What's the cheapest/easiest way to create a power source for bench testing things like nav lights. Just get a 12v battery?
12v power source
- Thread starter Sam D
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Define cheap. If testing portable items use the battery on your vehicle or riding lawn mower. But if want a dedicated bench source a couple 6v lantern batteries, extra power adapters with required output, etc. Have used various methods over the years but if need to check any higher amperage items a more conventional battery would be better.
Lndwarrior
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Gary
When it finally became time to power the main bus on my homebuilt I was scared to death to hook up the battery. I had no idea if the hundreds of wires i had installed were really done properly. I had visions of my entire panel turning into a smoking mess.
Someone suggested i use a simple 9 volt battery to test most of my systems. Not knowing much about electrical sustems i was kind of shocked that it worked through my main bus. I just alligator clipped the tiny battery to my battery cables and it worked like a charm. One benefit was that there was not enough power in the 9 volt to do serious damage to any of my systems.
Of course it depends on the load. If you're testing non-led strobes, for example, it probably wont work.
Someone suggested i use a simple 9 volt battery to test most of my systems. Not knowing much about electrical sustems i was kind of shocked that it worked through my main bus. I just alligator clipped the tiny battery to my battery cables and it worked like a charm. One benefit was that there was not enough power in the 9 volt to do serious damage to any of my systems.
Of course it depends on the load. If you're testing non-led strobes, for example, it probably wont work.
Thanks all. Just the kind of input I was looking for. Lots of good ideas here.
Doug Reid
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They have a variety of units depending on your requirements. I have used these switching power supplies for a long time to power amateur radio transmitters.
Doug Reid
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On the models I have purchased, you can adjust the regulated output voltage between 5 to 15 volts dc.
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe
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Light and Sporty Guy
You don't have a battery charger?
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe
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Light and Sporty Guy
Cheap battery chargers just output about 14 and some odd volts and the current falls where it will.
Success!
Stewartb
Final Approach
The battery charger in your garage!
Yes, I try to isolate my screw-ups!
wilkersk
Pattern Altitude
I bought the 10 amp model of this power supply to use on my bench. I've powered up various avionics with it, it works well. And, it'll be what I use to power up my instrument panel for the first time when I get it put together.