Running appliances using the leisure battery

[Chrissy and Martin]

There are a number of appliances that come with the "cigarette lighter" connector which are clearly designed to be able to work via a leisure battery. We use a portable DVD player for example and it works fine.

I was looking on the T'internet to see if I could find a decent DAB radio that could be powered in the same way. Can't find one anywhere! Then it struck me that I have some household appliances at home that run off of a transformer that I assume converts mains electricity (240volt) into a DC voltage (of differing voltages but often 6 or 12).

I never really understood all that sort of thing, so my question is, if I have an appliance such as a radio that runs off of a transformer can I just buy one of those cigarette lighter connectors and plug it into the leisure battery? (I have a DAB radio that runs off of a 12volt dc transformer that is plugged into the mains.)

Maplins do something for less than a tenner that has multiple jacks on one end (to go into an appliance) and the 12volt jack on the other that would plug into the axillary connector in the romahome. It has a dial that you can set to differing voltage levels between 3 and 12 (ish).
Should it just work or is there something about amps and volts that I should be worrying about!

Sorry if that sounds a bit techie!

Martin

[yamaha]

Hi Martin

I've had a look at Maplins web site - and it would appear that this item should do what you need :

www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=A61FJ&source=15&SD=Y

It will supply up to 1500mA ( 1.5 amps ) maximum, which is 18 watts at 12v, with a variety of voltage outputs, and a selection of adapter tips.
It is also a regulated output, which is quite important to protect the item you're powering.

You need to establish the voltage AND current ratings of anything you wish to power from it - and, most important, the polarity it requires.

This adapter is adjustable for polarity, so should prove very useful.

You can calculate the wattage needed by each device you want to use by multipying the voltage and current taken - W=VI - where W is watts, V is volts, and I is current - so I=W/V - watts divided by volts.

For example - on the 12v setting, it can supply 1.5 amps. However, on a lower voltage setting, it will supply a higher current - on 9v it would supply 2 amps.

Confused yet?

Mike

[Chrissy and Martin]

Many thanks indeed Mike. That connector looks better than the one I saw in the shop. I'll check the amp requirement for my device tonight (I suspect its 1.5 amps, in which case that should do the trick).
Well researched!
Martin

[Chrissy and Martin]

I've bought the maplins device (under a tenner) and it works fine. I've tested it on a few appliances from home and it'll do the job very nicely indeed.