lawrence1200
New member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2022
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Can anyone recommend an American made 12v DC variable power supply? I want to use it to test car stereo equipment.
American made 12v DC power supply
- Thread starter lawrence1200
- Start date
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No suggestions, but I'm curious if this unicorn exists.
rayra
Well-known member
Does Bell & Howell still exist?
nadogail
Well-known member
The name may still be active but the company that made those movie projectors has faded into distant memory.
I have seen the name used to market imported flashlights.
I have seen the name used to market imported flashlights.
nadogail
Well-known member
If I wanted a heavy duty 12 Volt supply I would build my own from parts.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Won't be testing much with 1amp output
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
For testing a car stereo do you need a variable power supply? Seems like a basic 12vdc supply would do the trick.
If not, try searching Digi-Key or Mouser for 'bench power supply'.
www.digikey.com
If not, try searching Digi-Key or Mouser for 'bench power supply'.
Equipment - Power Supplies (Test, Bench) | Electronic Components Distributor DigiKey
Equipment - Power Supplies (Test, Bench) are in stock at DigiKey. Order Now! Test and Measurement ship same day
jbfsr
Well-known member
Use an old desktop power supply. The 12 volt is good for about 10A I think, specs vary.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Acopian sells other 12vdc power supplies, with up to 120 amp output.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I assumed that, but their website is terrible and couldn't get a link in a quick search
InsanePyro
Well-known member
Thats what I've always used
My Old Tools
Well-known member
You can pickup a Lambda bench power supply off the auction sight. That's what I use to power my electrolysis tank.
FredWanaker
Well-known member
BK Precision is what I use. You can usually find good used ones on Ebay if you shop carefully.
customh
Well-known member
Here's your unicorn.
Power Supplies | Astron Corporation | United States
Astron Corporation is a premiere manufacturer of 13.8VDC and 28VDC power supplies for radio communications.
www.astroncorp.com
Ebay and some of the old HP rack mount power supplies might work. Most aren't going to have the power output the OP wants but some like this one may (no affiliation with the sellers)
Note: ^this one^ is over seas. Keep that in mind if you decide to bid... I wouldn't buy it because of that.
These old rack power supplies are really nice in that you can simply set the requested voltage and it's *very* accurate. I think with most you can also use them as a current supply (ie within the voltage range it will provide X amps of current and adjust the voltage as needed). Another nice feature is you can set both voltage and current limits. So even though this one can deliver 500W, you can limit the current to just a few mA if wanted. It is worth noting that these supplies are very big. They are a standard rack width but around 2' deep.
Note: ^this one^ is over seas. Keep that in mind if you decide to bid... I wouldn't buy it because of that.
These old rack power supplies are really nice in that you can simply set the requested voltage and it's *very* accurate. I think with most you can also use them as a current supply (ie within the voltage range it will provide X amps of current and adjust the voltage as needed). Another nice feature is you can set both voltage and current limits. So even though this one can deliver 500W, you can limit the current to just a few mA if wanted. It is worth noting that these supplies are very big. They are a standard rack width but around 2' deep.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Here's your unicorn.
Power Supplies | Astron Corporation | United States
Astron Corporation is a premiere manufacturer of 13.8VDC and 28VDC power supplies for radio communications.
Attachments
cvairwerks
Well-known member
What are the upper and lower voltage limits and the current limits? I’ve got a Motorola unit that will give me up to 50 VDC and 50 amps continuous.
BillK
Well-known member
I will second Astron. They are very popular in Amateur radio. I have three of them and they are pretty bullet proof. Ham Radio Outlet carries them:
Ham Radio Outlet
World's Largest Supplier of Amateur Radio, Ham Radio, and Communication Equipment. Sales, Supplies, and Service.
www.hamradio.com
Bretny
Well-known member
You may have to look into what the ham radio guys use. I had one bookmarked..
tlmartin84
Well-known member
Did anyone find anything?
I used this, and after a few times, it blew something in the board (I can't find the culprit).
I never had the stereo wide open, continuous power draw is only 55amps. But apparently the inrush on the capacitors is more than this could handle. (I didn't have the stereo on, amp wasn't on)
I used this, and after a few times, it blew something in the board (I can't find the culprit).
I never had the stereo wide open, continuous power draw is only 55amps. But apparently the inrush on the capacitors is more than this could handle. (I didn't have the stereo on, amp wasn't on)
dcg9381
Well-known member
One "cheat" is to use a PC power supply (mentioned above). 750+ watts and 12V for CPU and GPU. Pretty cheap.
If I was testing "big amp" things at 12v, I'd buffer through a battery.
If I was testing "big amp" things at 12v, I'd buffer through a battery.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
So you want an American built power supply..... Great idea, likely most parts/ chips in it are foreign made, the price will be 3-4x times that of a foreign model, and not any better.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Don't think it really matters anymore....OP hasn't been back since the initial post.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Yep, attack of the one post wonder. In-n-out like a burger. z-z-z-z-z...
Thread was bumped yesterday with a relevant follow-up:
But for some reason they couldn't be bothered to read this, just 2 posts above theirs:
Did anyone find anything?
I used this, and after a few times, it blew something in the board (I can't find the culprit).
I never had the stereo wide open, continuous power draw is only 55amps. But apparently the inrush on the capacitors is more than this could handle. (I didn't have the stereo on, amp wasn't on)
But for some reason they couldn't be bothered to read this, just 2 posts above theirs:
tlmartin84
Well-known member
Nope, read it and went and checked them out. That's one brand, and extremely pricey. I guess you just like to look for an argument.
tlmartin84
Well-known member
I think this is what I am going to have to do for the amplifier and just disconnect it when testing the rest of the system. Just ***** having to lug a battery around.
dcg9381
Well-known member
Consider a LiFePO4. They last longer, much lighter, often smaller... Technically they need a different charger, but you can charge them to 80% on a standard lead acid charger: