gumby!

iTrader: (2)

I want to make my own home theatre sub, and want to use one of my car audio amp's, where can I buy a power convertor to do this? I guess the power supply would be similar to a car audio display board?

Njord

I know a solution for this.
You can actually use a computer power supply to power you car stereo for your house. If you bridge the green and a black wire on the 20+4pin motherboard connector it will power up the power supply. Then look at a computer site (NCIX.com) for a power supply that has a single 12v rail, and a large amperage on it.


This i would believe this to be the cheapest and easiest solution. A computer power supply should run you a MAX or $100(~$50avg) or so.

gumby!

iTrader: (2)

Thanks but I don't think thats what im looking for, I don't want to burn my house down, LOL!

AyZe

They used to carry them at london drugs, not shure about now. They where suppose to be able to make enuff power for up to 600watts.(if i reme correctly round $49.99). Was gonna get 1 at one point then deceided to keep the subs in my car.

Njord

How would that burn down your house? LOL! I've read about people doing it all the time. It works very well, and you can usually get them very cheap. I've done it my self using a very old P3 power supply and a smaller audio system.

As long as you're not using one of those class A amplifiers that take a ridiculous amount of current constantly. You should be ok. (you could actually use a class A amp, you would just need a larger power supply. But then it might be come less cost effective.)

You would think that a computer power supply would never be able to do it. But it can, cause its not a linear power supply. Its a switching power supply. Hah, you wouldn't even have to worry about ripple voltage either with this. Computers need very, very stable power to keep running. Thus no ripple voltage.

Oh, and if you have an older comp with a P4. That CPU is using around 150W.
Lets do some math here.
150W/5V=30A (CPU runs of the 5v line on the power supply. Older CPU's ran of the 3.3v rail)

Doesn't look so unrealistic now does it?

Njord

I would like to add something to further prove my point.
When I was building my amp I needed a power supply to test it. But I didn't want to use my power supply from my computer, as I was using it. So I ripped open an old VCR and pulled the power supply out of that. (I wouldn't suggest looking for an old VCR though. The reason I could [I'm sure you could to if you looked] is because I've been going to school for electronics for 2 years now. Also the Transformer kind of gives it away )

Mind you it only gave my system ~5A so I couldn't crank it, but It allowed me to see if I fixed the RCA channels (I was having some crackling)

Any ways, don't jump the gun on saying no. I'm just giving suggestions.