Car audio powered by 120V

[Portal]

Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I'm looking to purchase a transformer / inverter ( I don't even know what to call it )

I want to power a car stereo system with the 120v source. So I need to supply 12V with enough amperage to power a 780W amp powering 2 360W subs and a head unit powering some 6.5 " speakers.

Need to figure out what I need to purchase and from where.

Side note: I am doing this because I have the spare equipment and it will hold up better in the cold garage over the winter.

Thanks

 

[warmpancakes]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84709


is what you need, the "watts" of the amp has zero to do with what amperage you need what brand is the amp? also what size fuse is installed into the amp?

 

[csp]

I use a computer power supply for my car audio in the garage setup.

 

[mrb]

computer power supply is the most cost effective way to do this

 

[warmpancakes]

a computer power supply will power a radio, he wants to use an amplifier no compuetr supply will do that

 

[nehog]

You are going to need about 65 amps of current for the amplifier, and another 10 for the head unit. A typical installation would take a deep cycle battery, and a charger/power supply capable of putting out about 75 amps. Most of the better audio shops use about a 100 amp charger/power supply and a fulls sized battery.

Considering you can get AC powered amplifiers at flea markets for about 100 dollars I'm not sure you will save anything at all.

At least that I what I did, the head unit is a car unit on a power supply, and my amp is a regular hi-fi unit. Cold doesn't bother either one.

 

[sneezer41]

I doubt he needs anything like 65 amps

'780 watts' is not RMS per channel. it is probably peak total, divide by 4, maybe 15 amps, when it is working. a cheap 10 amp charger on a half dead battery will run it.

remember if there is a battery attached, he only needs to supply average power, and I doubt he is going to run it balls out for long periods

i did blow up a battery leaving it on a charger tho, so be careful.....

 

[mrb]

a computer power supply will power a radio, he wants to use an amplifier no compuetr supply will do that

stick a few huge caps on it and it should work ok

 

[Gary S]

stick a few huge caps on it and it should work ok

Capacitors don't increase the current capacity of a power supply. They simply filter out the voltage variations. If you don't have enough current capacity, you don't have enough current capacity, and only a bigger power supply will fix that.

 

[mrb]

Capacitors don't increase the current capacity of a power supply. They simply filter out the voltage variations. If you don't have enough current capacity, you don't have enough current capacity, and only a bigger power supply will fix that.

not true.

caps dont increase the capacity of the power supply but they do provide additional current in short bursts.

the only time the amp is going to draw a ton of current (you can get 25+ amps of 12v out of a computer power supply, more on the larger ones) is when bass notes hit, a few large caps provide current capacity for this.

some more info on the subject http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newsletter/car_audio_capacitor_myth.htm

FYI im not saying to go buy some $100 car audio cap. You can make a cap bank out of large surplus caps pretty cheap.

 

[reverendjonas]

not true.

caps dont increase the capacity of the power supply but they do provide additional current in short bursts.

the only time the amp is going to draw a ton of current (you can get 25+ amps of 12v out of a computer power supply, more on the larger ones) is when bass notes hit, a few large caps provide current capacity for this.

some more info on the subject http://www.caraudiohelp.com/newsletter/car_audio_capacitor_myth.htm

FYI im not saying to go buy some $100 car audio cap. You can make a cap bank out of large surplus caps pretty cheap.

I have a Computer power supply running my garage setup now. I have a computer hooked up to a receiver then the receiver to a 900w mono rockford fosgate sub amp. I have 2 12" sub woofers under my workbench and the whole thing sounds really good. It will rattle the walls and things off the bench when turned up. I think its a 200w computer power supply.

Edit: Forgot to add that I have a good sized cap hooked up to the power supply as well. I have had this working for a few years and it has preformed rather well. All the parts were from stuff I had laying around, so it didn't cost me anything.

 

[ishiboo]

I have a Computer power supply running my garage setup now. I have a computer hooked up to a receiver then the receiver to a 900w mono rockford fosgate sub amp. I have 2 12" sub woofers under my workbench and the whole thing sounds really good. It will rattle the walls and things off the bench when turned up. I think its a 200w computer power supply.

Edit: Forgot to add that I have a good sized cap hooked up to the power supply as well. I have had this working for a few years and it has preformed rather well. All the parts were from stuff I had laying around, so it didn't cost me anything.

Shows you what actual RMS ratings these car amplifiers put out

Car speakers/subwoofers typically do not do well in areas many times the size of a car though. I'd look for a cheap older amp and decent speakers used.

 

[timgr]

Shows you what actual RMS ratings these car amplifiers put out

Car speakers/subwoofers typically do not do well in areas many times the size of a car though. I'd look for a cheap older amp and decent speakers used.

Yes. Check the thrift store or eBay for an old home stereo receiver and some speakers. A car stereo is meant to fill a much smaller volume than a typical garage. Hamfests and flea markets are also a good source for old but good stereo equipment.

Used two-channel home audio stuff can be very cheap.

 

[mrb]

Yes. Check the thrift store or eBay for an old home stereo receiver and some speakers. A car stereo is meant to fill a much smaller volume than a typical garage. Hamfests and flea markets are also a good source for old but good stereo equipment.

Used two-channel home audio stuff can be very cheap.

good suggestion. Some vintage 1970s hi-fi gear will look much better than a car stereo sitting on a shelf too

 

[Boyd Who]

good suggestion. Some vintage 1970s hi-fi gear will look much better than a car stereo sitting on a shelf too

What he said! ^^^^^
This is my system...I got it for free! The amp, receiver, and equalizer are late 70's, the CD player is mid 80's. Works like a damn in my shop.

 

[audiovibe]

I agree on the vintage stuff, but if you really want to use car audio equipment, this is what we use to power our audio systems for demos at shows. cascade audio makes the most reliable 12v power supplies on the market. Most companies such as Stinger electronics sell the same units just re-badged.

 

[sealer]

Where do you live? Reason I ask is, I'd like to make sure I live far enough away, lol........

I agree with the home system. Here's mine with serius satellite. Bought the converter for the serius at radio shack. The rack now includes a kenwood amp and equilizer. It's enough to get the walls of my 40X40 pole rockin!

 

[TN_GARAGE]

Any thoughts on using a 12v battery and a trickle charger?

I ask because I don't know (lectricity ain't my game)

 

[914forme]

Any home audio would be better than a car amp and a head unit. I run a small sony book shelf unit and an iPhone with pandora, simple, clean, and sounds great.

If you must I would go with a battery, and a trickle charger. Get a GelCell out of an alarm panel, maybe add a cap, but if your getting that kind of bass, then you best bet would be a better amp, and a real sub.

If it was me I would sell or trade the car stuff off, and get the stuff I need for the shop.