Electronic Device Help

highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
It's the sort of thing you just need to know what to search for and then it's simple! But, I've tried searching for about 30 minutes and can't find what I want?!

We've got a small electric item that runs off a 240v AC Adapter. We want it to run off batteries as they'll be no power where we want to use it.

What it is that I need?! Can I plug a power pack into the AC Adapter socket? Or perhaps plug the plug into a power pack maybe?

TIA
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Inverter is the common term for a device that will produce mains AC from a low voltage DC supply - if that's what you want..

bdv066.jpg
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
Unfortunately, most things I've finding are DC to AC or AC to 12v.

The item is a little 7" digital photo frame, some of the solution are so large scale for something so small!
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
highguyuk said:
Unfortunately, most things I've finding are DC to AC or AC to 12v.

The item is a little 7" digital photo frame, some of the solution are so large scale for something so small!
Click to expand...
What do you actually want to go from and to?

i.e., what supply do you have available and what supply does the frame require?
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
Input Voltage AC100 - 240V.

I'll consider anyway to power it, as long as it's portable. Just thought they'd be a little box to put AA batteries into that plugs into AC Socket!
 
age'd parent

age'd parent

50,000th poster!
Sounds like your photo frame uses a dc voltage, they're usually about 9 to 12 volts there should be a label on the photo frame saying what it uses, if you find that, it should run on a few batteries, let us know what it says on the device
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
age'd parent said:
Sounds like your photo frame uses a dc voltage, they're usually about 9 to 12 volts there should be a label on the photo frame saying what it uses, if you find that, it should run on a few batteries, let us know what it says on the device
Click to expand...
If it's not on the frame itself then the 'charger' will say something about the output voltage and have an AC ~ or DC - symbol. If it is DC, then, as AP says, it's just a matter of assembling an appropriate number of cells and being able to plug their output into the frame's socket.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
highguyuk said:
From the charger:

Input 100-240VAC 50/60Hz 0.3A
Output +5V ... 2A
Click to expand...
Mmm, almost bound to be DC then - just get four cells and you're away - if you use rechargeables, then they'll add up to 4.8 volts - 'real' cells will make it awkward to get close to 5V, you would have to use three and hope 4.5 volts is near enough. Maplin sells cell holders in many forms - are you able to replicate the plug, though?

If the frame uses 2A, then things won't last very long....
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
If the plug is a co-axial type, you may find a symbol like this somewhere, which will give you the polarity of the connections - otherwise you'll need to measure which is + & - in the output from the power supply.

TLY3E.png

..in this case the positive is on the inside..
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It may be possible - but, you would need to know which plug you want and what capacity you would need in the cells to run it long enough for your intended purpose.
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
A picture says a thousand words.

Running time, ideally 6 hours.
 

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Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
highguyuk said:
A picture says a thousand words.

Running time, ideally 6 hours.
Click to expand...
There are several sizes of that style of plug - the outside diameter is the key dimension.

If you want to run for 6 hours and it really takes 2 amps then you will need a battery with a fully-charged capacity of at least 12 amp hours* - which is a lot to ask.

* preferably a bit more, as they are often a little ambitious in their specification.
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
5mm.

Ideal would be 6 hours, but if it's less then so be it. If 6 hours will cost £100 but 4 hours is £10 for example - I'd happily go for 4!

I honestly just thought in the "modern day world" they'd be a rechargeable power pack just to plug into - so I'm being schooled here!
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
You can have 10 amp hours for $50, but you would still have to sort out a charger and the plug. There may be a proprietary device for what you require, but I don't see one. - e.g., http://www.adafruit.com/products/1566

A simple answer would be a car battery, a cheap 12V to 230V inverter and just plug the supplied power supply in...

A car battery would be reliable for 30/35 amp hours, and, though you would lose a bit in the inverter, I would expect it to survive.

Preferably, don't use the battery of the vehicle that you've gone there in - though it would probably still start, there is a risk that it might not.
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
Ok. I know what I need to look for now. =) U'never know, might turn up at the car booty!

Thanks very much! :D
 
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