DIY Project Utilitizing Spare 12V Battery?

[Maddog10]

Looking for a shop project to use a small battery that I was gifted by a guy at work today. It's a 12V 7.6Ah SLA battery. Was curious if any of you guys had done anything cool with one, whether its robotics, some type of charger, or whatever else it may be. Just fishing for ideas.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

That's a rather small battery normally used in UPS's, emergency lighting, exit signs, and similar. It would work well with a solar cell to provide power to some outdoor 12 volt landscaping lights. Or used as a portable power supply for a car radio if you want to put one in a box like your rolling tool chest without using a power cord. Could run some emergency lights like an LED strobe on a parts cart or similar.
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I have one on my computer parts cart that powers a strobe on a pole attached to the cart. Helps in a busy area at work and keeps people from stealing my service cart!

 

[EOC_Jason]

If the battery is good, you could probably make some sort of emergency 5V or 12V power source for USB devices or to charge up a car battery that is low. They use those in some jump packs (albeit slight different models that can discharge quickly).

 

[engineer2]

Would be good as backup power for a simple security system, (door/window switches, lights, etc.)

 

[wasfuzz]

I used a Harbor Freight plastic ammo can, couple of switches and a Trailer light connector and made a trailer light test unit with a small 12v I had.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

I keep one on my bench with alligator clip leads on it for testing small stuff like lights and etc. Charge it occasionally with a battery tender.

 

[raddksn]

I used a Harbor Freight plastic ammo can, couple of switches and a Trailer light connector and made a trailer light test unit with a small 12v I had.

This sounds handy!