hi guys,
im looking for a 240vac to 12vdc transformer so i can plug my car into mains power for partys and stuff so i can play my stereo and not worry about the battery going flat but the biggest one i can find is only 5 amps output, no where near enough for my car... does any one know where i can get a bigger one or some other alternative? ive been thinking of using a battery charger but i dont think these would work as most only produce a "trickle" charge, is this correct? can i use a normal battery charger to run my stereo for long periods of time?
cheers.

battery world sell up to 80A chargers

would this be suitable for running the stereo and possibly lights for long periods of time? or would it overheat or something coz im guessing charging a battery would take less effort than running stuff.
also how much do these cost?

Best value is jaycar 40a 12v powersupply

will be fine because music is dynamic and your battery will act as a buffer

cool cheers, im probably goin on thursday so il see if they got one then

i just checked the website and it costs $400 is this the one your talking about and if so does anyone know where i can get something cheaper?

nothing really cheaper - you gots to pay for power.

jaycar 40A one is very good. a few of us have them, and have used them at car shows and stuff. well worth the $$.

as above, you expect to pay good money for high current versions. jaycar have a 12A model, which may be enough for you?

is this the one your talking about? http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?I...mp;SUBCATID=381
i think i will get the best i can so i dont have to worry about upgrading later and spending more money like i have with most of my other stuff lol.

a transformer will only step up or down AC you need a Rectifier setup to convert to DC plus some decent sized filter caps. RS Components or Farnell Sell 1000VA units, but then with everything else you need, yeah go the jaycar stuff its cheap n easy

yes, that's the one. i have one in the garage, and use it often. it has been very reliable and very useful.

dont get the $400 one.

get one of these:

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP...=&SUBCATID=

why? there may be a good reason - being cheaper as one of them. you just need to clarify.

the expensive one is very good; i'm happy with it, and recommend it. not saying the cheaper one is no good.

cost. The expensive one has features you simply don.t need.

fair enough.

thanks for all your help guys,

theydontwantmusic, cheers thats exactly what i want, a more reasonable price without all the features i dont need.

hey mate I use the jaycar 13.8v 12A power supply for running headunits, and its perfect, only thing i did was add a voltmeter and 0-20A ammeter.

I use to work at the 12 Volt shop and setup systems like this for customers all the time.

Get a deep cycle battery, 100Ah Supercharge battery will set you back like $150-180. Pair of those in parallel you get 200Ah's worth of battery power. Then connect a 40A charger to them to keep topping up load and you should be ok. If it's for a few hours I'd invest your money in batteries alone.

You can charge them and take them on a trip with you. One of those will run a fridge for over two days on freeze. (Engel 40L/Waeco 50L)

Just Like Music I may need to have a chat to you about 12V fridges!

is that what you call it these day
"12v fridges"

i did end up getting the 13.8v 40 amp jaycar one (Jaycar link) and im happy with it so far, i have a volt gauge also and i only get droppage on hard bass hits with the system cranked right up and all my neons on but it never goes below about 12.5 volts, its running everything including my 4 channel amp and monoblock and my head unit and 6 neons.

I recommend this for anyone else who wants something similar

being its a 13.8V regulated supply a 10%(12.5v) drop in output voltage is pretty significant.

please put a 35A or 40A 5AG barrel style or blade fuse in between the power supply and ur battery.

2 reasons 1 its a cable coming off ur battery so it should be protected against shorts.

the the power supplies do not have a fuse on the output and its better to blow a fuse then a 180dollar supply. also it can provide 40A current which is also enough to burn\melt things if it shorts.


as a note too. while it is ok to have a powersupply connected to the car with a load(stereo) on. its best not to leave it connected with no stereo on. it is not a charger and could boil ur battery if left un attended.

thanks for the tips,

i know this is quite a bit of drop but as it has a fairly high voltage to start with it never dips down dangerously low (ie. i dont get any lights dimming or anything).

ive got a 40A fuse at the battery end of the cable, should i have one on the transformer end too?

yeah i only have it on when the stereos on but i didnt know that it could boil the battery so il make sure i never turn the stereo off witout turning it off first...

it wont boil in a minute etc just dont leave it for hours/overnight plugged in

ah ok thanks for the tip

I HAVE THE SAME PSU , GREAT PIECE OF KIT , I SET IT ON CONSTANT 13.8V VIA THE SWITCH UNDERNEATH AND HAVE LEFT THE CAR PLUGGED IN VIA ANDERSEN CONNECTORS FOR DAYS ON END.