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Thread: PC powering

  1. 02-16-2009, 11:17 PM #1
    alvin986
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    PC powering

    Hi,
    I just built a carPC and everything works flawlesly,i have no alternator noises,no ground loops christal clear sound i will post some pics as soon as i finish it.
    I just have 1 question: how much does your battery last when carPC is running? and would another cap help cause i allready have 1 (1F).
    I'm asking because i have a Voltmeter gauge installed in the car and on the battery fully charged it gives me 13 V, and after 20 mins-30 mins on PC running with the car OFF it gives me 12 Volts.

    So i currently have 1 capacitor (1F), 1 1200 W amp,HU and 400W inverter running CarPC (Abit NF7-S with athlon 2400+,Geforce 4 TI 4200 AGP 8X,250 GB WD SATA with 400W PSU.

    I'm also planning to get rid of the HU and put 2 Xplod amps (i already have 1 and i plan to get another 1) so that would be 2 amps x 60W and a 400 W amp.

    Cheers !
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  2. 02-16-2009, 11:56 PM #2
    Bugbyte
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    I don't know how much your PC draws, but let's say 200 watts. Is the stereo on at the same time?

    200 watts / 13 volts = 15 amps.

    A typical car battery supplies perhaps 60 amp hours. This varies by type of battery, but it means that your battery can supply 60 amps for one hour before being discharged.

    Batteries that are under higher load actually have less capacity. So, while you would think a battery could supply 120 amps for 1/2 hour, it would likely be less.

    Depending on the amount of stuff you have on when your computer is running (ahem, a 1200 watt amp, for example), it is not surprising that you are down a volt in 1/2 an hour.

    A capacitor will absolutely not help in this situation. The cap is charged from your battery and is designed only to momentarily supply the necessary voltage to the system when the stereo causes it to drop. No effect in longer term use.
    Quote Originally Posted by ghettocruzer View Post
    I was gung ho on building a PC [until] just recently. However, between my new phone having internet and GPS and all...and this kit...Im starting to have trouble justfiying it haha.
    Want to:
    -Find out about the new iBug iPad install?
    -Find out about carPC's in just 5 minutes? View the Car PC 101 video
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  3. 02-17-2009, 12:49 AM #3
    alvin986
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    so i should get a second battery and possibly a alternator upgrade so this one doesn't suffer or i could charge both batteries with this 1 ? i think it's 100 amps
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