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View Full Version : Wall Phone Charger, can I use this as a power supply for LED's?


pOrk
02-13-2010, 07:41 PM
Trying to light up the turtle tank at night, the blue lights I have now look nice but they aren't bright enough to see the fish / turtles.

http://www.bealecorner.org/best/measure/USB/USB-cable-wiring.png If I splice the USB charging cable and only use the red and black wires, I should be able to use this brick as a power supply for 3 SMD bars, correct? I THINK the SMD bars require 200 mA and I found a brick that can supply 5v at 850 mA, should be MORE then enough amperage right?

If I splice the USB charging cable and only use the red and black wires, I should be able to use this brick as a power supply for 3 SMD bars, correct?

Can't find the stats in the store on what the SMD bars require, but I found a brick that can supply 5v which is 850 mA, should be MORE then enough right?

Actually, I wonder if 5 volts will be enough. Pretty sure these lights are wired for 12 volts.
0TransAm0
02-13-2010, 07:59 PM
chargers are cheap. just try it. if all fails they either wont light up or you will pop a fuse.
BoosTT
02-13-2010, 08:04 PM
wha?? Just get a 12V dc wall wort. They are like $3.
Holeshot
02-13-2010, 08:05 PM
chargers are cheap. just try it. if all fails they either wont light up or you will pop a fuse.

Yeah American Science and Surplus has tons of them. 68th and Oklahoma
http://www.sciplus.com/search.cfm?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=search&utm_content=cf&utm_campaign=celsearchtest&formfield1234567891=7&formfield1234567892=14&formfield1234567894=&term=power+supplies&btnHand.x=14&btnHand.y=2
pOrk
02-13-2010, 08:08 PM
13 dollars is not cheap for a silly lighting project

39104 ADAPTER, 12VDC/1.5A 5.5mm Female Center Positive r/a plug, 12' Cord
$12.50 EACH

Thats the only one at 12v
0TransAm0
02-13-2010, 08:10 PM
i think i have about 6-10 wall chargers from various phones just sitting in a box. i will never use them. you can have them all if you want to try it.
Car Guy
02-13-2010, 08:11 PM
I have a bag of at least 10 that will never get used.....
Holeshot
02-13-2010, 08:12 PM
i think i have about 6-10 wall chargers from various phones just sitting in a box. i will never use them. you can have them all if you want to try it.



I should have a few to. Ill go look.
Holeshot
02-13-2010, 08:13 PM
13 dollars is not cheap for a silly lighting project

39104 ADAPTER, 12VDC/1.5A 5.5mm Female Center Positive r/a plug, 12' Cord
$12.50 EACH

Thats the only one at 12v

This one wont work?

38789 ADAPTER, 12VDC/100MA No Plug (2) Screw Terminals
$2.25 EACH
pOrk
02-13-2010, 08:14 PM
Where is Franksville?

Justin, bring them over tomorrow :)

Each light uses 200mA, I have 3 lights.

These are the lights in question:

http://www.oznium.com/product_photos/large/2320.jpg

http://www.oznium.com/home-smd-led-bar
And NO, I didn't pay 20 bucks a pop for them.
Holeshot
02-13-2010, 08:19 PM
Eric I have a 12v 500mA in my hand. Its yours if you want it. Center positive 6ft cord.
pOrk
02-13-2010, 08:33 PM
500 mA is a bit shy of what I need, but it might work? Where are you located? Its worth a try
Holeshot
02-13-2010, 08:37 PM
Im in Greenfield 92nd south of Howard. Ill be around after 2 pm Sunday. PM me with your cell and Ill call you when I'm home.
0TransAm0
02-14-2010, 08:10 AM
franksville is hwy K east of I94
xxsn0blindxx
02-15-2010, 07:45 AM
Holy shit did somebody finally find a use for a DC transformer? It seems like everybody collects them because they "might need them for something", but really they just end up sitting in a closet collecting dust. I threw away at least a dozen a year ago because I never came up with a use for them and haven't missed them yet, but I think I may have collected more along the way.
pOrk
02-15-2010, 03:54 PM
haha, they work for powering anything. I just need to find one with the correct voltage.
lilws6
02-15-2010, 04:29 PM
I was going to say if you are going to make your own led strip then the 5v one would work you would have to run them in sets of 2. and run a bunch parallel to that. i used a transformer to test my lights when i was making a ton of them. haven't made many lately tho may have to do somethign with my busa while its just sitting in the basement
0TransAm0
02-15-2010, 05:17 PM
I was going to say if you are going to make your own led strip then the 5v one would work you would have to run them in sets of 2. and run a bunch parallel to that. i used a transformer to test my lights when i was making a ton of them. haven't made many lately tho may have to do somethign with my busa while its just sitting in the basement

not trying to hijack p0rks post..

But your Busa is in the basement???:stare