cyberskydive 0 #1 April 3, 2002 well, today in my computer architecture class we were whippin out the multimeters measuring various voltages etc from the power supply to various components of a computer.The thing that sparked my "bright" idea was the fact that the highest voltage encountered was 12 V, lowest we got to anyway was 3 V.Anyhow a brief background on me to make ths make sense....I was a GM auto mechanic for about 4 years (anyone got any spare tools;0-lol) and studied modern electrical components extensively, (maybe why I drove a 69 bug for damn near 10 years)Anyhow, 12V the highest in the computer, for fans etc, and other lower voltages.......I think that using various methods(resistance, temerature coefficient type "breakers" etc I could make a computer run from a car battery-lolnow this is just a theory-lolI'm not sure if I'll need to vary voltages "on the fly" like auto "modules" do, but I'm sure its a consideration to think about. what do ya think?-lolthe instructor of the class will give us an automatic 100 avaerage if we are A+ certified by the end of the quarter, I wonder what we could get for running computers from car batteries-lol......there is no spoon--------------------Another place to play Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #2 April 3, 2002 Go to a Car Toys or some sort of car audio/alarm store and buy a transister (i think that's what they call them). It hops everything up so you can run a 'puter. (I'm currently waiting for the extra $$ to buy a 15" LCD so I can throw a computer together for my truck)."Homer Simpson, smiling politely." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #3 April 3, 2002 It depends on how powerful of a comptuer you want to power. A modern computer will draw at least 300 watts at 110V assuming a normal amount of drives, fans, PCI cards, and a fairly fast processor. This does not include your display device and any other peripherals that need AC power. Most of the invertors (the things that Dave mentioned) on the consumer market can't handle that kind of a draw.--Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #4 April 3, 2002 Kinda like the Wireless LAN I run in the front seat of my Car when ever I go out and play with some of my freeware toys? I really like Netstumbler I just did the laptop thing but converting from DC to AC is the biggest problem you'll have Dan. Also note that each wire runs on a different voltage in the plugs on the mother board. A transformer converting 12v DC to each of the 4 AC Voltage settings is going to be the hardest/most expensive part but it has been done a few times before.I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend... ~3EB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #5 April 3, 2002 QuoteMost of the invertors (the things that Dave mentioned) on the consumer market can't handle that kind of a draw.I wasn't talking about an Inverter. I was talking about running the system directly from the battery using a transformer to hop up the power. It would be asinine to convert from dc to ac to dc again, right? From my own research I think I've got it so I could run a simple setup of a computer this way, wiring my own sort of "powersupply" but not in the traditional PC sense. When you really get down to it, the question is can your alternator/battery handle the draw, it may require upgrades there."Homer Simpson, smiling politely." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #6 April 3, 2002 >I think that using various methods(resistance, temerature coefficient >type "breakers" etc I could make a computer run from a car battery-lolSure you can, but it might take a bit of work. You could probably do it with a handful of off-the-shelf linears and monolithic switchers. You could definitely do it with half a dozen Vicor modules.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #7 April 3, 2002 >I wasn't talking about an Inverter. I was talking about running the system directly >from the battery using a transformer to hop up the power.Transformers work on AC only.>It would be asinine to convert from dc to ac to dc again, right?Not really. A standard computer power supply converts 120VAC to high voltage DC to high frequency AC to low voltage DC, so it's not _that_ asinine.>When you really get down to it, the question is can your alternator/battery handle> the draw, it may require upgrades there.A typical alternator will give you 600 watts, so it can power a pretty hefty PC. I do this all the time.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #8 April 3, 2002 I have been once again proven that I should stick to what I know. Sleeping, drinking beer and farting..."Homer Simpson, smiling politely." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schroeder 0 #9 April 3, 2002 Ok, didn't read the post, going to bed soon.My car is the Luge-mobile.It has 2 small halogen map lights installed cleanly into either side of the rear hatches interior for luge assembly at night, a inverter running a laptop, which runs voice recog, which helps me run a GPS utility that I use to track the car, scope out potential luge-runs, and a Etrex that I put in my jacket pocket before each run. When I get to the bottom, I download the track info, and log all the speeds etc. So that's what I use it for. And navigation. All this is and more wired into a 83 black, tinted scirocco. It's kinda ging to hell, and I'm not sure if I wanna keep feeding money into it, but man, in it's prime, that thing ruled. Still does. Just less asthetically (sp)."If I ventured in the slipstream; Between the via-ducts of your dreams.......could you find me?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
