DC CURRENT, what the hell!
01-24-03, 07:13 PM
#1
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DC CURRENT, what the hell!
Ok i'm getting pissed off here!
I went to radio shack to pick up an 12v PLUG IN that fits where the Cigarette lighter used to be, the guy that sold it to me said i would be able to strip the DC addapter that comes with it off and wire it up to a power source of my own. So I DID, and wired it to the exsisting wires that used to run to the cigarette lighter. As you probably guessed it won't work!
Considering that the Adapter that came with it was a Direct Current Addapter I SHOULD be able to just chop it off and wire it to whatever! This is really pissing me off, i checked all the fuses in my car and ran a few tests of my own to check to see if the plug-in worked with the addapter on it and it does!
Sorry if this is an absolutly stupid question, i'm going by what the supposingly "expert" at radioshack told me.
I went to radio shack to pick up an 12v PLUG IN that fits where the Cigarette lighter used to be, the guy that sold it to me said i would be able to strip the DC addapter that comes with it off and wire it up to a power source of my own. So I DID, and wired it to the exsisting wires that used to run to the cigarette lighter. As you probably guessed it won't work!
Considering that the Adapter that came with it was a Direct Current Addapter I SHOULD be able to just chop it off and wire it to whatever! This is really pissing me off, i checked all the fuses in my car and ran a few tests of my own to check to see if the plug-in worked with the addapter on it and it does!
Sorry if this is an absolutly stupid question, i'm going by what the supposingly "expert" at radioshack told me.
01-24-03, 07:42 PM
#2
Re: DC CURRENT, what the hell!
Originally posted by Rex_Experience
Ok i'm getting pissed off here!
I went to radio shack to pick up an 12v PLUG IN that fits where the Cigarette lighter used to be, the guy that sold it to me said i would be able to strip the DC addapter that comes with it off and wire it up to a power source of my own. So I DID, and wired it to the exsisting wires that used to run to the cigarette lighter. As you probably guessed it won't work!
Considering that the Adapter that came with it was a Direct Current Addapter I SHOULD be able to just chop it off and wire it to whatever! This is really pissing me off, i checked all the fuses in my car and ran a few tests of my own to check to see if the plug-in worked with the addapter on it and it does!
Sorry if this is an absolutly stupid question, i'm going by what the supposingly "expert" at radioshack told me.
Ok i'm getting pissed off here!
I went to radio shack to pick up an 12v PLUG IN that fits where the Cigarette lighter used to be, the guy that sold it to me said i would be able to strip the DC addapter that comes with it off and wire it up to a power source of my own. So I DID, and wired it to the exsisting wires that used to run to the cigarette lighter. As you probably guessed it won't work!
Considering that the Adapter that came with it was a Direct Current Addapter I SHOULD be able to just chop it off and wire it to whatever! This is really pissing me off, i checked all the fuses in my car and ran a few tests of my own to check to see if the plug-in worked with the addapter on it and it does!
Sorry if this is an absolutly stupid question, i'm going by what the supposingly "expert" at radioshack told me.
Secondly, what are you trying to do?
YOu are trying to run a 12Vdc component of some sort, off the cigarette lighter, right? Using a 12V cigarette adapter that you stripped the ends off of?
01-24-03, 08:25 PM
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Well, pretty much, basically i've got some lights i want to put in my car for under the dash. The lights came with ac addapters which need plug in's, most go in either the cigarette lighter or a 12v plug in of some sort. My car didn't have a cigarette lighter so I bought a 12v plug in to put in place of the cigarette lighter. Anyways, the 12 v plug came with a DC adapter, but seeing is how i've got nowhere to plug the adapter in it, i stripped it off and just tried to wire it to where the old cigarette lighter used to be wired up to.
Shouldn't that work?
Shouldn't that work?
01-24-03, 08:54 PM
#4
Originally posted by Rex_Experience
Well, pretty much, basically i've got some lights i want to put in my car for under the dash. The lights came with ac addapters which need plug in's, most go in either the cigarette lighter or a 12v plug in of some sort. My car didn't have a cigarette lighter so I bought a 12v plug in to put in place of the cigarette lighter. Anyways, the 12 v plug came with a DC adapter, but seeing is how i've got nowhere to plug the adapter in it, i stripped it off and just tried to wire it to where the old cigarette lighter used to be wired up to.
Shouldn't that work?
Well, pretty much, basically i've got some lights i want to put in my car for under the dash. The lights came with ac addapters which need plug in's, most go in either the cigarette lighter or a 12v plug in of some sort. My car didn't have a cigarette lighter so I bought a 12v plug in to put in place of the cigarette lighter. Anyways, the 12 v plug came with a DC adapter, but seeing is how i've got nowhere to plug the adapter in it, i stripped it off and just tried to wire it to where the old cigarette lighter used to be wired up to.
Shouldn't that work?
Go ahead and admit it...They are neon lights... Its okay, there is still hope...
Jarrett
01-24-03, 10:30 PM
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Jarrett is right, any expert who might be working at RadioSmack will quit within the month because experts can make much better money elsewhere.
So, to the point. In your tests of the adapter/plug assembly, did you test the lights for function, or just use a volt meter to make sure you had power? Make sure to run the same tests on both set-ups, and compare results. Also, if you are running to any form of converter, the direction of voltage (current is amps) will be important. Many DC to AC converters have to have the positive voltage on the positve terminal. Obviously, converting the other way dosn't matter. Post the RS part number of the converter and I'll try to help. Of course, witht the forum being down tomorrow and sunday morning, it may take some time to get back to you. If the lights are designed for automitive use, you shouldn't need an AC input. If they do require an AC input, don't even think about putting them in your car. The conversion to 120VAC is usually very inefficient, meaning a huge drain on your already taxed alternator, and lots of heat build up.
So, to the point. In your tests of the adapter/plug assembly, did you test the lights for function, or just use a volt meter to make sure you had power? Make sure to run the same tests on both set-ups, and compare results. Also, if you are running to any form of converter, the direction of voltage (current is amps) will be important. Many DC to AC converters have to have the positive voltage on the positve terminal. Obviously, converting the other way dosn't matter. Post the RS part number of the converter and I'll try to help. Of course, witht the forum being down tomorrow and sunday morning, it may take some time to get back to you. If the lights are designed for automitive use, you shouldn't need an AC input. If they do require an AC input, don't even think about putting them in your car. The conversion to 120VAC is usually very inefficient, meaning a huge drain on your already taxed alternator, and lots of heat build up.
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