Power Supply Quick Question

**redcell3** · 05-13-2008, 07:08 PM

K so i read the PSU faq about powering the carputer, first it doesn't say anything about how to get the power from the 8G(or larger) wire to the power supply unit, my thought would be a power distribution block?
Anyways here is my question, couldn't i just take the power and ground leads from my cigarette adapter, it has a fusable link in the engine compartment that goes to the "accessory" cigarette adapters in my car(one in the front, and one in the trunk) not sure if anyone cares or this matters, but it is a 2001 nissan xterra that i will be using.
Thanks

**rgarjr** · 05-13-2008, 10:05 PM

its better to just run a new cable from the battery to your psu and your pc gadgets.

**redcell3** · 05-13-2008, 10:09 PM

update
found a thread with same question figured out that i cannot do this, although no explanation why this cannot be done was given that i saw, could someone explain why it is not possible to draw the power from the cig lighter leads, this makes no sense to me considering that if it would "fry the carputer" why would all other components that plug into the cigarette lighter not fry. please someone explain or give me a link to an explanation
Thanks

**Bxsteez** · 05-13-2008, 10:14 PM

I have a quick question how many sata drives can be powered with the M2-ATX-HV 160W Intelligent DC-DC PSU? I'm using one harddrive and one CF to sata adapter

**redcell3** · 05-13-2008, 10:23 PM

BUMP
Please do not interrupt my question with yours

**Rob Withey** · 05-14-2008, 01:28 AM

It is a bad idea to power from your cigarette lighter leads because depending on how much juice your setup is drawing the wires may not be thick enough. You may just end up melting the wires in your car loom together and losing a lot more than your cigarette lighter feed - is it worth that risk when you could so easily run a new feed.

<Awaits comical drawing of car on fire - again>

**rgarjr** · 05-14-2008, 01:41 AM

It is possible to power up the carpc using the cig lighter socket, however the system will perform in top conditions if its pulling power from its own cable. People don't mind running new cable for it since, they are installing and need to run cables anyhow.

So in a short answer, just run a new thick cable to your system.

**redcell3** · 05-14-2008, 02:30 AM

thats the thread that i read about it making the carputer fry

It is a bad idea to power from your cigarette lighter leads because depending on how much juice your setup is drawing the wires may not be thick enough

i can understand this, but using a large power inverters pull their juice from the cig lighter, and it states that it can handle 120w of power from the cig lighter. Has anyone personally used the leads from the cig lighter and had a system get fried(legitimately) or is it just common practice that everyone is told not to do? I'm sure there is plenty of guys/gals on here that actually know what the hell they are talking about, but it is the internet and unless i can get verifiable data backed up by multiple sources, i cannot believe it.

**ArcaneDreams** · 05-14-2008, 02:31 AM

yes yes..Cigarette lighter = FIRE!

**ArcaneDreams** · 05-14-2008, 02:34 AM

Originally Posted by redcell3

thats the thread that i read about it making the carputer fry

i can understand this, but using a large power inverters pull their juice from the cig lighter, and it states that it can handle 120w of power from the cig lighter. Has anyone personally used the leads from the cig lighter and had a system get fried(legitimately) or is it just common practice that everyone is told not to do? I'm sure there is plenty of guys/gals on here that actually know what the hell they are talking about, but it is the internet and unless i can get verifiable data backed up by multiple sources, i cannot believe it.

I have seen several people try to power amplifiers from cigarette lighters. The entire plastic bit melted off the wire..leaving only bare wires running everywhere. The car fills up with smoke and smells really bad..probably toxic.

Then with all that melted hot plastic it is easy to catch something on fire.

I have seen this happen 3 times.

Don't take a chance. The wires for the cigarette lighter were made to simply warm up the lighter..nothing more. (Well..depending on how old your car is).

You are also likely to get feedback via ground loop that way.

And if you are running an external audio amplifier, you will need to run new wire anyway.