Home stereo compatible with 12v campervan?

[Campervan Numpty]

Hi eggheads,
I'm something of a dunce with electrics - I bought this home hifi because it runs off a 240v to 12v dc power adaptor, thinking I could plug the unit straight into my campervan's 12v supply...
https://www.download.p4c.philips.com/files/b/btb2462_05/btb2462_05_dfu_eng.pdf

Now I've bought it - it's occurred to me that the van batteries' voltage goes as high as 14.1v.
Could I sample some expert opinion on whether the hifi will likely be able to handle this voltage please?
Much appreciated!

 

[Campervan Numpty]

Ps. I don't want to use my 240v inverter with this - they're known as 'the devil's devices' in motorhome circles because they waste so much battery power!

 

[Harald Kapp]

There's more to it than just a slight overvoltage of 14 V (which the set might probably be able to handle). The 12 V from a car's battery is very noisy and can jump to over 30 V occasionally (a situation called load dump).

You can roll your own filter and regulator or buy a commercial product (search for "12v car power supply filter").

 

[Campervan Numpty]

I might be worth mentioning that I am not using the vehicle's starter battery - I have two 100a/h leisure batteries isolated from the starter battery by a split-charge relay until the alternator is charging.

 

[Harald Kapp]

isolated from the starter battery by a split-charge relay until the alternator is charging.

... and when that switch is closed, the batteries are subject to all the noise going on within the car's power network.
I would at least insert a power line filter against the noise. But then you still have no protection from overvoltage. As the stereo expects a clean power from the original power supply, it has most probably very little protection against overvoltage - if any at all.

 

[duke37]

Make very sure that you connect with the correct polarity.

 

[Campervan Numpty]

... and when that switch is closed, the batteries are subject to all the noise going on within the car's power network.
I would at least insert a power line filter against the noise. But then you still have no protection from overvoltage. As the stereo expects a clean power from the original power supply, it has most probably very little protection against overvoltage - if any at all.

Doesn't sound optimistic - looks like I'll have to put it back on ebay.
Ps. re: "all the noise going on within the car's power network" The stereo is for use in the living space of the van - so the engine would not be running when it was in operation. (Although it could be left on accidentally.)

 

[davenn]

Ps. re: "all the noise going on within the car's power network" The stereo is for use in the living space of the van - so the engine would not be running when it was in operation. (Although it could be left on accidentally.)

as long as it definitely wouldn't be getting used whiles the vehicle was running ( switched out of circuit) then there is no problem
the battery it would be coming off will only be around 14V when switched to the vehicle charging system

Running off your secondary battery at all other times will have no issues with either noise or over voltage


Dave

 

[Audioguru]

1) It is not "hifi" because it does not produce low audio frequencies.
2) It is not stereo because its speakers are too close together.
Do any of its "effects" sound natural?

 

[Harald Kapp]

Do any of its "effects" sound natural?

Can you have 'natural hifi stereo' within the environment of a camper at all?

The point is not whether the unit reproduces very high quality sound. This thread is about operating the unit within a camper's environment at all.

 

[Harald Kapp]

looks like I'll have to put it back on ebay.

Imho only a useful option if the loss from selling the unit again is less than the cost for a filter. Otherwise you'll be better off adding the filter in between.

While you're still in the EU () you may consider e.g. this filter (max. amperage 10 A).
Or something like this, you have a great choice for such components.

 

[Campervan Numpty]

1) It is not "hifi" because it does not produce low audio frequencies.
2) It is not stereo because its speakers are too close together.
Do any of its "effects" sound natural?

 

[Campervan Numpty]

Ha! ( :
I was under no illusions about it going toe to toe with Denon's finest - but it's actually pretty pleasant in a 2m x 3m space - and it already uses more wattage than I'm entirely happy with!

 

[Campervan Numpty]

as long as it definitely wouldn't be getting used whiles the vehicle was running ( switched out of circuit) then there is no problem
the battery it would be coming off will only be around 14V when switched to the vehicle charging system

Running off your secondary battery at all other times will have no issues with either noise or over voltage


Dave

Just incase you guys specialise in mains powered equipment - a lot of people don't realise that these automotive batteries shouldn't be discharged below 12.6v to avoid sulphating, and fully charged they settle at 13.1v.

I've heard that some 'stereos' (sorry Audioguru!) allow for higher voltage so they can be run off a fully charged rechargeable battery pack - but I guess the question is: does this one?

 

[Campervan Numpty]

1) It is not "hifi" because it does not produce low audio frequencies.
2) It is not stereo because its speakers are too close together.
Do any of its "effects" sound natural?

BTW - if you're wondering why I didn't just fit a decent (12v) CAR stereo in the back of my camper - it's because NONE of them come with a headphone jack. And I need a headphone jack!

 

[spaceman]

why cant you just hook up nicads for this ??

 

[Campervan Numpty]

why cant you just hook up nicads for this ??

How much voltage does a fully charged 12v nicad battery back hold?
I'm guessing a fully charged supplies more than 12v?

 

[BobK]

NiCads charge to about 1.4V, so 14V.

Bob

 

[davenn]

BTW - if you're wondering why I didn't just fit a decent (12v) CAR stereo in the back of my camper - it's because NONE of them come with a headphone jack. And I need a headphone jack!

That's only a minor issue and easy to sort out. a proper car stereo would have been the best way to go

 

[Audioguru]

If you are thinking about using a rechargeable battery then Ni-MH cells are modern and a charge lasts for 1 year on newer ones. Ni-cads had many problems. Today, Ni-MH cells are sold everywhere but almost nobody sells Ni-Cad cells today.

Lithium-Ion or Li-Po cells are even newer but have risks (explosion or fire).