12V Bench Testing.

[PaulTWinterton]

I want a power source that lives on the bench for testing light bulbs, fuel pumps, horns, etc.  Not a battery.  

 

Recommendations? Products?

Edited May 11, 2019 by PaulTWinterton

[Simeon]

Budget is a big question.

 

A nice bench supply could set you back a few hundred dollars or you could get a cheap power supply off eBay for less than $50. I am considering this myself, I am looking out on eBay and local ads for a good second hand bench supply. 

 

If you are only using it for automotive stuff then something something like this would be OK. 

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333097595541

 

Less well packaged but one of these in a suitable size would do. 

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202346045107

 

If you want to do more with it, something like this would be good. 

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153359019737

 

You could even just repurpose a 12V power supply plug brick by cutting off the lead end plug and wiring it out to some terminals. I bet you already have a couple those hanging around your house. These are fine for low current applications. 

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by Simeon

[halboyles]

Many "wall warts" used for electronics are 12V.  You can get them in various amperages.  I cut the wires, add alligator clips and AC/DC!, you've got 12 volts on your bench.

['76mintgrün'02]

I used this fine piece of electronic equipment today, to test some Honda lawnmower parts.  It is just a little old two amp battery charger.  Works great.  I wish the mower did.

[PaulTWinterton]

3 minutes ago, halboyles said:

Many "wall warts" used for electronics are 12V.  You can get them in various amperages.  I cut the wires, add alligator clips and AC/DC!, you've got 12 volts on your bench.

 

Please elaborate.   You lost me at wall warts.  A picture would be cool. 

[dlacey]

my battery charger has a power supply function perfect for this....it one of those digital whizzo intelligent ones...works great at both charging batteries and as a 12V test source

['76mintgrün'02]

6 minutes ago, PaulTWinterton said:

A picture would be cool. 

[halboyles]

Picture a power supply for your printer/laptop/... You've got a wall wart!

[PaulTWinterton]

Ohhhhh! Got it.  

[TobyB]

A while back, I found a computer power supply that puts out 13.5v.

 

It was a brick- big wall wart on a cord- for an old laptop we tossed at work.

 

That works pretty well.

 

But for testing motors and such, it takes quite a few amps more than a wart can deliver.

 

For that, and for coding E46es, I found something like https://www.mpja.com/12-Volt-Power-Supply-18A-240W-Switching-Hengfu/productinfo/18435+PS/

that could be adjusted up to 13.5v

 

Or just do it once, and spring for a nice big adjustable bench supply.

They show up in surplus pretty frequently around here.

 

t

 

 

[M3M3]

You said no battery, but....

A small motorcycle AGM battery is perfect for this use.   I use one all the time for testing stuff, and, it is portable so i can use it to power the 12v fuel pump I use for draining gas tanks.

 

It does not even have to be charged very often.

[worzella]

17 hours ago, PaulTWinterton said:

I want a power source that lives on the bench for testing light bulbs, fuel pumps, horns, etc.  Not a battery.  

 

Recommendations? Products?

30 year old HP power supply that is in my lab at work that nobody uses that *might* find its way to my shop 

 

But seriously.. Craigs List a power supply and there should be many

[Healey3000]

Paul,

 

The first thing you'd need to spec out is the current capability of your power supply.  Once you have that, you can narrow down the various choices that are available.

 

Do you want the ability to light up a high beam bulb?  A 65 watt bulb draws over five amps (65/12) but the inrush current can be a lot higher, as much as three times the steady state draw.  A power supply should also be spec'd for peak current, for loads like this.

 

The least expensive route would be to get a switching power supply,  Smaller, cheaper, more efficient.  Look for Meanwell - a decent, low-cost brand, as an example.