Running setup/speakers from your car battery?

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-- Running setup/speakers from your car battery?

Posted by discobiscuit on Apr-17-2008 08:37:

Running setup/speakers from your car battery?

i saw a jack at walmart that plugs into your lighter and converts into a 3-prong plug. can i plug a multiplug strip into the converter and run my cdj's/mixer/computer/speakers off of that or will it drain my battery? i'm willing to keep my car running while i'm doing it if that will help save my battery...

i'm going to a multi-day festival and wanted to spin some tracks at night when the bands are done playing....

thanks,
bisco

Posted by SteelWolf on Apr-17-2008 11:15:

Um... I don't know if a whee 12 volt battery can handle speakers, amp, laptop, CDJs, mixer ETC. I'm no electrician but I'd say that would make your car 'splode (ok maybe not really). I say rent a Gennie!! I know home depot rents generators, you could probably get one for like 40 bucks a day. Thats a lot of shit to pull power mate... and I doubt your car battery could run all that, even with the car running the whole time. I say get you a gennie.

Posted by Tony Morello on Apr-17-2008 15:56:

a small generator is the way to go

those converters usually don't have high enough amperage needed to run a dj setup

it won't do anything to your car, your stuff just won't turn on

it's not so much what the battery can handle but what your alternator is rated for because you definitely need to have your car running if you intend to use a converter for an extended period

amps are the key though, find a converter with a high enough amp rating and it's possible

Posted by SteelWolf on Apr-17-2008 18:41:

^Thats the ticket. Go to home depot and tell them what you have in mind they'll help you

Posted by Tony Morello on Apr-17-2008 23:45:

although even if you find a converter with a higher amp rating, there's also the risk of blowing fuses in your car

i've never successfully gotten a setup to work on a converter myself, i recommend renting a small generator or mixing solely off a laptop

Posted by discobiscuit on Apr-18-2008 10:19:

ok thanks guys

Posted by adx on Apr-18-2008 23:44:

quote:
Originally posted by Tony Morello
although even if you find a converter with a higher amp rating, there's also the risk of blowing fuses in your car

i've never successfully gotten a setup to work on a converter myself, i recommend renting a small generator or mixing solely off a laptop

Nearly every DC to AC converter is rated in watts. Do the math and you can find amperage easily.

Which brings me up to a mini-story: I have a 1500 continuous converter that once powered a full home audio system and a set of Definitive Tech speakers (company van lol). 2 amps, pre-amp and cd player. Believe me, it can be definately done. (quick math proves this unit can output roughly 125amps).

How did it sound? Err, yuk. So much noise in the lines due to the converter and alternator. You could possibly use a line conditioner but I dont know how effective it will be. And you would have to keep the car started the whole time. So, yes you can power your equipment off a rediculous converter.

If you in Denver, Ill loan you mine for lunch lol (3kw honda gen. Will run for 4 hours per tank at full tilt).

Posted by Tony Morello on Apr-19-2008 02:58:

quote:
Originally posted by adx
Nearly every DC to AC converter is rated in watts.

touche