• Registered: 2007-09-11
  • Posts: 4

Topic: 12v car charger

The power is 12v, correct?  How sensitive is it?  EG, would hooking it up to a car cigarette lighter be OK?

  • Registered: 2006-08-27
  • Posts: 154

Re: 12v car charger

Should be fine. I've powered the Chumby anywhere from 12V to ~7V and it's been pretty steady.

  • Registered: 2007-07-04
  • Posts: 64

Re: 12v car charger

Car voltage is usually around 14ish (13.8 if I remember right )volts as you drive and 12 when the car is off. undervoltage is not as much as overvoltage in solid state devices I have smoked many 9 volt appliances on 12 volts because I figured ah well 3 volts.  When you get down to low voltage where 1 volt is 6-8% it makes a difference so things are usually can handle upto but not over 14 volts that are made for 12 volts.

  • Registered: 2007-09-11
  • Posts: 4

Re: 12v car charger

Correct.  Not to mention, the power supply on a car or motorcycle can be rather noisy.  I was wondering if "being powerable in a cigarrette lighter" was a specific design requirement and implementation

  • Registered: 2007-07-04
  • Posts: 64

Re: 12v car charger

You could get 2 12v large electrolytic caps and a 7812 voltage regulator or 2 from radio shack and call it a day.