power 12v lights with just a battery charger?

[packerz4]

Here's the thing. I'm probably never going to hook up a battery. However, the lights are 12v per the way the guy I bought my TTT from built it. I think I suffered a reversed polarity power surge at a campground a few weeks ago. Now the converter I have has something wrong with it.


I'd like to simplify the setup. Do you know of an easy cheap way that would allow me to convert shore 110 power to 12v in order to make the lights work?

I'm wondering if I had a cheap/reasonable battery charger (from any box store) could I power some sort of terminal to light the 12v lights from that when the charger is plugged in? (battery charger $20 -$30, converters i've seen have all been $100+)

So i'd have this:

GFCI and BREAKER protected power cord into TTT, battery charger would plug into this, and then I would hook the battery charger to ___________?
to power the 12v lights.

thanks,
tk

[bobhenry]

Got room for a battery ? If you hook directly to the charger ( which you can ) you may encounter a 60 cycle hum with certain 12 v lighting or appliaces. If you hook the charger to a battery then run to your 12v system this will dampen this. Got a car with a 3 year old battery buy the car a new one and use the old one ! (too big)
how about a motorcycle or small lawn tractor battery. Don't forget to fuse from the battery to the load on the positive side. One of those in line fuse holders should be enough depending on your total load.

[packerz4]

that makes sense, then i'd have the lights when i need them off the battery. thanks!

i also found this on radio shack's website:

radioshack clicky

might be a safe route, for regulated power...

tk

[Darren]

I use an old computer power supply to run some 12v lights in my computer room.

[Arne]

A small battery sounds like a good idea.. you don't think you will ever use it, but even if you just stop at a rest area at night and want something in the trailer, it makes it easier.....

Talking about batteries, I put in a high priced car battery from Sam's, the kind that looks like 6 cylinders (similar to Optima)... I'm not sure I would spend the 125 bucks again.... maybe, but not sure.. with a generator, I could always recharge the battery pretty much any place I camp.... and those darn batteries are heavy suckers..... like around 60 pounds, if I remember correctly.

[caseydog]

What about a Malibu Lights garden light power supply?

[Dale M.]

Only problem with Radio Shack unit, is tech specs. does not give how many amps the output is... Typically these units put out 3-5 amps. Unit may not have capacity to run some of the items you want to power with it...

Dale

[Dale M.]

What about a Malibu Lights garden light power supply?

Think Malibu lights are 6.5 volts... At least one set I saw advertised were specifying that voltage...

Dale

[Endo]

http://www.northstarlighting.com/en-us/dept_68.html

[Alphacarina]

A battery charger isn't a suitable power supply unless you have it connected to a battery - Unloaded, it may have an output as high as 18 or 20 volts and your 12 volt lighting wouldn't last long operating on those voltages

A small regulated power supply is a better choice . . . . but then I really think you would be happier using a small battery in the long run - You can't always plug it in

Don

[packerz4]

. . . . but then I really think you would be happier using a small battery in the long run - You can't always plug it in

Don

ok, i'm being sold on the battery thing. i like what Arne said too, about the times when you'd like the light to work, like a rest area etc. Soooooooooooooooooooooooo

how do I hook all the 12v light wires onto a battery?

i will have a battery charger hooked to the shore power, and the charger hooked to a small battery, then how do i connect the lights to the battery.... one huge pigtail and a connector?

thanks in advance. i think i'm going to be way happier with this set up than my current one.

tk

[bobhenry]

Go to Joanne's dessert dawg web site and click on electrical 1 in her build journal. Real nice visual schematics that are easy to understand.

P.S. Thanks Joanne I used them as a resource too

Bob

[packerz4]

Go to Joanne's dessert dawg web site and click on electrical 1 in her build journal. Real nice visual schematics that are easy to understand.

P.S. Thanks Joanne I used them as a resource too

Bob

thanks bob!! (and joanne)

though i'd been to her site a few times, i never took in the detail of the wiring, this is just what i needed.

thanks again!
tk

[Alphacarina]

That's not Bret Farve in your picture . . . . wrong number

Bret is a local boy, quite revered in these parts - We can't wait to get him back when you GreenBayers are done with him

Don

[BrwBier]

The power supply from under cabinet puck lights are good for up to three 10watt halogen lights.
brwbier