Need help powering a 12V vehicle video monitor from 5V

[Old Steve]

Here are some more clues that may help. On the battery it says-

Input 5V/1A Max
Output 5V/1A Max
Capacity: 8.14Wh(2200mAh)

http://www.amazon.com/Color-Cube-Portable-Power-Black/dp/B00KPXZPWA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_86_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=08ET99PWMG20WT1BC56B&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_

I just spotted your post with the battery specs. Way too small. To get 12VDC, 0.5A (6W), to allow for the wrong ratings on that monitor, the DC-DC converter will need to pull in excess of 7W at 5V, about 1.5A, at 85% efficiency.
To run for 1 hour, with a current drain of 1.5A, it would require a battery of over 15Wh, (3000mAh), and probably nearer to 20Wh, (4000mAh).

Those battery specs that you posted don't add up, either. 8.14Wh at 5V is 1628mAh.

So, you'll need a much larger 5V battery and a larger DC-DC converter.

 

[Old Steve]

Hi Steve,

I have had the lower powered units for a little while now. A friend of mine had a 12V power source he used to power one of the monitors and that is how I was able to check that it works.

Can you recommend a specific DC-DC converter and power supply I can purchase off of Amazon or another site? I am so new to this, and still a little confused, I just want to make sure I purchase the right thing.

Thanks for for breaking it down and explaining it all to me Steve. Hopefully this will all get it to work

We were typing at the same time. Read my last post as well before making any decisions.

I can't point you to a specific DC-DC converter or battery. I'd need to spend a fair bit of time searching, and it's already way past my bed-time. (1:50am here)

Look for a converter capable of providing at least 0.5A at 12VDC, and 1A would give you an even better chance of success, and a 5V battery with a capacity of 4000mAh to 8000mAh, if you want to be assured of getting 1 hour out of it. You'll need to go even bigger with the battery to get longer. 4000mAh, (4Ah), capacity doesn't mean that you can pull 4A for 1 hour. Batteries don't work that way. ie A 160mA 9V NiCd battery that I have here only lasts for 2 hours if I drain the current at 40mA, an effective 80mAh. It would only truly give me anywhere near 160mAh if I drained it at a much slower rate. The faster you drain a battery, the less of it's rated capacity is actually available.

 

[jasongitar]

Hi Steve, thank you for all of your help. I found a 10000mAh 5V battery pack already, now just need to find a converter, I'll keep you posted. Have a good night and thank you again Hopefully this will do the trick

 

[Old Steve]

Hi Steve, thank you for all of your help. I found a 10000mAh 5V battery pack already, now just need to find a converter, I'll keep you posted. Have a good night and thank you again Hopefully this will do the trick

A quick point on charging the 10000mAh, (10Ah), battery. To fully charge it from flat at a normal C/10 rate, you'll need a 1A charger and a 14 hour charge. You can charge it more quickly at a higher current rate, but check it's specs for more info.