The MeerKat Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Just purchased a Mikomi unit from Argos and it runs off 12 volt, but it is only supplied with a mains adapter, my friend recommended that if I want to power it whilst not on hook-up I should use a Amperor volatge stabiliser Anyone had any use of them? http://www.amperordirect.co.uk/products/12v_Stabiliser.asp Many Thanks MK :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Looks a bit pricey for a 12v to 12v converter. Try Maplins or E.bay. But yes.... that's what you need to stabilise voltage drop on 12v. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Last time I checked Maplin didn't do a voltage regulator of sufficient power rating for a TV. Amperor unit is not cheap but it is good quality and will give a stable 12v output from an input voltage which may very between 10 and 15 volts. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankkia Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 I use an Amperor stabiliser and it does just what it says on the box. Good bit of kit. At the other end of the price scale - Maplins do a 12v stabilised DC to DC for up to 1500ma which is fine for such things as 12v sat receivers but not really man enough for a t.v. (which if it has a DVD in could take as much as 5 or 6 amps). The product code is A61FJ currently on sale for £5.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kontiki Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 If you read the specs for the Maplin unit it says '12V output is regulated when the input voltage is higher than 16V' so not much use. It is only the same as plugging straight into the battery. They do a 3A Digital Car Power Adaptor @£29.99 Code: A79GW, which I was told would do the job but on reading the packet it again said that the 12 volt voltage was unregulated. It seems that if you want a regulated 12 volt power supply then there is only the Amperor :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWO Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 We got this unit to run our LCD tele when off hook-up, but is it necessary? I noticed the other day that the co-pilot had set the tele up to watch and it was using the motorhome's 12v battery straight, not thro the stabiliser. Probably not recommended but did'nt seem to do any damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The MeerKat Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Many thanks for your prompt feedback guys I purchased the Amperor stabiliser for my LCD on Tuesday night via E-Bay and mangaged to get it for £35 nikka via the best offer function Unit arrived next day and just waiting until the weekend before I give it a test run That's the link for the E-Bay store there http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amperor-12-Volt-LCD-TFT-Voltage-DC-DC-Stabiliser_W0QQitemZ110401634099QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM?hash=item19b4733f33&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Cheers MK :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brod Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Why go to the expense of a regulator. I purchased three rectifier diodes from Maplin they are rated at 3 amps. Now each diode will drop .6 volts so three in series will drop a total of 1.8 volts. If you connect them into the positive lead the 14.4 volts will become 12.6volts. (But make sure they are connected the correct way round) I have used this on my Free Sat Box for two years and have had no problems. The best part is the diodes only cost 21 pence each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Brod - 2009-06-25 11:30 AM Why go to the expense of a regulator. I purchased three rectifier diodes from Maplin they are rated at 3 amps. Now each diode will drop .6 volts so three in series will drop a total of 1.8 volts. If you connect them into the positive lead the 14.4 volts will become 12.6volts. (But make sure they are connected the correct way round) I have used this on my Free Sat Box for two years and have had no problems. The best part is the diodes only cost 21 pence each. Very good, but if the TV requires more than 3 Amps your diodes will burn out, plus if your battery voltage is lower than 14.4V you still lose the voltage so your TV will shut off earlier than with an Amperor unit. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brod Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Maplin also do 6 amp diodes. Yes it will cut off a little earlier, without the threshold voltage of the Ameror I don't know how earlier. But think of the cost difference. What you can do is put a switch across the diodes to bypass them when the voltage goes below the cutoff voltage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Brod - 2009-06-27 10:25 AM Maplin also do 6 amp diodes. Yes it will cut off a little earlier, without the threshold voltage of the Ameror I don't know how earlier. But think of the cost difference. What you can do is put a switch across the diodes to bypass them when the voltage goes below the cutoff voltage. This is all very well for someone who knows their way around an electrical circuit but the average motorhome owner doesn't have that level of knowledge. The Amperor unit will provide a stable 12.5Volt output with anywhere from 10 to 15 volts input, three diodes in series will not do this! D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brod Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Just trying to help, suggest you go and buy your Amperor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Hi, now i will probbaly sound a bit thick here, and your probbaly right. I have a lcd tv (sanyo) I know it's stepped down from 230 v to 12v. would this bit of kit allow me to run the t.v directly from the 12v outlet? and if so, could the ciggy type plug, be changed to the two pin caravan 12v plug? Also, could the same unit be used to power my laptop in the same way? at the moment i use an inverter for the t.v, but only use the laptop when i have a hook up (little as possible) but the fan in the inverter drives me mad. Sorry to hijack the post. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankkia Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Hi Breakaleg. Yes you can run your sanyo t.v. off the 12v. If you buy the Amperor it will replace the 240 to 12v lead as the Amperor comes with the 12v input plug for your telly already attached. As for the other end - if you only have the 2 pin 12v sockets available in your 'van then yes you can take off the ciggy plug and use a 2 pin. Re the laptop: No Neither the Amperor or the old lead for your telly will power that. Laptops generally require higher voltages, typically around 19v, an dshould be powered by either an inverter or a 12v to 19v (or whatever voltage is specified for your model) converter. Some lappie manufacturers sell them specifically for their machines (usually at exhorbitant prices but you can also get 'em from places like Maplins for a lot less. n.b. some manufacturers have strange input sockets on their machines so check that whatever you buy to do the job has the appropriate plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Thanks Bernie, That looks like a good idea, the fan on the inverter, really gets on my nerves after a while. Many thanks Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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