m1-atx car charger power prob

**julianbc** · 08-31-2006, 09:48 PM

So I bought a 2amp-8amp 12v car battery charger so I can test my voomPC that uses an m1-atx. I hooked up the white and red wire to the positive jumper and the black to the negative jumper. Then I plug in the charger and press the button to choose the amerage and it goes to the "fault" light. What am I missing here? I just bought the voomPC and they claim it was tested and turned on fine. I just want an easy, and inexpensive way to run my carPC in the house.

**evilkokonut** · 08-31-2006, 10:01 PM

then run it off a regular old atx power supply.

**Scouse Monkey** · 08-31-2006, 10:02 PM

just find an old ATX psu and run it off the 12V line off that. a 90W psu will draw about 7A so make sure the psu says 10A or more on the 12V rail (sticker on the ATX psu)/

**julianbc** · 08-31-2006, 10:09 PM

So you think I should return the car battery charger and just order an ATX power supply off of newegg? Is it complicated to get it to hook up?

**DarquePervert** · 08-31-2006, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by julianbc

So you think I should return the car battery charger and just order an ATX power supply off of newegg? Is it complicated to get it to hook up?

I made a FAQ just for you: FAQ: How do I power my DC-DC PSU on my workbench?

**JimmyFitz** · 08-31-2006, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by julianbc

So I bought a 2amp-8amp 12v car battery charger so I can test my voomPC that uses an m1-atx. I hooked up the white and red wire to the positive jumper and the black to the negative jumper. Then I plug in the charger and press the button to choose the amerage and it goes to the "fault" light. What am I missing here? I just bought the voomPC and they claim it was tested and turned on fine. I just want an easy, and inexpensive way to run my carPC in the house.

Battery chargers designed for car batteries are not good for running car accessories. The problem is that most of them output an unfiltered pulsating DC with high peaks and drop back to zero 60 or 120 times per second. Batteries like that. Car stereos and computers don't. An easy way to filter this pulse is to connect a car or motorcycle battery in the system too. Then you are running from the battery and keeping it charged as well. If you are going to go buy something, get a dc power supply, not a charger.