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[jayjayfkay]

I want to pull the AC plug without using a
limited time battery pack. Has anyone tried
to set up a Video system with a car/RV 12
volt DC system completely? If so I would
appreciate the details. I want to monitor
whats behind my camper when I am driving
down the road. I do carry a laptop computer
for GPS reasons in my car. Will the DC of
my automotive system damage the Cameras,
Transmitter and Receiver?

[rick]

If you want directly connect the system to
the batterie, i would suggest a power converter.
check out
http://theepicenter.com/dc_to_ac_power_converters_and_inverters.html
that should help you.

[Brian H]

The camera power supplies are 12 volts at
80ma. When the motor is running the voltage
is usually 13+ volts. Don't think the X10
supplies are that close to 12 volts anyway.
There maybe alternator and electronic noise
on the supply so you may have to use a
filter also. Hope someone who has done this
will give more details.

[jxoco]

I see that you asked this question in sept
05 so I'm sure that you have the answer now.
I am working, on the workshop bench at the
moment, on a 5.6in lcd screen with a wide
angle camera hooked to it and yea it works.
But, I have hardwired to the camera as I
found too much interference with the
wireless when I tested it in the camper.
Did you get your bckup camera working
nicely?

[frank]

I see that you asked this question in sept
05 so I'm sure that you have the answer now.
I am working, on the workshop bench at the
moment, on a 5.6in lcd screen with a wide
angle camera hooked to it and yea it works.
But, I have hardwired to the camera as I
found too much interference with the
wireless when I tested it in the camper.
Did you get your bckup camera working
nicely?

I also would like to know if I can plug the receiver of a wireless system into my accessory outlet(12V) in my truck. I've successfully installed a wireless cam w/battery pak into a stuffed puppy. (the cam lens replaced it's eye). And used a small RCA(CAT 16-3064) handheld portable color TV to receive the feed thru a VR-30A Receiver (I think). I used a battery pack from Radio Shack with 6 1.5V AA batteries in it to power the receiver. I know this is only 9V. I did this because of the milliamp issue. It worked OK if you didn't move around too much.

[Mystyx]

This is on my list to setup and try...  ill post more when I do.

It should work as long as you dont put to much current through from your battery, a cars/truck batter runs higher then 12V ussually about 14V but the current is higher from your battery, try a fuse?  definately needs a filter too.

[phorce1]

General electrical note.

A = Amps = current

V = Volts = voltage (duh!)

W = Watts = power (volts * amps)

(Unless you're writing formulas down on paper -- then I = Amps, E = Volts, and P = Watts <--- What idiot came up with that?!? - but we all like pie and P=IE is easy to remember.)

Now,

You don't "put 'x' amount of current through" an item. An item will "PULL 'x' amount of current" depending on its needs.

Any electrical/electronic device will only draw whatever it needs so far as amperage goes. You can hook your camera up to a 12V stable power supply that is capable of feeding 1,000,000,000,000 amps and the camera will only use 80mA if that's all it needs. The rest will be available for other devices.

What you *DO* have to watch out for is the VOLTAGE that you supply. Most electronic devices listed for use at 12V will actually work OK anywhere from 9V to 15V or 18V. **MOST**.

You'll have to find a real spec sheet on the camera from X10 Tech and find out what its operating range is. Someone mentioned above that it works OK at 9V in their 'seeing eye puppy'. I'm sure the transmission range (wireless feed) is reduced some, but it works.

When your car is turned off battery voltage can sit as low as 10.8V nominal and still start the car when you turn the key. When running the alternator will put out 13.8V to 14.5V that is somewhat regulated (ie. it won't go over 14.5V but it can swing wildly from 12.5V to 14.5V depending on speed and what devices are drawing power and how discharged the battery is and what color shirt you're wearing and which sock has a hole in it and ....) 

You just need to make sure the device you want to run will be OK in the 9V to 15V range either by reading a spec sheet or by being willing to destroy one testing it.

Gerald

[dave w]

Phorce1

Finally, some one who knows something. Too many like to weigh in with "helpful advice" when they don't know an ohm from a mHz.

[frank]

Phorce1

Finally, some one who knows something. Too many like to weigh in with "helpful advice" when they don't know an ohm from a mHz.

Thanks for the help, Mystyx, if I beat ya to the project, I'll post my results.

And phorce1 !  You rock, dude! Now if I can just find the time to start on this thing.

Oh! And dave w. , we all know that "ohm" is what is chanted during yoga. And "mHz" are what you get if you stretch too far! Right?    Yeah! I thought so.   

thanks again,
Frank

[al437la]

A good way to ensure a steady power supply is the use of a 30V 50microF capacitor and 12 V, 1 watt zener diode. both are available at radio shack for a few nickles

 + 10-18 volts from car --------------------------------------------------------------  + 12 volt
                                          |                      |
                                        -----                  ------\
                                       |     |                   |
                                        -----                    |
                                          |                      |
 - neg from car          ________________________________________ neg to camera

Make sure that the + terminal of the capacitor is connected to the + from the car power supply.