Green Light Power Source [Archive]

BobC

08-01-2006, 18:39

mechanicalbrain

08-01-2006, 18:43

As I recall their are green cold cathode tubes in the KOP, or are you asking how to power those? Their is also a included inverter, make sure you use it and don't try powering the tubes directly.

dlavery

08-01-2006, 18:45

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint ;) )

Billfred

08-01-2006, 18:54

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint ;) )
Probably a slightly silly question, but will the fact that our 12V batteries are often slightly more than 12V negatively affect the lights?

Greg Marra

08-01-2006, 18:55

Worth noting: The 8 cathodes and a small fan will require more than 1 amp to power. Our team has a 1 amp power supply that we hooked up to it, but it was only able to power the system at 8 volts.

I need to find where we put our spare Anderson hookup...

mechanicalbrain

08-01-2006, 18:57

Probably a slightly silly question, but will the fact that our 12V batteries are often slightly more than 12V negatively affect the lights?
Yes they will be slightly brighter. From playing with moding computers I can tell you the voltage difference in the battery won't do much. I would using a AC to DC 12 volt converter though.

Sscamatt

08-01-2006, 23:13

An old computer supply makes a nice and cheap 12v power supply.

mechanicalbrain

08-01-2006, 23:40

An old computer supply makes a nice and cheap 12v power supply.
That it does! For those interested take a look at this thread. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39754
Careful though you can make lots of magic smoke doing this wrong. You essentially short a specific wire, and shorting the wrong wire can be very bad.

Arkorobotics

09-01-2006, 00:10

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint ;) )

Cool, a wireless field you can setup anywhere! Battery +field = field anyway! :yikes:

I like this idea of a green LIGHT, it's a nice idea.

Rickertsen2

09-01-2006, 00:48

The last few years, we have had CCFL's very similar to the ones used for the vision target on our robot. The brightness is effected slightly by input voltage, but not too much until the battery gets really low.

KTorak

09-01-2006, 06:15

I'm assuming they included all the parts that normally come with a cold cathode tube kit, in which you could just hook it up to any computer with extra power connectors, or even just plug it into a power supply.

Al Skierkiewicz

09-01-2006, 07:31

We went to build our green light that goes above center goal. We could not figure out how to power it. Does anyone know how it is to be powered? I know this should go on First site, but no one knows where the password for their site is. I was hoping to get a faster answer here.
Thanx
Bob,
Did you finally get it going? By now you may have put two and two together and found the power suppplies for the lamps. I think that was what you were asking. If you still have a problem, let me know.

BobC

09-01-2006, 07:59

Bob,
Did you finally get it going? By now you may have put two and two together and found the power suppplies for the lamps. I think that was what you were asking. If you still have a problem, let me know.

Thanks for everyone's help. Unfortunately I have left for vacation and won't know until I get back. I have passed the info on before I left so they will be able to finish them.
Bob

jerry w

09-01-2006, 11:55

Connect it to a 12V power source. If you can find one anywhere, you might try to look for a 12V battery - that would probably work (hint, hint ;) )

wait a minute...
Dave posted a hint here yesterday. but no one has tried to analyze it word by word.
has something changed since the kickoff???

jerry w

pheNIX637

11-01-2006, 09:19

yea i think if you use an old PS from a computer it would work. but i think u have to get a paperclip and stick the end in to 2 sprocket on the main feed from the power supply .. you have to do this because then the power supply is "fooled" by saying that there is a motherboard in place but really there isnt.. just google search it.. you will find it. :cool:

BlazinFire47

11-01-2006, 09:56

why not just use a 12 volt battery that you use on your robot to power it? it seems very easy to do to me. wire them all together, or on a disto-block, and put a switch on it somewhere and power it like that. itll be like wiring them to your car,pc, robot cart, or whatnot.

Rick TYler

11-01-2006, 10:08

One of those jump-start batteries sold in auto parts store would work great, to, if you already have one. Many of them also have 120 VAC inverters built in, which could come in handy at the tournaments, too, especially if you want a stereo on your cart... (just don't bring a music cart to Portland, please).

Windwarrior

11-01-2006, 11:00

Anyone thought about using the power source from an outdoor lighting set-up? They are 12 v. and can be plugged in to a wall socket which never get discharged!!

Just an idea!!

Dad1279

11-01-2006, 12:20

Anyone thought about using the power source from an outdoor lighting set-up? They are 12 v. and can be plugged in to a wall socket which never get discharged!!

Just an idea!!

I think Outdoor lighting may be 12v AC (Alternating Current) in which case it will not work.

Cuog

20-01-2006, 14:44

you could use the ATX computer power supply or get an older computer(p1 or p2) and get the switching power supply out of that it will usually supply around 4 amps which is enough and the switch will turn it on/off so there is no shorting out pins.