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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Fred Quedenfeld jr on July 02, 2010, 08:08:36 AM
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Where in the USA can I get a power supply for my lipo balance charger
does it have to be 12 vdc and 5 a????
thanks
Fred Q
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I use an old car starter battery and an auto 12V battery charger. The battery acts as a buffer/filter for the half-wave rectified DC output of the charger. Seems to work fine with my Thunder Power chargers. After a recharge session I leave the charger connected until the car battery is back to the float current level. Lead-acid batteries like to be stored at full charge.
Another option is to use a power supply intended for the RC car racers. Those can be found at Tower Hobbies.
A third source is the ham radio stores such as Ham Radio Outlet. Some of those have high quality DC outputs. I use an Astron 35 Amp for my ham radio gear and it is a very nice supply, but not the cheapest. An Astron 7Amp supply sells at HRO for $70, which may be cheaper than the RC car supplies. These are mostly 120VAC input power (std wall plug).
John W
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I looked on Ebay and made a good deal on a new 12v power supply. Saved about $30 over
anything else I could find.
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You can try MCM Electronics
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/
and search for "Tenma power supply", you'll get a number of hits. I bought one of these 13.8V, 25A versions:
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/72-8115
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b125/reynolbw/72-8115.jpg)
but there are certainly other, less expensive power supplies available there.
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Well if you are handy with electronic projects you can convert a PC power supply to use with your charger for about $5 to $10. I pulled mine for an old defunct PC (free-be!!) and found the parts I needed at the local Radio Shack.
Here is a good link on how to do the conversion. http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/POWERSUPPLY.HTM
You will be using the +12 volt portion of the supply so check that it will deliver +12 volts at 5+ amps. There should be a label on the box giving the specs for that particular power supply.
Mine works fine and the price was right.
John
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This one is a good deal for a lot of Watts. You want to be careful that you get a PS that can put out the Wattage that you need. Also, the Max Watts listed for a PS reflects what the PS can put out. The Watts that your charger screen displays will be less than what the PS actually has to deliver by a bit. SO you don't want to push your PS to the very limit based on what your charger is telling you! Steve
http://epbuddy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=13
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I agree with John about building your own from a PC power supply. I'm an electronics idiot, but I've built two and they work great. I also use the 5vt output to power my R/C receivers during construction to keep from having to find a charged receiver battery in my junk pile. Easiest thing I've ever done in the field of electronics.
Paul
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Radio Shack has a DC power supply that is 13.8V, 15A, Model 22-508 about $85.
http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2818344
Best, DennisT
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Check this out just add a switch and go
http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16013+PS
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Kim Doherty also has an article about converting a PC power supply for our use on his site.
http://www.flystunt.com/ARTICLES/12v%20DC%20Power%20Supply.htm
TTFN
John.
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I admit I haven't read the articles on converting PC (switching) supplies for general use. The precaution I offer is this:
Switching supplies are sometimes permanently damaged unless they are connected to a load. In other words, they only regulate properly when delivering current to a load. The "fix" is to permanently connect a "bleeder" resistor to the 12 volt DC output. The bleeder should consume about 1/20 of the available current, with size proportional to the wattage dissipated in the resistor.
Floyd
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I have a question about power supplies. I know they are rated in watts such as 120,200,400,500.
But what I wish to know is what is the defining. is it 120v X 1amp =120 watts or 12 volts times 10 amps? that they go from. Or are all combinations valid ?
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Volts times amps is wats.
You need 5A and 12V so the power supply should be 60W. If you have more A then the charger will draw the A it needs to get the job done.