Running 12v DC equipment on 120v AC (indoors)

timmy

Member
Sep 9, 2012
97
Southern California
i hadn't thought of a sequencer. the biggest problem with using a sequencer is that the way federal signal wired the lightbar(s) only allows you to feed power to one spot; the distribution after that is hard wired (soldered) under the tray and power goes to both items (lights and motor) at the same time. i would have to re-wire the bar to use a sequencer. a sequencer would be a great idea if you had one BIG power supply and wanted to run several lightbars at the same time off of it. you could start the bars up one at a time and avoid getting all the startup surges at once as the bars came on at the same time.


i tried the approach of paralleling two of my 30amp 12vdc power supplies to run the bar. i still get about a five second delay as the two power supplies work through the surge before the motor starts. my guess is that the bulbs are slowly warming up and at some point the resistance is low enough to let the motor start. with one of the 30amp 12vdc power supplies the lightbar sometimes starts but after a lot longer delay. i tried this with both of the model 22/4 rotar bars i have and got the same result so i don't think i have a component issue with just one bar - they just take a lot of power to get going.


timmy

NotNormalEnterprisesLLC said:
 

stansdds

Member
May 25, 2010
3,533
U.S.A., Virginia
I always allow 1 amp for each motor, that is usually more than enough. But a motor that is old or a mechanism that no longer moves smoothly is going to increase the amperage required for the motor.
 

Henry455

Member
May 21, 2010
513
Houston, TX
Anybody looking for a 25-30 amp power supply might check out 12 VDC 29A 348W Regulated Switching Power Supply 320-315 , they are on sale for a few more weeks. Mouser has the exact same model for $97.00. Here is the spec sheet Meanwell Power Supply Products . In regards to ATX computer power supply conversions, the one I converted showed 12.3 volts under no load but dropped to 11.7 volts under a 10 amp load (specs showed a 27 amp 12 volt rail). My understanding is the ATX PS industry specs allow 5% voltage variation on all rails. If that does not present a problem then a ATX PS conversion is a good economical way to achieve "12 volts".
 
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shues

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 21, 2010
10,269
NW Indiana
Have you had any trouble with noisy power? I have had problems with switched-mode power supplies over the years, especially in audio amplification. I prefer linear power supplies for this reason.
 

timmy

Member
Sep 9, 2012
97
Southern California
Amazon.com sells the same unit (several sources) for a lot less money. I have had great luck with these.


$29


Amazon.com: 12v Dc 30a 360w Regulated Switching Power Supply Silver: Electronics


If you are an Amazon Prime member there is no shipping cost and depending on where you live no sales tax.


timmy

Henry455 said:
Anybody looking for a 25-30 amp power supply might check out 12 VDC 29A 348W Regulated Switching Power Supply 320-315 , they are on sale for a few more weeks. Mouser has the exact same model for $97.00. Here is the spec sheet Meanwell Power Supply Products . In regards to ATX computer power supply conversions, the one I converted showed 12.3 volts under no load but dropped to 11.7 volts under a 10 amp load (specs showed a 27 amp 12 volt rail). My understanding is the ATX PS industry specs allow 5% voltage variation on all rails. If that does not present a problem then a ATX PS conversion is a good economical way to achieve "12 volts".
51Y60uJpmLL.jpg
 

Henry455

Member
May 21, 2010
513
Houston, TX
shues said:
Have you had any trouble with noisy power? I have had problems with switched-mode power supplies over the years, especially in audio amplification. I prefer linear power supplies for this reason.

I will know more in about a week. If you can believe the customer reviews on the Parts Express website, none mentioned any noise problem. Hopefully this will replace my trusty linear supply I threw together about 25 years ago. Its been reliable and steady as a rock but weighs 20 pounds, has filter caps the size of soda cans and only has a 10 amp output.
 

Henry455

Member
May 21, 2010
513
Houston, TX

timmy

Member
Sep 9, 2012
97
Southern California
i have bought them from several different vendors from amazon.com


they are all the same basic unit with cosmetic differences.


somewhere in china is a factory (or sweat shop) that makes these for hundreds of different retailers. they are all the same except for stickers and minor cosmetic things.


you can spend more if you want a specific part number but they are the same.


timmy

Henry455 said:
That's a good find but has a slightly different model number. Meanwell no longer shows that model number listed on its website.
 

Henry455

Member
May 21, 2010
513
Houston, TX
timmy said:
i have bought them from several different vendors from amazon.com
they are all the same basic unit with cosmetic differences.


somewhere in china is a factory (or sweat shop) that makes these for hundreds of different retailers. they are all the same except for stickers and minor cosmetic things.


you can spend more if you want a specific part number but they are the same.


timmy

Found the data sheet for the S-350 model, there are a few minor differences in the specs. compared to the SE-350 one being the SE model is 9% more efficient and has a 2 year warranty compared to the S's 1 year warranty, S model uses 25Khz switching freq. and the SE uses 90Khz. I am assuming the SE series replaced the S series, still a heck of a bargain for a 350 watt PS.


Just an update: Received the SE-350 and used it to demo a couple of my vintage electronic sirens and noticed no PS noise. Mine came with the input voltage set at 220 volts, had been warned to flip the power selector switch to 120 before powering up.
 
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FCV96

Member
May 8, 2013
149
Queens, NY
After reading through the contents of this thread multiple times, I believe I am beginning to start to grasp the matter at hand. With that said, I have a relatively noob-ish question in regards to power supplies.


I am looking at this 12amp at 13.8v Pyramid Power Supply in order to power a siren. The siren requires 12amps at 13.6v so I believe that is in order. I want to know if it would be alright to directly attach the siren's power and ground cables [from its wiring harness] to the power supply, or if I need to extend those cables first.
 

JohnMarcson

Administrator
May 7, 2010
10,971
Northwest Ohio
FCV96 said:
After reading through the contents of this thread multiple times, I believe I am beginning to start to grasp the matter at hand. With that said, I have a relatively noob-ish question in regards to power supplies.

I am looking at this 12amp at 13.8v Pyramid Power Supply in order to power a siren. The siren requires 12amps at 13.6v so I believe that is in order. I want to know if it would be alright to directly attach the siren's power and ground cables [from its wiring harness] to the power supply, or if I need to extend those cables first.

The supply you linked is cutting it close. I go 150% (and round up) of what I want to power when choosing a supply. When devices first start up they often have a spike in amp draw. Power supplies are rated by constant and surge. For example that power supply provides 12 AMP Constant 14 AMP Surge. Your siren needs 12 AMP constant and up to 20 AMP surge from my experience (it can vary depending on the condition of components). At the very very minimum I'd get a 15 AMP constant supply to run sirens, 18 or 20 would be better. There is a 20 amp on Amazon for $95, and they go on ebay for about the same.
 

toon80

Member
May 24, 2010
2,487
Laval, Canada
JohnMarcson said:
The supply you linked is cutting it close. I go 150% (and round up) of what I want to power when choosing a supply. When devices first start up they often have a spike in amp draw. Power supplies are rated by constant and surge. For example that power supply provides 12 AMP Constant 14 AMP Surge. Your siren needs 12 AMP constant and up to 20 AMP surge from my experience (it can vary depending on the condition of components). At the very very minimum I'd get a 15 AMP constant supply to run sirens, 18 or 20 would be better. There is a 20 amp on Amazon for $95, and they go on ebay for about the same.

I'd also suggest spending a few more bucks for bigger amp capacity and be sure it will do the job, instead of having to eventually buy another power supply. You might also want to power up something more powerful in the future.That extra margin will become handy then.
 

EVT

Member
May 24, 2010
622
Midwest
I've seen guys use them to bench test stuff. I guess you'd just want to make sure you're fusing the lights if it's more then a few seconds. That's a lotta amps.
 
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Jarred J.

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 21, 2010
11,578
Shelbyville, TN
did you read this thread?

thats not really a lot of amps... because its that many amps for a few seconds...

theres usually an 18 amp /hour 12v battery in those things...

what are you wanting to run off it?
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
Is there any reason one of these things wouldn't work? Massive amperage for 12v at a pretty low price. Keep in mind I'm almost electrically illiterate. 

View attachment 133301

I have been running mine off of a Stanley Professional Power Station.  It is basically a sealed car battery with a built in re-charger. I can simultaneously run 18 - 30w lights and 5 - 1.5 w motors off of it at one time.  (Two light bars and 3 beacons) You will run it down pretty quick doing that but it will run two 4 bulb lightbars for about an hour at 18amps an hour.  This single 12v battery shouldn't put out more than a vehicle with a battery and an alternator which provides about 14 - 15 volts under load.  My little Ford Ranger with a 4.0 V6 uses a 650 cranking amp battery so if I had a beacon on top, that is what it would have powering it.  I can imagine a large 12v Truck or other loaded rig will have quite a few amps pumping out of their charging systems.  Do you install a down step for your lights in a 24 volt system?

I have amp tested all of my lights and they only pull what they use. You should not have an issue with power spikes from a simple battery with no other equipment connected to it like an alternator as it is always under draw.  I would not leave my charger connected or on when running lights to prevent a spike.

You can buy the sealed 12 volt battery that is used in the Power Station and other jump starters for only about $35.  No fumes !  You can use any car battery charger with it. 


Battery.JPG
 
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Jarred J.

Lifetime VIP Donor
May 21, 2010
11,578
Shelbyville, TN
uhhhh you have to use a AGM charger  on AGM batteries.....  a wet cell charger wont cut it, and will hurt the battery in the long run
 
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LRGJr72

Member
May 29, 2010
790
Detroit, Michigan
I have been running mine off of a Stanley Professional Power Station.  It is basically a sealed car battery with a built in re-charger. I can simultaneously run 18 - 30w lights and 5 - 1.5 w motors off of it at one time.  (Two light bars and 3 beacons) You will run it down pretty quick doing that but it will run two 4 bulb lightbars for about an hour at 18amps an hour.  This single 12v battery shouldn't put out more than a vehicle with a battery and an alternator which provides about 14 - 15 volts under load.  My little Ford Ranger with a 4.0 V6 uses a 650 cranking amp battery so if I had a beacon on top, that is what it would have powering it.  I can imagine a large 12v Truck or other loaded rig will have quite a few amps pumping out of their charging systems.  Do you install a down step for your lights in a 24 volt system?

I have amp tested all of my lights and they only pull what they use. You should not have an issue with power spikes from a simple battery with no other equipment connected to it like an alternator as it is always under draw.  I would not leave my charger connected or on when running lights to prevent a spike.

You can buy the sealed 12 volt battery that is used in the Power Station and other jump starters for only about $35.  No fumes !  You can use any car battery charger with it. 


View attachment 147093

Very interesting. Super information. Thanks, SkullDigger!!
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
8 amps for an individual light would be a lot. That would be a 96 watt light bulb.
Count up your lights by wattage. If you have 30 w bulbs, your 6 lights would be 6x30= 180 watts.
Watts / volts = Amps
180 / 12 = 15 amps
Add 1.5 amps each for any motors
As long as your amps exceeds your needs you are good.
 

gtpts27

Member
Jul 1, 2017
579
Virginia
Lightbars that have strobes or leds do not need this modification and you can even use a switching power supply

Does this mean you shouldn't use a switching supply w halogen/rotator bars? I vaguely remember reading that somewhere else but don't understand why it would be the case.
 

WhelenNDealin

Member
Aug 6, 2017
575
Ontario, Canada
I've been trying to figure out a good power source for a lightbar collection for both minis (plug and permanent mount) and full-sized bars (rotary and LED) as well as other warning equipment. I've asked a member and got a good idea, but it's not something that I think I can find.

Right now, I have an old 6V-12V battery charger. I think it's a continuous charger. IIRC, it wasn't a trickle charger and I think you could overcharge the battery with it if you weren't careful. You can select the voltage and it puts out 10 amps DC. This amperage range would be fine for minis using a cigarette plug, I think. I didn't dare try it before asking the forums because I don't want to damage a new mini bar that I just received.

For larger bars as well as sirens, what I had in mind was basically to emulate it being wired to a battery. I was going to take a 12v auto battery and wire a battery killswitch to the positive terminal. The switch would then be wired to a fuse holder and the holder to another length of wire. The negative/ground would be wired as per normal. All wiring would be as per the bar's requirements/amp draw.With fuses, I'm not sure what would be best. Would a blade fuse be preferable to a AG glass fuse? With blade fuses would a Maxi fuse be the better choice or would a standard sized blade fuse be fine? Of course the fuse's rating would be as per the lightbar's (or siren's) requirements.For cigarette plugs, I had a similar setup in mind, only with a cigarette plug wired to the ground and fused positive. I'd be using a 10 or 15 amp fuse in that case. I'd have a few different lines running from it (labelled) and each bar/siren's line would be connected to a switch panel to allow for individual activation, except in cases where the bar would use some form of control head for multiple modes. I was thinking that I could have 3 battery switches that powered maybe 2-3 bars each. Bars with a greater draw would have their own lines. I'd have to have a few of these battery setups in time. It wouldn't be a pretty, but it'd be temporary until I found something better.

What are some better choices? Right now, I'm thinking that the idea above may run into some problems...
 

firebuff17

Member
Mar 28, 2011
771
CT
A 12 volt regulated power supply would be best. They come in numerous sizes (ie. 3a, 10a up to and probably over 100a). That coupled with appropriate wiring and switching would be best.
 

WhelenNDealin

Member
Aug 6, 2017
575
Ontario, Canada
Where can I get a regulated power supply? Is the current output adjustable?
 

firebuff17

Member
Mar 28, 2011
771
CT
There are a few that make them. A couple popular ones that have been showcased and used by many on here are Pyramid, and Astron.
They are not adjustable. You would have to choose one that is big enough for your needs.
 

WhelenNDealin

Member
Aug 6, 2017
575
Ontario, Canada
Would it be best to get separate ones for different purposes? Say one at 10 amps for mini bars, 40-50 amps for full bars and another amperage for sirens (if needed)?

Darn, I wish that my grandfather was still alive. He was an expert at designing and building power sources of all manner. He would have already built one that may have even been adjustable somehow. He was an electronics wizard. All self-taught too. He'd design and build things that even amazed electrical engineers. You'd tell him what you had in mind and he knew how he was going to make it 5 minutes later, the circuit diagrams drawn up 15 minutes later and it'd be done 30 minutes to a couple hours later. All cobbled together from surplus components and parts too. He would have absolutely loved working on warning equipment. I could see him designing and building his own sirens and even LED bars with adjustable patterns. I remember him telling me how from an electronics perspective, sirens are quite simple to create and how it's not hard to create different tones. Such a great man...
 

firebuff17

Member
Mar 28, 2011
771
CT
As far as getting separate or one that supppy all, that’s up to you. Depends on how you want to display all the bars and sirens. If your only going to be running one at a time than get one big enough for your largest amperage draw. Then wire them all into the supply with switches accordingly.
If you want to run everything all at once than you may decide to run multiple of various sizes.
Also I bet your father would have been able to build you something and help and enjoy the emergency light collecting.
I forgot to mention Tripp-Lite as another manufacturer.
Here is an elaborate display...and I believe he is on eLightnats as well. Just to give you some ideas.
 

WhelenNDealin

Member
Aug 6, 2017
575
Ontario, Canada
That's a ridiculous display! I'd love to have it! My grandfather would definitely have built some contraption. IIRC, he built several DC power supplies of varying volt/amp ranges. All of them were like DC Variacs. IIRC, there were a few that were a fixed DC voltage, albeit with adjustable current ranges. Almost like what you'd find in a DC arc welder, although with far lower currents.
 
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Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
I use a Computer power supply for running individual lights. It puts out 12v at 30 amps. You can get more amps with bigger supplies. For my bigger stuff like mechanical sirens I have a Black and Decker Portable Power Station. There are some 110v stepdowns but they can be prices. It has been discussed on here many times, you can probably do some searches and find the other discussions.
 
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Sparky_911

Supporting Donor
May 15, 2013
2,646
Central Illinois
Several threads on this for sure. I use an old PC power supply for led stuff up to full bars. For anything halogen or incandescent I use a medium sized 12v battery attached to a 10 amp charger. Runs full C3 XL9K and SD bar together for about 30 min.
 

cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
Personally I prefer to use a standard 12 Volt car battery (usually about 60 Ah) connected to a Ctek MXS 5.0 trickle charger that can be connected continously.

I also use smaller batteries of the motorcycle type in 7 Ah and a medium type in 27 Ah that I also charge with the Ctek charger.

The 7 Ah battery is easy to take with you when you want to test something without to much weight.

With a battery you have full power to whatever you want to use it for.

You do not have the problem with electronics that quite often do not like electronic power supplies.

You can sometimes destroy electronic components like transistors and IC-circuits with the wrong power supply.

I connect two of my 7 Ah batteries in series when I want to power up something in 24 Volt that is the Voltage that trucks use in Europe.

I also have a larger transformer charger that I bought for about 20 years ago only because it has 6 Volt and 12 Volt outputs, so I can run 6 Volt equipment with it.

Michael
 

Straypuft

Member
Nov 7, 2015
33
Akron Ohio
Picked up this for my Liberty:
Name of item if link stops working: "SUPERNIGHT 12V 30A DC Power Supply Driver,360W Universal Regulated Switching Converter AC 110V/220V Transformer Adapter for 3D Printer,CCTV,Radio,Computer Project,Industrial Automation,LED Strip"

Was using a Pryamid 12v 12a power supply but it would spaz out when I turned on the halogen takedowns and flashing takedowns and alleys.
The new supply I linked to above lets me use all the functions of the Liberty without issue, But, I do not know how long I can run the bar for, so far, only for a minute or 2 for now to keep it safe.

Unrelated to topic, I also picked up a TP Link Kasa smart plug and have the power supply hooked up to it and can now turn on the lightbar with a phone app or Cortana voice control on my computer.
 

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CrownVic97

Member
May 21, 2010
3,350
Hazen, ND
Check out powermax inverters on amazon. 55 amp for around 100 and a 100 amp for around 175. These are awesome
Just pulled the trigger on this to replace the bastard Pyramid supply that killed a JS1 Jetsonic. When I read it has automatic cut-off from accidental short circuits or surges, I was sold on it. Let y'all know how this works out when I get it!
217456
 

Scoot163

Member
Nov 15, 2013
848
Tacoma, WA
Just pulled the trigger on this to replace the bastard Pyramid supply that killed a JS1 Jetsonic. When I read it has automatic cut-off from accidental short circuits or surges, I was sold on it. Let y'all know how this works out when I get it!
View attachment 217456
I've been using the PowerMax to power my big lights for several years. I still make sure I have an inline fuse or circuit breaker between the light and the power, but have had no issues with these power supplies. There is a small switch on the side of the supply that you have to move so it supplies constant 13.8. It still works if you don't, but then it will be in battery recharge mode and the voltage it supplies will drop in stages after several minutes of operation. I have 6 or 7 of these supplies.
 

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