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Cathode question
- Thread starter Shambler
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2007
- Messages
- 25,470
The inverter (little box the bulb plugs into) only needs 12 volts (yellow wire) so you can buy a small universal power adapter at your local electronics store. Splice the wires from the inverter to the adapter (get the polarity right) and your in business.
The positive wire from the adapter goes to the yellow 12v wire, and the negative will go to one of the black negative/ground wires.
Or you can order something like this:
http://www.jab-tech.com/12v-DC-Power-Supply-with-Single-Molex-Connector-pr-3776.html
The positive wire from the adapter goes to the yellow 12v wire, and the negative will go to one of the black negative/ground wires.
Or you can order something like this:
http://www.jab-tech.com/12v-DC-Power-Supply-with-Single-Molex-Connector-pr-3776.html
The specification for the part in the link is 12V @ 2A.
Whatever current is required by your inverter times two needs to be less than 2A.
Example:
If the inverter is rated 12V @ 400mA then for two inverters 800mA is needed from the supply, 2A (or 2000mA) is 1.2A (or 1200mA) more than you need; in this example your safe and with plenty of headroom for a third or maybe even a fourth inverter.
One last thought:
I like to use power supplies at no more than 75% of their rating. It allows for surge currents (which inverters have at start-up) and it keeps the supply running cool enough to keep it from having a shortened life-span.
Whatever current is required by your inverter times two needs to be less than 2A.
Example:
If the inverter is rated 12V @ 400mA then for two inverters 800mA is needed from the supply, 2A (or 2000mA) is 1.2A (or 1200mA) more than you need; in this example your safe and with plenty of headroom for a third or maybe even a fourth inverter.
One last thought:
I like to use power supplies at no more than 75% of their rating. It allows for surge currents (which inverters have at start-up) and it keeps the supply running cool enough to keep it from having a shortened life-span.
Arcygenical
Fully [H]
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2005
- Messages
- 25,066
Those things use at most 5w of power.
Doing the math: 5w / 12v = 0.46a of electricity per dual inverter.
Therefore, you need a power supply that runs 12v @ 500ma to run a single double cathode.
Now, You want to leave yourself at least 25% extra room on that wall PSU, so look for about a 700ma wall-wart PSU.
2 cathodes (2 inverters with 2 bulbs each) would need a 12v PSU that could supply 1.4a.
3 cathodes (2 bulbs each = 6 total bulbs) would need about a 2.1a supply.
etc.
Doing the math: 5w / 12v = 0.46a of electricity per dual inverter.
Therefore, you need a power supply that runs 12v @ 500ma to run a single double cathode.
Now, You want to leave yourself at least 25% extra room on that wall PSU, so look for about a 700ma wall-wart PSU.
2 cathodes (2 inverters with 2 bulbs each) would need a 12v PSU that could supply 1.4a.
3 cathodes (2 bulbs each = 6 total bulbs) would need about a 2.1a supply.
etc.
So, judging from the math, and the link to that Power Supply above. It would be safe to get 2 power supplies to run 4 cathodes. PSU puts out 2A: 2 cathodes: 4 bulbs: about 1.4a with enough amperage left over in case of surge.
(1 power supply, molex splitter, 2 cathodes) x2
That sound right?
(1 power supply, molex splitter, 2 cathodes) x2
That sound right?