Electrics help: Voltage Regulators

[the_lone_wolf]

Has a semi-successful day installing various electric bits on the ADV today, managed the power for the GPS and the HID lights, bit stumped by the Nautilus trying to find space and the lead for my bullet camera system.

The note with the camera states that the input voltage shouldn't exceed 12V, but the provided accessory leads on the ADV are measured at 12.7V when the engine is stopped and 13.5V when running

One aspect of electronics I've not seen much of is voltage regulators, I need one that's fairly small and will regulate the 12.7-13.5V to 12, but the ones I've seen on maplins website require at least 15V input to provide 12V output:confused:

Help me .org, I'd love to have it all set up by the AR to get some footage...

[ThEGr33k]

Has a semi-successful day installing various electric bits on the ADV today, managed the power for the GPS and the HID lights, bit stumped by the Nautilus trying to find space and the lead for my bullet camera system.

The note with the camera states that the input voltage shouldn't exceed 12V, but the provided accessory leads on the ADV are measured at 12.7V when the engine is stopped and 13.5V when running

One aspect of electronics I've not seen much of is voltage regulators, I need one that's fairly small and will regulate the 12.7-13.5V to 12, but the ones I've seen on maplins website require at least 15V input to provide 12V output:confused:

Help me .org, I'd love to have it all set up by the AR to get some footage...


Id imagine the Camera will be fine at 13.5V. Dont quote me on that but most things can handle more power and if its designed to run on the bike then I cant see as you would have a problem. There will be very few systems that run at exactly 12 Volts and all charge systems should be 13.5-14.5V at charge!

What camera is it? Can you contact the manufacturer and ask?

You could cheat and use a 2nd battery free of the charge system.

[the_lone_wolf]

Id imagine the Camera will be fine at 13.5V.

The note attached to the vehicle wiring connector explicitly states not to exceed 12V

I already have a LI battery pack for it, but want to wire it into the vehicle so I can film indefinitely

[ThEGr33k]

The note attached to the vehicle wiring connector explicitly states not to exceed 12V

I already have a LI battery pack for it, but want to wire it into the vehicle so I can film indefinitely

Then it wont fit any vehicle. Nothing can charge at 12V as you need Voltage gradient for the battery to charge... dont much make sense them saying no more than 12V. Maybe it means "Dont put it on the mains!"?

Have you done a google on the make/model to see what others have done?

[the_lone_wolf]

Then it wont fit any vehicle.
It will if you use an electronic device to regulate the voltage... It has nothing to do with the charging system, I'm trying to find info on what regulator to use to give me a fairly clean 12v, not whether it can be directly wired to the battery...

[tigersaw]

put a silicon diode in series with the +ve feed to the camera, something from the 1N4000 series, i.e 1N4001, 4002 etc. This will drop the voltage by 0.6V. Use two to drop by 1.2V if needs be

[ThEGr33k]

http://www.action-replay.co.uk/Computing/12v12vDC_regulator.htm


Presume this is the sort of thing?

Out of interest what camera is it?

[the_lone_wolf]

http://www.action-replay.co.uk/Computing/12v12vDC_regulator.htm


Presume this is the sort of thing?

Something similar without the miles of cable, bulky box and wild price tag, I'm thinking more like a couple of quid down maplins...

Kit is from 4kam btw, they don't mention the need for a regulator on the website but do when you receive the kit that "hooks straight up to your vehicle's electrics":rolleyes:

[embee]

I've got a portable Avtex 12V flatscreen TV/DVD which has a 12V power supply thing which plugs in the normal accessory socket, I presume this gives a stable regulated 12V out more or less, so they do exist.

Anything of any use here? (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=3&type=3090&man=0&filterwords=&go=SEARCH&comp=)

Edit - actually the IC voltage regulators from Maplins work at lower voltages that they quote in the specs, I used a 10V one and it regulates nicely right down to only a little over 10V supply, so I'd suggest a 12V fixed reg would almost certainly work fine for your purposes, current rating permitting.

[the_lone_wolf]

Anything of any use here? (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cat=3&type=3090&man=0&filterwords=&go=SEARCH&comp=)

Nothing jumps off the page...

The problem with the LCD screen type regulators is the size, they seem to be massive compared to the voltage regulators available as components, I'm trying to find something small so I can tuck it under the headlamp fairing with the other wiring bits for the HIDs/GPS/heated grips/aux lights etc etc etc etc... So space is at a premium:o

[tigersaw]

Hello????


put a silicon diode in series with the +ve feed to the camera, something from the 1N4000 series, i.e 1N4001, 4002 etc. This will drop the voltage by 0.6V. Use two to drop by 1.2V if needs be

[the_lone_wolf]

Hello????

Ooops, sorry mate, meant to PM you about this and something else but completely forgot, blame the lack of sleep:o

Will bunging a pair of those diodes in cause problems you reckon if the voltage drops from 12.6 say down to 11.4?

If not i reckon that's a cheap and easy method, do you know where to get hold of these, having trouble locating them in the maplins catalogue

Other off topic thing was those off-road days you mentioned a while back, can you take your own bike? I was hoping to get some dirt experience on the ADV before whisking it off to the bavarian alps/morocco etc etc - would you be interested in doing one this summer some time?

[tigersaw]

Ooops, sorry mate, meant to PM you about this and something else but completely forgot, blame the lack of sleep:o

Will bunging a pair of those diodes in cause problems you reckon if the voltage drops from 12.6 say down to 11.4?

If not i reckon that's a cheap and easy method, do you know where to get hold of these, having trouble locating them in the maplins catalogue

Other off topic thing was those off-road days you mentioned a while back, can you take your own bike? I was hoping to get some dirt experience on the ADV before whisking it off to the bavarian alps/morocco etc etc - would you be interested in doing one this summer some time?

The forward voltage (or drop in your application) depends on the current that will be drawn. Can be 0.6V up to 1 volt.
Does it say what current or wattage the unit uses?
Look here for maplins stock:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=19079
The 1N5400 series can dissipate 6 watts, I would imagine thats more than your sevice will use, but.. best check.
Used these many a time as a quick and dirty voltage dropper - its not the same as a regulator mind. That can be done with a zenor diode and a suitable output transistor, but there would be a volt drop overhead doing it that way too.

Those off road days - in Somerset? Yes they did accept you on your own bike, but the place I went to currently seems to be unavailable. They were based in Beer, Somerset.

[embee]

For info this is the Avtex plug-in source
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh268/Hi-vis/IMG_3976Small.jpg
, says 12V 2A, should be enough.

Try a 12V reg from Maplins with a couple of capacitors, cheap enough. It won't go above 12V which is your concern, doesn't really matter if it drops a bit.