In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

I'm Christopher Young

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

Won't work

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

I'm Christopher Young



All the computer PS that I have dealt with won't even fire up unless they
are connected to a MB.

That is partly what makes it so hard to figure out if it is the MB or the PS
that is dead on a non-starting system.

Colbyt

Colbyt wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in Anyone
know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

Depends on the supply, they vary a great deal. Use google
to locate the specs on a supply. I doubt if most could supply
2 amps of 12V. You might consider a very small battery
charger and a small battery (like a motorcycle batt). Look
at the label on back of the cb to see how much current is
needed. watts / 12 = amps required. If no label, check
what amperage fuse the cb has.

All the computer PS that I have dealt with won't even fire up unless they
are connected to a MB.
That is partly what makes it so hard to figure out if it is the MB or the PS
that is dead on a non-starting system.

That's because the supplies need a load on the 5 volt output.
Hang a power resistor between 5V and gnd. some may also require
a mometary short between two leads to start the supply.

Leroy wrote:
Colbyt wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in
Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

Depends on the supply, they vary a great deal. Use google
to locate the specs on a supply. I doubt if most could supply
2 amps of 12V. You might consider a very small battery
charger and a small battery (like a motorcycle batt). Look
at the label on back of the cb to see how much current is
needed. watts / 12 = amps required. If no label, check
what amperage fuse the cb has.

All the computer PS that I have dealt with won't even fire up unless they
are connected to a MB.
That is partly what makes it so hard to figure out if it is the MB or
the PS
that is dead on a non-starting system.

That's because the supplies need a load on the 5 volt output.
Hang a power resistor between 5V and gnd. some may also require
a mometary short between two leads to start the supply.


Why reinvent the wheel? Rat shack used to sell a perfectly usable $20
bench supply that worked fine with CBs. Just checked, not anymore. Did a
quick Google, and found several, that look like like modern versions of
what RS used to sell- here is a likely loking example:

http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=9902+PS

All depends what your time is worth, I guess.

--
aem sends...

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.


You had just received several replies that don't know what they are talking
about.

The older computer supplies that were for the AT type computers work just
fine for some 12 volt uses. Usually you need to put a small load on the 5
volt output. I sometimes just use an old hard drive. YOu have to look on
the supply to see how much current you can draw out of the 12 volt side.
All wires of the same voltage and poliarity hook together inside the supply.


For the ATX supply:
Hook up a load to the 5 volt line. Old hard drive again.

Jumper pin 14
(PS-ON) to pin 13 (ground, black wire.) At this point, fan in PS should
start spinning, drives should spin, and + 5/12v, -5/12v, +3.3v, and
+5vsb should be present at 20 pin connector.

Disconnecting pin 14-13 jumper should turn supply back off.

The supplies will put out from 5 to about 10 amps or more depending on the
supply on the 12 volt wires, 20 or 30 amps on the 5 volt wires and not much
on the minus voltage wires, look at the side and see if they list the
current.

YOu may be able to open up the case and turn up the voltage some. Many
mobile radios usually operate best around 13.8 volts as this is the nominal
voltage of a running car. Also as they are switching supplies the may put
out a signal on the frequency you are trying to receive.
Short answer is you probably can run the CB on the supply, and yes if you do
turn up the voltage. I use one to test some 2 meter ham radios when I don't
want to hook them up to my regular DC supply. I did turn the voltage up
some with the internal adjustment.
Don't recall, but think that voltage pot is for all the voltages.

YOu probably can not charge a 12 volt battery as you must have some more
voltage than 12.6 volts to charge the battery.

"Colbyt" wrote in
m:


"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

I'm Christopher Young



All the computer PS that I have dealt with won't even fire up unless
they are connected to a MB.

That is partly what makes it so hard to figure out if it is the MB or
the PS that is dead on a non-starting system.

Colbyt




PC supplies regulate off the +5V,so that needs to have a decent load on
it,too.
ATX supplies also have a line to the MB for turning the PS on and off.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Ralph Mowery wrote:
"Stormin Mormon" wrote in message
...
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.


You had just received several replies that don't know what they are talking
about.

The older computer supplies that were for the AT type computers work just
fine for some 12 volt uses. Usually you need to put a small load on the 5
volt output. I sometimes just use an old hard drive. YOu have to look on
the supply to see how much current you can draw out of the 12 volt side.
All wires of the same voltage and poliarity hook together inside the supply.


For the ATX supply:
Hook up a load to the 5 volt line. Old hard drive again.

Jumper pin 14
(PS-ON) to pin 13 (ground, black wire.) At this point, fan in PS should
start spinning, drives should spin, and + 5/12v, -5/12v, +3.3v, and
+5vsb should be present at 20 pin connector.

Disconnecting pin 14-13 jumper should turn supply back off.

The supplies will put out from 5 to about 10 amps or more depending on the
supply on the 12 volt wires, 20 or 30 amps on the 5 volt wires and not much
on the minus voltage wires, look at the side and see if they list the
current.

YOu may be able to open up the case and turn up the voltage some. Many
mobile radios usually operate best around 13.8 volts as this is the nominal
voltage of a running car. Also as they are switching supplies the may put
out a signal on the frequency you are trying to receive.
Short answer is you probably can run the CB on the supply, and yes if you do
turn up the voltage. I use one to test some 2 meter ham radios when I don't
want to hook them up to my regular DC supply. I did turn the voltage up
some with the internal adjustment.
Don't recall, but think that voltage pot is for all the voltages.

YOu probably can not charge a 12 volt battery as you must have some more
voltage than 12.6 volts to charge the battery.



It's worth a try, I run a "Jigged up" AT supply that gives me 14v at
greater than 10amps to charge batteries.

Rheilly P

On Sep 11, 11:54*am, Uncle Monster wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote:
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

I'm Christopher Young

GEEZ! I wish more people understood electronics.
Computer power supplies are very useful for many
do it yourself projects and the fact that they
are mass produced makes them very inexpensive for
the experimenter. I wish they were around when I
was a kid drooling over the the thought of having
a high output regulated power supply for my
Frankenstein like projects which I would recruit
one of my little brothers to plug in while I ducked
behind something. Here is a link to a site showing
how to convert a computer power supply for bench
top use:

*http://letsmakerobots.com/node/1355

[8~{} Uncle Monster- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Exactly. Last year a young licensed amateur friend and I dug through
our old computer switching power supplies and then modified one for 12
volts around 15 - 20 amps (about 200+ watts).

Yes we had, in that case, to put a resistive load on the +5 volt
output, comprising two 4 ohms ceramic resistors (because had plentiful
supply of them) in parallel mounted on the metal case acting as the
heat sink. i.e. 5/2 = 2.5 amps worked nicely.

At last report it was powering his ham rig without extraneous noise on
amateur band frequencies; had thought at one point we might have to
add another 'hash' filter to the 12 volt output, but not necessary.

Some of those discarded switching power supplies (probably operating
internally up to 20 kilohertz) are quite powerful; up to 400 watts for
example! And compared to 60 or 50 hertz 'analog' more compact and
lighter. We have put another switching power supply, requiring fewer
modifications on our boat as a battery charger. Adding a fuse in the
12 volt output lead. Input is 115v at 60 hertz when plugged into a
dock.

That assures me that I won't just cut open the case, and find 12 volts some
where. Well, that job is gone for naught.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Uncle Monster" wrote in message
...
Stormin Mormon wrote:

GEEZ! I wish more people understood electronics.
Computer power supplies are very useful for many
do it yourself projects and the fact that they
are mass produced makes them very inexpensive for
the experimenter. I wish they were around when I
was a kid drooling over the the thought of having
a high output regulated power supply for my
Frankenstein like projects which I would recruit
one of my little brothers to plug in while I ducked
behind something. Here is a link to a site showing
how to convert a computer power supply for bench
top use:

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/1355

[8~{} Uncle Monster

At present, that's more complicated than I want to go. Thanks for the
details information. But, I'll find a different power source.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...


You had just received several replies that don't know what they are talking
about.

The older computer supplies that were for the AT type computers work just
fine for some 12 volt uses. Usually you need to put a small load on the 5
volt output. I sometimes just use an old hard drive. YOu have to look on
the supply to see how much current you can draw out of the 12 volt side.
All wires of the same voltage and poliarity hook together inside the supply.


For the ATX supply:
Hook up a load to the 5 volt line. Old hard drive again.

Jumper pin 14
(PS-ON) to pin 13 (ground, black wire.) At this point, fan in PS should
start spinning, drives should spin, and + 5/12v, -5/12v, +3.3v, and
+5vsb should be present at 20 pin connector.

Disconnecting pin 14-13 jumper should turn supply back off.

The supplies will put out from 5 to about 10 amps or more depending on the
supply on the 12 volt wires, 20 or 30 amps on the 5 volt wires and not much
on the minus voltage wires, look at the side and see if they list the
current.

YOu may be able to open up the case and turn up the voltage some. Many
mobile radios usually operate best around 13.8 volts as this is the nominal
voltage of a running car. Also as they are switching supplies the may put
out a signal on the frequency you are trying to receive.
Short answer is you probably can run the CB on the supply, and yes if you do
turn up the voltage. I use one to test some 2 meter ham radios when I don't
want to hook them up to my regular DC supply. I did turn the voltage up
some with the internal adjustment.
Don't recall, but think that voltage pot is for all the voltages.

YOu probably can not charge a 12 volt battery as you must have some more
voltage than 12.6 volts to charge the battery.

Stormin Mormon wrote:
That assures me that I won't just cut open the case, and find 12 volts some
where. Well, that job is gone for naught.

Hell, you don't even have to cut open the case--the leads are there w/
connectors to probe which are which (if you don't already know).

All that is required for a switching supply is to have the minimum load
for stability.

The only thing done in that case was to clip of the 'puter connectors
and connect the wahrs to panel mount jacks.

--

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:38:21 -0500, "jim evans"
wrote:

On 9/10/2008 11:52:13 AM, "Stormin Mormon" wrote:

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

I don't see why not. Twelve volts it twelve volts. I wouldn't think a CB
radio would require any super regulation and computer power supplies are
pretty clean.

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply provides?

They usually have a label on them giving their output. Here's an example
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/power-supply3.jpg

But, even a super cheap one should be plenty to run a CB radio.


Just remember, you need a resistive load on the 12 volt line before
you get ANY output on most supplies.

The 250 watt AT supply I have sitting on the bench puts out 11 amps
on the +12 side.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

"jim evans" wrote in
:

On 9/10/2008 11:52:13 AM, "Stormin Mormon" wrote:

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

I don't see why not. Twelve volts it twelve volts.
I wouldn't think a CB
radio would require any super regulation and computer power supplies are
pretty clean.

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply provides?

They usually have a label on them giving their output. Here's an example
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/power-supply3.jpg

But, even a super cheap one should be plenty to run a CB radio.


Gotta have a -minimum load- on the +5 volt supply;
that's what those PC supplies regulate by.
Connecting an old hard drive will suffice.(you may also have to jumper a
+5v "sense" wire on the main motherboard connector to the +5v supply
line;depends on the particular PC supply.)

Otherwise,the PC supply will "run away".[not good]

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote in
:

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:38:21 -0500, "jim evans"
wrote:

On 9/10/2008 11:52:13 AM, "Stormin Mormon" wrote:

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

I don't see why not. Twelve volts it twelve volts. I wouldn't think a CB
radio would require any super regulation and computer power supplies are
pretty clean.

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply provides?

They usually have a label on them giving their output. Here's an example
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/power-supply3.jpg

But, even a super cheap one should be plenty to run a CB radio.


Just remember, you need a resistive load on the 12 volt line before
you get ANY output on most supplies.

The 250 watt AT supply I have sitting on the bench puts out 11 amps
on the +12 side.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **


that would be the FIVE VOLT line.That's what most PC supplies regulate on.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

On 11 Oct 2008 00:52:33 GMT, Jim Yanik wrote:

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote in
:

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:38:21 -0500, "jim evans"
wrote:

On 9/10/2008 11:52:13 AM, "Stormin Mormon" wrote:

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

I don't see why not. Twelve volts it twelve volts. I wouldn't think a CB
radio would require any super regulation and computer power supplies are
pretty clean.

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply provides?

They usually have a label on them giving their output. Here's an example
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/power-supply3.jpg

But, even a super cheap one should be plenty to run a CB radio.


Just remember, you need a resistive load on the 12 volt line before
you get ANY output on most supplies.

The 250 watt AT supply I have sitting on the bench puts out 11 amps
on the +12 side.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **


that would be the FIVE VOLT line.That's what most PC supplies regulate on.
You are correct. Minimum 500ma load on the +5 required for stable
voltage output on +12. I always just threw an old hard drive on when
checking out a power supply (or trying to test a motherboard - MB
alone in about 99% of cases was not enough load to start, and if it
was, it was not enough load to regulate properly and half the time you
didn;t get the required "power good" signal.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:38:27 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:19:52 -0400, clare at snyder dot ontario dot
canada wrote:

You are correct. Minimum 500ma load on the +5 required for stable
voltage output on +12. I always just threw an old hard drive on

Why not just a 10 ohm wire wound resistor.
Because I always had a hard drive around and it had the right plug on
it.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

On Sep 10, 2:52*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
In the days of old, I used to use a mobile CB, which
sat on a (designed for it) power supply. The CB was
12 volts DC, and the power supply rectified the house
power, to provide DC for the two way radio. And the
antenna was on the roof.

An old computer power supply with 12 volt output.
Wonder if that would drive a CB mobile, or a CB
walkie? Makes me wonder if I could wire a lighter
socket to an old computer power supply and have a
couple amps of 12 volt DC?

Anyone know how much 12 volt DC a power supply
provides? On a survival note, maybe a 12 volt tap off
computer power supply could charge up a car battery,
or be emergency communications.

I'm Christopher Young

Yes. Done it. There is also info on the web about modifying switching
power supplies SPS.
We modified such an SPS so that local radio amateur could operate his
12 volt ham rig on AC supply. The one we chose gave some 20 amps at 12
volts IIRC. (That's 240 watts).
It is usually found that you have to put a small load on the +5 volt
DC put for the y thing to operate at all. So we loaded it with a wire
wound resistor mounted on the case that consumed about 2.5 amps,
that's 12.5 watts.
Something of a year later he says it's working fine.
Be careful inside there can be 350 volts at something up to 20 or more
kilohertz.