CaptainSlappy
New Member
Hello all! Just joined up, and got (like everyone else), one of those ideas I can't seem to turn into reality.
TO whit:
Take an RV. Now, RV's come with your standard 110v to 12v converters.
These converters do TWO things at once (and the good ones do more), such as-
1.- Convert 110v AC to 12v DC for running 12v pumps, and 12v lighting (constant usage, meaning it pumps that 12v on that rail constantly).
2.- Charge a 12v Lead Battery, but the good ones come with "float" charging, not just constant charge (which in the old ones, destroyed the batteries eventually). Not to mention the new ones desulfate, saving $$$! (Pulse charge DC)
My problem is this- I have a few ATX PSU's hanging around, gathering dust.
Technically, I know good and well with the proper setup (though I do not know the how), they can be used to do either one, or the other at once (converting for constant power use, like lighting), or charging (by charging the battery, who then runs the lights, like a buffer if you will).
My question is, can an ATX PSU be setup to do BOTH at once?
If not, not a problem, as I understood (after 3 hours of Googling, with not one bit of it applying directly to my situation, if I do the simplest conversion, the ATX will charge the battery, but straight out of the box, it will NOT "float" charge (thereby eventually destroying the battery).
If I go the other way, it might be possible to have "constant" power to my
12v lighting (if I can figure out how many amps 7-12v 1154 bulbs run), and INCIDENTLY charge my 12v battery along the way (but VERY slowly).
I DO, however, know that if you run a ballast resistor, it might (?) keep the ATX.......(A) from burning up and (B) from destroying a battery especially if there is no load CURRENTLY running on the circuit (meaning, it is idle).
Sorry for the long read, but I was just curious.
The simple answer seems to be: Convert ATX PSU to a simple battery charger, somehow, with the "float" mode. (Though not really simple is it?)
My only concern is that by doing that, the ATX PSU won't be able to handle charging AND running 12v lighting at the same time (in my case, I only need my 12v battery to run lighting ONLY).
And yes, a 1.5A trickle charger tries, but ain't got the cajones.....
It went bye-bye! (I didn't catch the 1.5A part, but she lasted for 2 months)
Just throw some theory at me, I got time and patience, and while Google did help, slightly, it never helped with an ATX "float" charger AND acting as a converter for constant use at the same time. I did see some audio amp ones, but they were putting out close to 15-20 amps, a bit more than I need, methinks........
TO whit:
Take an RV. Now, RV's come with your standard 110v to 12v converters.
These converters do TWO things at once (and the good ones do more), such as-
1.- Convert 110v AC to 12v DC for running 12v pumps, and 12v lighting (constant usage, meaning it pumps that 12v on that rail constantly).
2.- Charge a 12v Lead Battery, but the good ones come with "float" charging, not just constant charge (which in the old ones, destroyed the batteries eventually). Not to mention the new ones desulfate, saving $$$! (Pulse charge DC)
My problem is this- I have a few ATX PSU's hanging around, gathering dust.
Technically, I know good and well with the proper setup (though I do not know the how), they can be used to do either one, or the other at once (converting for constant power use, like lighting), or charging (by charging the battery, who then runs the lights, like a buffer if you will).
My question is, can an ATX PSU be setup to do BOTH at once?
If not, not a problem, as I understood (after 3 hours of Googling, with not one bit of it applying directly to my situation, if I do the simplest conversion, the ATX will charge the battery, but straight out of the box, it will NOT "float" charge (thereby eventually destroying the battery).
If I go the other way, it might be possible to have "constant" power to my
12v lighting (if I can figure out how many amps 7-12v 1154 bulbs run), and INCIDENTLY charge my 12v battery along the way (but VERY slowly).
I DO, however, know that if you run a ballast resistor, it might (?) keep the ATX.......(A) from burning up and (B) from destroying a battery especially if there is no load CURRENTLY running on the circuit (meaning, it is idle).
Sorry for the long read, but I was just curious.
The simple answer seems to be: Convert ATX PSU to a simple battery charger, somehow, with the "float" mode. (Though not really simple is it?)
My only concern is that by doing that, the ATX PSU won't be able to handle charging AND running 12v lighting at the same time (in my case, I only need my 12v battery to run lighting ONLY).
And yes, a 1.5A trickle charger tries, but ain't got the cajones.....
It went bye-bye! (I didn't catch the 1.5A part, but she lasted for 2 months)
Just throw some theory at me, I got time and patience, and while Google did help, slightly, it never helped with an ATX "float" charger AND acting as a converter for constant use at the same time. I did see some audio amp ones, but they were putting out close to 15-20 amps, a bit more than I need, methinks........