Will this work?

[Kelleyaynn]

I'd appreciate if anyone out there would check out this converter. I'm looking for just a converter, no charger. Looks like this will handle 18 amps, which should be plenty for me. Does anything stand out as a potential problem or concern?

http://www.galco.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/ ... QodYney3Q#

Thanks,

Kelley

[wannabefree]

That will do just fine. Just to be clear, it will not charge a battery, which you don't want anyway.

[Kelleyaynn]

Thanks!!!

[AZSpyder]

Just judging from the case that supply looks like it is based on the design for a computer power supply. That made me realize someone may be able to use a PC power supply as a 12 volt power supply. I just dug out an old one left over from a upgrade many years ago. It is a 250 watt that is rated at 10 amps of 12 volt power. It also puts out +5, -5 and -12 volts so I still need to identify the correct wires for the 12 volt output.

This old one is a AT type power supply that has a cable and on/off switch that mounted on the front of the PC. The current ATX type supplies turned on from a signal from the motherboard and I don't know how to fool one of those series into turning on. I don't know if the old AT type are still available but there are old PC gathering dust somewhere. Perhaps there is a PC expert in the group that has a method to use the ATX too.

I occasionally need a 12 volt supply and your question turned out to be a great tip on the PC supplies. You may be able to go this route too if you happen to have and old PC around or know someone that does.

Jerry

[Kelleyaynn]

This old one is a AT type power supply that has a cable and on/off switch that mounted on the front of the PC. The current ATX type supplies turned on from a signal from the motherboard and I don't know how to fool one of those series into turning on. I don't know if the old AT type are still available but there are old PC gathering dust somewhere. Perhaps there is a PC expert in the group that has a method to use the ATX too.

I occasionally need a 12 volt supply and your question turned out to be a great tip on the PC supplies. You may be able to go this route too if you happen to have and old PC around or know someone that does.

Jerry

And to think we JUST gave away our old PC!

I'll have to check around for someone who has an old PC. Perhaps one that is supposedly "not working". I'm guessing that most of the time that has nothing to do with the power supply, but due to hard drive problems.

[AZSpyder]

It looks like even the newer ATX power supplies have potential for use as a DC converter. I found this on the net on how to turn them on:
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/other/22

Of course you wouldn't want to us a paper clip for extended use. You could extend the power supply On wire and one of the grounds to anywhere in the trailer for a remote on/off switch. Or just splice them together in use the on/off switch on the power supply. This could possibly be a momentary switch. May take a little experimenting to figure it out.

I have never tried this so I can't vouch for the information. This is something I would do just because I like messing with this sort of thing. I see tigerdirect has power supplies ranging from $20 to over $200 and I know a few of us have them laying around.

Power supplies have gotten a bit expensive. For the power output of the one in the link you posted it seems to be a good price and its already built to be a converter. No need to experiment with that one.

By the way, I took a look at a 180 watt stereo head unit I had waiting to be installed in something. It uses a 10 amp fuse so even at full tilt the DC requirement should be under 10 amps.

Jerry

[MceeD]

I'll jump in here with my two cents.

I think a computer power supply would make a great converter if you were willing to make the modifications, which would require a little web research and a multimeter for testing and confirmation. pretty easy to provide a switch to turn it on and off. If I remember of hand, you have to short out two of the pins to actually turn it on even if it has the external switch turned on.

You should find one that has a single 12v rail. They can come with multiple 12v rails and each rails will split off the total 12v rating.

You can find computer power supplies with 80% and higher efficiency ratings.

You can find smart power supplies that have automatic fans, that adjust the cooling fan to the temp.

I don't recommend a fanless one It is actually depending on both the convection and case fans a computer usually has by default.

Provide the airspace, intake and exhaust it requires for cooling.

A nice advantage is that you can also tap into the 5v rail and power up a few USB ports in your rig if your so tech savvy

I have actually gone back and forth a few times about using one for mine and still might make the jump.

http://www.newegg.com is a great source for computer part and more...

[MceeD]

I came across a great how to for converting a computer power supply into a DC power supply.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Convert-an-ATX-Power-Supply-Into-a-Regular-DC-Powe/

If I have time this weekend I might do this with one of the smaller one I have laying around.