I have a couple car stereos hanging around that arent installed in cars. I would like to use one of them in the garage for my music entertainment. I know I can just use a boom box, but these car stereos are in great condition, and if this can be done for cheap, then id like to use them!
My problem. I do not know how to use 110 volt standard house plug to power the car stereo. Is there an adapter to go from 110v AC to 12v DC? I know there are converters that go the other way (for use inside cars to power laptops, etc) are there converters that are similar to that that I can just plug into the wall and have DC powered wires coming out of to hook to the stereo?
Links to these converters would be a great help! Cheaper the better! Chris
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09:42 PM
PFF
System Bot
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
I have a couple car stereos hanging around that arent installed in cars. I would like to use one of them in the garage for my music entertainment. I know I can just use a boom box, but these car stereos are in great condition, and if this can be done for cheap, then id like to use them!
My problem. I do not know how to use 110 volt standard house plug to power the car stereo. Is there an adapter to go from 110v AC to 12v DC? I know there are converters that go the other way (for use inside cars to power laptops, etc) are there converters that are similar to that that I can just plug into the wall and have DC powered wires coming out of to hook to the stereo?
Links to these converters would be a great help! Cheaper the better! Chris
Yep, a step down transformer is all you need. Some auto stores carry them but Fry's or Radio Shack is a better bet.
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09:44 PM
E.Furgal Member
Posts: 11708 From: LAND OF CONFUSION Registered: Mar 2012
I'd go another way.. the 110 to 14 volt stepdowns are noisy.. I'd get a used 12 volt battery and a battery tender.. get a deep cycle battery cheap.. most boaters replace them every two years needed or not.. as calling in a tow, out on the water is a royal .p.i.t.a.
What amperage is the fuse for the car stereo? If it's 10 amp+, like most newer car stereo's, then a power adapter is going to be expensive. You can find adapters that will give you 12 volts DC 2 amps and under that are pretty inexpensive, but once you start getting up in the 10+ amp range your looking at a bit more expense. Something like this 29 amp would work good, since it's regulated it's most likely filtered also to get rid of noise.
till your looking at $53.00 for that one. You could probably find a 10 amp for a little less, but you will want something that is regulated and filters it's output voltage. If not you will get a whine coming though your speakers.
You can go with a lower amp then the stereo fuse, but you won't get everything out of it you could if it had enough amperage to power it fully.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 08-12-2012).]
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11:00 PM
E.Furgal Member
Posts: 11708 From: LAND OF CONFUSION Registered: Mar 2012
I use a 12 volt battery on a charger, then from the battery to the radio power input. Works just fine just don’t leave the charger on the battery forever, shut it down at night when you are done or you could over charge the battery and destroy it. Oh ya, it works great at high volume levels because when the battery needs that little bit more power at high volumes the charger can make it up.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
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11:21 PM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
I think I can answer that question. It's the character Zoe Graystone from the TV series Caprica (played by actress Alessandra Torresani).
Edit to add, you could probably use an old computer power supply to run the car stereo. That's assuming the power supply puts out enough amperage on the 12V line.
[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-13-2012).]
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12:02 AM
spark1 Member
Posts: 11159 From: Benton County, OR Registered: Dec 2002
You don't need a current source capacity to match the radio fuse. Fuses are commonly sized at twice the expected maximum current in the circuit being protected.
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12:43 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
As others have suggested, a 12 volt battery plus a small battery charger would probably be the most cost effective solution. 12 to 14 volt power supplies are widely available, but without a battery they have to be able to supply the peak demand of the amp; with the battery the power supply only has to sustain the average power demand. As one data point, even with a 100 watt per channel amp the average power demand for very loud music is only 1 or 2 watts (0.08 to 0.16 amps from a 12 volt battery), but the peak demand would be more than 280 watts (more than 22 amps at 12.6 volts).
I have personally used the battery + small charger setup to power everything from audio amps to aircraft radios. You don't even need a large automotive sized lead/acid battery; a gelled-electrolyte motorcycle, alarm system, or UPS battery will usually do.
[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 08-13-2012).]
Originally posted by Blacktree: I think I can answer that question. It's the character Zoe Graystone from the TV series Caprica (played by actress Alessandra Torresani).
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
You don't need a current source capacity to match the radio fuse. Fuses are commonly sized at twice the expected maximum current in the circuit being protected.
at 61 bucks, I'd rather buy a battery tender and a new battery for my vehicle and use the old one for this..
Do NOT go into a store and ask for a "transformer". It will step the voltage from 110 to 12 volts, but it will STILL be AC.
You need 12 Volts DC to run your car stereo.
Yes, they have 12 Volt DC power supplies that will run your car stereo. How many watts do you think you'll need?
That is half true. AC is converted to DC via a Rectifier (like in your car alternator which also produces AC without the rectifier). And I have found very few 110v to 12v, if any, Step Down Transformers that do not have a rectifier (switched or permanent).
But Zeb is technically correct so when you ask for your transformer make sure is has a rectifier
I have a converter I bought at Radio Shack for $10. It plugs into the 120 socket and has a lighter plug opening in the front. I use it to play 12 volt tvs, VCRs, stereos, CBs or anything else from a car that has a lighter plug. Works fine for using or testing them.
from the back :
120 ac input and 13.5 volt dc output @ 1000Ma, 60 Hz, 22 W. catalog # 22-501 Class 2 transformer
I use an older computer power supply to power my test bench. Google for instructions if you have an old one laying around. Not all power supply's will work as some need a load to work. I just plugged an old hard drive into mine and it came on and turned on the stereo.
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12:53 PM
E.Furgal Member
Posts: 11708 From: LAND OF CONFUSION Registered: Mar 2012
That is half true. AC is converted to DC via a Rectifier (like in your car alternator which also produces AC without the rectifier). And I have found very few 110v to 12v, if any, Step Down Transformers that do not have a rectifier (switched or permanent).
But Zeb is technically correct so when you ask for your transformer make sure is has a rectifier
wouldn't the a/c be converted to dc through a diode?
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05:06 PM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
A transformer is just a transformer. When you add diodes as rectifiers it becomes a dc power supply. They serve different purposes. There are lots of transformers that serve only as ac power supplies. I recently bought a toy motorcycle at a garage sale for dirt cheap because the seller couldn't get it to work. He thought that he had a wiring problem. Turned out that instead of a 6v charger he had a 6v ac power supply. Not the same at all. The kids love the motorcycle. E. Frugal you are a pleasure to read here.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 08-13-2012).]
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08:28 PM
PFF
System Bot
spark1 Member
Posts: 11159 From: Benton County, OR Registered: Dec 2002
I think I can answer that question. It's the character Zoe Graystone from the TV series Caprica (played by actress Alessandra Torresani).
Edit to add, you could probably use an old computer power supply to run the car stereo. That's assuming the power supply puts out enough amperage on the 12V line.
Ya that's her.. Oh and i ( as pointed out above ) forgot to add the bit about adding a good sized cap if the noise is too much. I had thought i typed that out too, but lost it somehow. Been doing that a lot lately, even at work.
Yes it is. All a transformer does is step up or step down the ac voltage applied to it. That's ALL a transformer does. If you want it to do more you have to add it to a circuit. By itself a transformer will only take an ac input and will only put out ac. That's it!
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 08-13-2012).]
All a transformer does is step up or step down the ac voltage applied to it. That's ALL a transformer does. If you want it to do more you have to add it to a circuit.
Right, by pure definition that is all a transformer is, a core of some sort ( normally ferrous, but not always ) and at least 2 sets of windings. ( only 1 winding is a choke or solenoid.. ) Anything else, be it passive or active is 'extra' stuff added for more functionality.
[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 08-13-2012).]
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09:27 PM
87antuzzi Member
Posts: 11151 From: Surrounded by corn. Registered: Feb 2009
All a transformer does is step up or step down the ac voltage applied to it. That's ALL a transformer does. If you want it to do more you have to add it to a circuit.
Ummm, no. A transformer can and will do more than step voltages up or down. Delta wye, star delta, wye wye, bla bla bla, different windings, different configurations, single phase, three phase and high voltage with a side of french fries. But hey, all transformers are the same. Ahh, core function, then yes you are correct. I thought you were trying to drive at all transformers are the same all around.
[This message has been edited by 87antuzzi (edited 08-13-2012).]
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09:32 PM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
Ummm, no. A transformer can and will do more than step voltages up or down. Delta wye, star delta, wye wye, bla bla bla, different windings, different configurations, single phase, three phase and high voltage with a side of french fries. But hey, all transformers are the same. Ahh, core function, then yes you are correct. I thought you were trying to drive at all transformers are the same all around.
Right! Ac in, ac out. Doesn't matter if it's a little 6v transformer or a big one on the pole outside your house. Single phase or three phase. Still ac and only ac. You can't run a 12v dc radio on a transformer.
