I have an old car stereo and speakers that I would like to use in my backyard. Can I get a transformer to power the system? What would the specs have to be?
2007-02-23 08:02:59 · 15 answers · asked by Just another guy 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Audio
you need a 110va/c to a 12 d/c converter or just use a car battery and hook a battery charger up to it
2007-02-23 08:06:43 · answer #1 · answered by marfanman00000 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can buy a device called a DC-AC inverter. But you'll find the power capability is very limited, perhaps 500 watts maximum. An inverter is a 2-stage electrical system. First is a DC to AC circuit to convert direct current to alternating current at about 12 volts. Stage 2 is an AC transformer to step-up the AC voltage from about 12 volts to 120 volts AC. Both circuits have inefficiencies (losses), so the overall conversion rate might be as low as 50% to as good as 80%. That means to get 500 watts of 120 AC power, you would need to draw 1000 watts from your 12 volt battery, or as much as 83 amps! (at 50% efficiency.) More likely, an affordable inverter could provide 100 to 200 watts at 120 volts AC. Then it would 'only' draw 16 amps from the 12 volt battery (at 50% efficiency.) Check the maximum current load on your 120 V appliance, and then look for an inverter to provide that amperage capacity with about 25% spare capacity. And make sure the inverter gets lots of cool air - it will dissipate a lot of heat. It also might need to be turned off from time to time (a duty cycle requirement) to keep from burning up.
2016-05-24 03:14:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want to do it right, buy a "linear" 12 Volt power supply (not a "switching" supply). It plugs into the 110vac wall outlet and gives you a quality 12 volt DC connection. You can buy any size supply you want (amps) and it will work. I recommend a supply similar to the one below:
2007-02-23 08:12:18 · answer #3 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could probably buy a cheap 12 volt adapter that is sold for portable radios at Radio Shack. Buy a matching plug for the radio wires and plug them together. The only problem would be getting the polarity correct.
2007-02-23 08:08:09 · answer #4 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just go to radio shack and buy a 12vdc power converter. They sell them with cig lighter sockets and also with screw terminals. Be sure to pay attention to polarity. The output wattage would be determined by the power requirement of your audio deck.
2007-02-23 08:09:10 · answer #5 · answered by boonietech 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Go to radio shack with stereo & ask them for help. You need a 12 volt power supply.
2007-02-23 08:06:37 · answer #6 · answered by ibeboatin 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
WOW! These people are only half right. Yes you need a 13.8 Volt DC power supply, but one that operates at about 5-10 amps.
Here's a couple http://www.mouser.com/search/Refine.aspx?Ne=1447464+254016+688595+688584+1525547&N=1323038+4294795488+4294921963+1525547+0&GetRecs=1&Ns=P_SField&Msb=0&RefType=Header
http://www.mouser.com/search/Refine.aspx?Ne=1447464+254016+688595+688584+1525547&N=1323038+4294795488+4294922005+1525547+0&GetRecs=1&Ns=P_SField&Msb=0&RefType=Header
2007-02-23 08:32:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it depends how far away from the outlet you're gonna be driving. You will need a very long extension cord, again depending on the distance between you and the outlet. So anyway, just plug the dang thing in, and drive off, making sure that you have your eye on the cord at all times
2007-02-23 08:09:14 · answer #8 · answered by JACKHOFF 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you have a car stereo plugged in to some speakers playing in your backyard...
2007-02-23 08:06:05 · answer #9 · answered by guicho79 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
a 120 to 12 volt step down transformer...same as you'd use for an battery powered/ac powered item in the house.....good luck
2007-02-23 08:09:09 · answer #10 · answered by The Emperor of Ecstasy 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋