Thread: 5v DC power supply for us heavy USB laptop users..

Originally Posted by GibsonLP

2 questions:

1. Do you think I can put the 5vdc 5A unit in the trunk without using a fan? (however - it's in the trunk, not such a confined space).
2. In practice - how do I hook up such a unit to my units? what about units that have no power supply input, just usb input? can I just "power" my entire usb network with this unit?

Thanks.

Edit:
What do you say about this converter -
http://store.altenergystore.com/Char...nverter/p1302/
Looks pretty efficient (but expensive...)

Nice find but yes very very expensive for only 5 amps. You could get 2 carnetix 5v POL's for $50 and end up with working amps.

1: As for the meanwell. Mounting in the trunk should be fine. but I'm not going to risk it. The psu is going to be enclosed with my laptop underneath a panel of wood. I am going to be using fans to circulate air in and out of the enclosure but not alot of them. After feeling how hot the meanwell got I wouldn't reccomend using it any tight enclosed areas. If you mounted it to the widewall or top deck of the trunk then it should be fine. but behind carpet would be a no no.

2: You can either splice the cable. Buy a USB dual head cable and splice into the extra connector. Or just use one of these devices to power a USB hub. That way all your devices get max power. Remember at most a usb device used 500mA And thats only the high end stuff. Very few items surpass that (some usb drives) To overcome that they almost always include a secondary input jack. But everything else generally gets its power off the usb bus so a powered usb hub is the win.

sigh i wish i would have read thoroughly before i ordered. im in the process of installing mine. i think overloading my p5v was causing instability of my computer system. I wanted something inexpensive to supplement the p5v so i bought the 10 amp system listed above. the main thing that worries me is that this will be under a floor with many other hot devices, such as amplifiers and my carputer.

anyone know what i can do to make this work out?

Originally Posted by miztahsparklez

sigh i wish i would have read thoroughly before i ordered. im in the process of installing mine. i think overloading my p5v was causing instability of my computer system. I wanted something inexpensive to supplement the p5v so i bought the 10 amp system listed above. the main thing that worries me is that this will be under a floor with many other hot devices, such as amplifiers and my carputer.

anyone know what i can do to make this work out?

Mine has been buried under my trunk carpet for months now.. i have had no problems at all.

sounds good then. I noticed that there seems to be two grounds on the device. How did you hook yours up? specifically, what did you do with the connection that has the ground symbol on it?

Originally Posted by miztahsparklez

sounds good then. I noticed that there seems to be two grounds on the device. How did you hook yours up? specifically, what did you do with the connection that has the ground symbol on it?

the one with the ground symbol i grounded to the frame of the car, the (-) i hooked up to the gnd of all the 5v devices.

but theres also the ground input too. so mine has a total of 3 grounds.. one to the 5v. and the other one to the car. but im unsure of the third.

Originally Posted by miztahsparklez

but theres also the ground input too. so mine has a total of 3 grounds.. one to the 5v. and the other one to the car. but im unsure of the third.

I looked again today. I connected the gnd logo and the ground for the 12v together