power question

**blacklancer** · 02-15-2006, 02:05 PM

i don't know if this is the right forum or not, but i just got a camera for my car and it only came with AC plug. my noob question is can I just hardwire it into my car. i'm never going to take it out.

if i just snip the wires, isn't it just power and ground?

any help is appreciated

**WiCKeD 5.9L** · 02-15-2006, 02:21 PM

An AC adapter is not going to take kindly to a DC input...

**blacklancer** · 02-15-2006, 02:24 PM

can i cut off the end and just use the wires?

i have a power inverter right now, but i don't really want to use that.

**WiCKeD 5.9L** · 02-15-2006, 02:36 PM

No. 19v of DC into an AC source would be a bad thing. Keep the bad black smoke IN the camera. Use the inverter.

**Freelander** · 02-15-2006, 02:42 PM

avoiding the inverter is not easy.

first, you would need to check if your ac adapter converted 120v AC from the wall to 12v. the camera must be designed for 12v DC input. this is because your car puts out roughly 12volts.

even if this was true, the power from your car isn't clean. It could be in the 10-14 volts range. most electronic car chargers are made to handle this kind of range.

a car charger still might not be enough. some people claim that charging the cell phone in the car (even using a car charger) with this varying voltage ruins the battery over time.

the bottom line is you will need to "clean the power" to produce a constant, proper voltage, whatever it might be. if you must install a power source for your camera in your car, search for "voltage regulators" or "power regulators".

**blacklancer** · 02-15-2006, 02:50 PM

i just checked the adapter and it is turning 120v AC into 9v DC, but the camera specs say it can handle 9v-12v DC. I'll search around for "voltage regulators" and "power regulators". thanks.

**blacklancer** · 02-15-2006, 10:04 PM

being that it is turning it into 9v, can i just get an adapter to hook up a 9v battery and cut off the AC adapter??

like this:

**DarquePervert** · 02-15-2006, 10:12 PM

You need to learn about amperage, methinks.
Look at the amperage rating of the 9v battery and then on the output of the unit for your cameral.
Compare the two and then tell us if it will work.

**JimmyFitz** · 02-15-2006, 10:18 PM

We might be able to offer better advice about the camera power if we knew who made it and what model # it is. And what is your carPC, how is it powered?

**Freelander** · 02-15-2006, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by JimmyFitz

We might be able to offer better advice about the camera power if we knew who made it and what model # it is. And what is your carPC, how is it powered?

car pc? he probably stumbled on this forum looking for electrical help. nothing to do with car computers.