the battery alltogether.
it runs for ages, only thing is after about 1-2 hours of loud solid music+bass it tends to heat up.
hope it helps. if not, ahwell

[kopper69]

When I said it does over 14 volts...I meant it does OVER 14 Volts. MOST battery chargers will do this, not just the cheap ones. But it is not a continous supply of power. Although it's not AC it does switch on and switch off at set cycle rate.

A cheap charger does not switch switch on/off at all. Its simply a transformer and a couple of diodes.

[ADGE08]

I am in need of some help i would like to run ahead unit with with four 200w speakers n i havn't got a clue what i need to do !!!
Any sugestions ???

[mawsy]

show some pics? i've heard of this but never seen a set up not in a car haha

[holdenboy]

Well i can only help you with the power side of things, theres 101 ways to mount speakers etc etc.

You will need something like this:
13.8VDC 0 to 12 Amp Regulated Power Supply - Jaycar Electronics

Then just connect the yellow and red wires from the stereo to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the black wire to the negative terminal. Then obviously speaker wires go to the speakers. Turn the power supply on and youre away!

[acarmody]

My local WOW Sight and Sound just had it running of a car battery with a charger attached to it. Battery acted as the regulator.

[holdenboy]

Yep that'd work too, although when i had a setup like that i got noise from the charger. When i changed to a regulated PSU it was perfect.

[acarmody]

Maybe it depends on the charger, theirs sounded alright. But this was in their installers bay, with leftover parts that nobody wanted any more, they were usually to busy to be worried about the quality anyway.