12VDC in PSU

[IH8 Money]

Just as the title says.
I can find 12V DC-DC PSU's, but I can not find reviews.

Does anyone know if they are reliable.
If you have tried one, what brand?

Opus Solutions has the most prominent model. 150W does not give me a lot of breathing room. Has anyone seen a more powerfull unit?

I was hoping to remove the need for an inverter.

 

[Greenman]

Perhaps I'm a bit slow, but if you have 12v DC why would you need a psu to get 12V?

 

[vshah]

is this for a car?

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Perhaps I'm a bit slow, but if you have 12v DC why would you need a psu to get 12V?

i want to remove the inverter.

Originally posted by: vshah
is this for a car?

For a boat actually...?

 

[Greenman]

Just so I'm clear: You're going to take a 12V power source and plug it into transformer so you can get 12V out?
Is there something that makes the first 12V input undesireable? Or are you trying to make sure the first 12V is clean and stable?
And what inverter? There is no inverter going from 12V to 12V. If you have a 12V device and a 12V power source you don't need anything else.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Just so I'm clear: You're going to take a 12V power source and plug it into transformer so you can get 12V out?
Is there something that makes the first 12V input undesireable? Or are you trying to make sure the first 12V is clean and stable?
And what inverter? There is no inverter going from 12V to 12V. If you have a 12V device and a 12V power source you don't need anything else.

I think he's looking for a computer PSU that accepts 12V input, and just isn't stating it properly.

 

[IH8 Money]

RIght, a psu that takes in 12VDC.
stating what properly a DC-DC PSU?

I have never heard of one in use, but they sell them. I most of all was curious about their reliability.

brainfart- your right I forgot to mention it was for a comp.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: IH8 Money
RIght, a psu that takes in 12VDC.
stating what properly a DC-DC PSU?

I would probably call it a 12V DC powered ATX PSU.

Here's one.

 

[Zepper]

That's the one he knew about and that was a bit wimpy for him. http://www.keypower.com has 250W units that run off of 12, 24 or 120V DC.
. And a 300W that runs off 48V DC

.bh.

 

[Confused]

I'm not too familiar with the KeyPower units, but I have and use daily an Opus 150, and it's got to be hands down the best thing I have bought for my In-Car PC.

The main thing the KeyPower doesn't have is a startup/shutdown controller, which I find is one of the best things about the Opus. I turn the ignition on/off, and the Opus turns the computer on/off gracefully.

What hardware are you thinking of running? The Opus is a lot more capable than you'd think. My 150W Opus probably gives out more useable power than my "350W" desktop PSU.


Garry

 

[Zepper]

Sparkle Power has one too - 180W but it says it needs 18V on the input... Just a matter of finding out where to buy them. Likely to be from one of those self-generation outfits rather than the usual suspects for computer gear.

.bh.

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: Confused
I'm not too familiar with the KeyPower units, but I have and use daily an Opus 150, and it's got to be hands down the best thing I have bought for my In-Car PC.

The main thing the KeyPower doesn't have is a startup/shutdown controller, which I find is one of the best things about the Opus. I turn the ignition on/off, and the Opus turns the computer on/off gracefully.

What hardware are you thinking of running? The Opus is a lot more capable than you'd think. My 150W Opus probably gives out more useable power than my "350W" desktop PSU.


Garry

Maybe I am over shooting what I need.

I was hoping for a decent P4 sys. 3.0ghz+/-
1GB RAM
120GB 7200 HD
DVD-ROM
maybe an All in Wonder 9800

I did like the startup/shutdown controller, and it is nice to see people are satisfied with the product.

What kind of sys. do you run on it?

 

[Zepper]

For a marine environment, I'd be looking at a ruggedized laptop. Much less needed in the way of power - an inexpensive inverter will keep the batteries charged. Regular PC equipment isn't designed for that kind of environment.

.bh.

 

[IH8 Money]

Originally posted by: Zepper
For a marine environment, I'd be looking at a ruggedized laptop. Much less needed in the way of power - an inexpensive inverter will keep the batteries charged. Regular PC equipment isn't designed for that kind of environment.

.bh.

Have you ever put a laptop in direct sunlight?
Plus it will get wet from spray, and what not.
I have heard good things about Panasonic Toughbooks, but I haven't seen 1 in sunlight. Are they that good?

Securing the laptop can also be fun.

So I use Big Bay outdoor dispalys. They are waterproof, and fully sunlight viewable.
We just hide the PC.

I know of a "marine PC" sold by Nauticomp which is made by Dell.

And last of all- yes, you can use a small inverter, but I would prefer not to for 2 reasons
1)it is just someting else that can fail. (which I deal with occasionally)
2)we sometimes get "noise" on radar, and fish finder displays from them.

Thanks everyone for the help though.
:beer: for you all

 

[Confused]

That is a seriously powerful system...what will you be doing with it?


I'm currently running a Via Epia M10000, 80gb 3.5" hdd, slimline DVD/CD-RW and 4-5 USB devices, which is at most drawing 60W (as it was running fine on a 60W PSU)

I've seen an Opus power a mid-specced P4 system (P4 2.4, 512mb, 3.5" hdd) and that was overkill for what they're using it for!


Garry

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Panny Toughbooks have been in field service in the US military for years. Maybe chargable directly off of the boat's 12VDC.

 

[IH8 Money]

Most of all it would be used for Nobeltec nav software(maybe even a Nobeltec radar.) It would also be the "Entertainment system"(DVD's, music, and local TV), and surf Broadband net.
Do I have to have a 3ghz P4? No, even your example would work P4 2.4 with 512 RAM. I just want as fast a machine I can get off of 12V.

I have a AMD Athlon XP 3200+, and this software takes a long time to boot. This is also without a NMEA GPS feed.

Knowing that people are happy with a specific brand, on the other hand, is worth a lot to me. How long have you used it?

 

[Confused]

I've used the Opus for about 18 months, without a single problem. There are literally hundreds of people on Digital-Car.co.uk and MP3Car.com forums who use the Opus without problems too.


Garry

 

[The Boston Dangler]

IH8 Money, would changing the boat's electrics to 24VDC make any difference?
just curious.