I have a video camera and monitor that I want to use in a car. They use AC adapters which each output 12 volts, but a different amount of amps. I use an inverter to convert the car's DC current to AC, in order to power these AC adapters. Since the car's DC is 12 volts, I'm wondering if it's possible to skip the inverter and the two adapters and wire the devices directly.
I don't know the amperage of the car's DC output, or if it matters at all. Is there a risk of damaging the equipment if the amperage is too high or too low?
2006-10-03 15:10:03 · 7 answers · asked by samk 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The important thing is that you use 12V. The amps on the battery is the maximum amps that the battery can deliver. The camera will not receive more amps then it needs.
No risk. If the amps gets to low, the camera will shut down, the same as when the in-built battery gets discharged.
2006-10-03 15:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The amperage is the amount of power the device requires. I would assume the amperage is low - less than 5. Most likely, the unit is in VA (volt-ampere) Which is the voltage (12) times the current- so 60VA will be 5 amps - If it is rated in MA then it is 1,000th of an amp.. First, be sure that the output of your adapter is 12 volts DC - not AC.
If it is 12 VDC then it is no problem. SImply purchase the proper jack/plug then get an in-line fuse matching the combined output of your monitor/camcorder. Hook it up in series with the positive on the fusebox and off you go.
Remember that your battery will slowly discharge unless the car is running. So don't get stuck!
2006-10-06 13:18:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
There should be an amperage for the output of your ac adaptors on the labels. Add these together and check that the total doesn't exceed the auto fuse on your cigarette lighter. If the total exceeds the fuse you will need to run a new wire with fuse.
The amperage will not blow up your devices. amperage is controlled by the voltage and what you plug in; this should be the same as what comes out of your adaptors.
HOWEVER you may be trying to recharge some batteries in the devices. These may use special cycles that your car battery can't provide. The manufacturer may be able to tell you this or they may sell car adaptors for your devices.
Amperage IS important to consider if you want your car's battery no to go flat. My suggestion is to have an auxilliary deep cycle battery as well as your crank to start battery. You will have to consider when to have this connected in the system though (after starting while running to get recharged) as it will die if you try to crank the engine with it
2006-10-03 15:13:31 · answer #3 · answered by slatibartfast 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The current requirements for the video camera will be considerably less than what the car can supply, so there is no problem there.
The big problem is that the car's 12 V output can be very noisy, with lots of large voltage spikes as well as going up to over 14 V when the car is running and the alternator is charging the car's battery. If the video camera does not have adequate voltage protection, then you might damage the camera.
2006-10-03 17:30:22 · answer #4 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let me explain you a little bit about electricity.compare the electricity to water.suppose you have a tank of water say 8 feet high put 7 taps or holes at every feet .if you open the top hole you will see that water flows at a certain rate. if now you open the hole below it you will see the water is trying to flow faster than the first hole.now if you open the hole at the bottom you will see that water pressure is much more and water is flowing very fat.
now if you consider the water as electricity the water will be amperes or amount of electricity.and pressure will be VOLTAGE
Now the amount of water flowing depends upon the size of hole too.This will be called resistance the less the resistance more the flow.
so if you make the hole at the bottom very small only a little water will flow through despite of the fact that there is a lot of pressure.
The electricity is composed of flow of electrons.and your electronic devices has a certain amount of resistance like 30 ohms for example.so if you connect it to a sours of electricity at 12 volts only a certain amperes of current will flow through it .it does not matter whether the source is 10 amps or 10000amps. now if you decrease the resistance surely your appliance will fry.
2006-10-03 15:42:15 · answer #5 · answered by Dr.O 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
AMPS are critical. Don't do it.
The three most basic units in electricity are voltage (V), current (I) and resistance (r). Voltage is measured in volts, current is measured in amps and resistance is measured in ohms.
A neat analogy to help understand these terms is a system of plumbing pipes. The voltage is equivalent to the water pressure, the current is equivalent to the flow rate, and the resistance is like the pipe size.
2006-10-03 15:24:37 · answer #6 · answered by David T 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
yes they do. If the AMPS are to high for what the device is designed for you could fry it.
2006-10-03 15:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by llloki00001 5 · 0⤊ 5⤋