Power source for testing/diagnostics

[rtliquid]

Can I use an ac powered car battery charger as a 12-volt power supply to bench test things like stereos/speakers backup cameras/monitors, etc?

 

[DAlastDON]

Have not done it like that personally but you should be able to. You can also use the 12V rail on computer power supply as well.

 

[littleblazer]

If it is a dumb charger I think it should work(start/10/2 type with just a float mode). A smart charger probably won't. I normally just use an old car battery as I have about 3 of them laying around...

 

[MAY03LT]

I tried it once when I hooked up a power probe to my 10/2 charger to move a window motor. The voltage display on the power probe fluctuated and would turn off when a load was put on it. I then put the charger on a weak battery that was laying around and used the power probe off of that and it worked great. It was like the battery was a buffer even though it was weak (10v and some change).

 

[BlazingTrails]

I use an old 1080 watt computer PSU that I have in the garage. It is very powerful, and I have been planning to build an enclosure and fused outputs for my bench, that will be a good winter project :yeS: