Alternate 12V dc Source

[James W.]

Any ideas as to what I can use for a 12V dc source? I have to troubelshoot some electric seat circuits and would rather not use my battery

Jim

[Lynn H.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Just a couple ideas, you could use a battery charger, or separate battery. I have a pistol type "test light" that hooks either to a battery or the cigarette lighter, and in addition to testing for voltage, it has a toggle switch on it that lets me induce 12 volts or ground into a particular circuit for trouble shooting purposes. This would work well, but may be on the expensive side, as I think I paid somewhere between $150-$175 for it off the "snap-on" truck, although it is NOT a "snap on" tool.
Lynn

[James W.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Just a couple ideas, you could use a battery charger, or separate battery. I have a pistol type "test light" that hooks either to a battery or the cigarette lighter, and in addition to testing for voltage, it has a toggle switch on it that lets me induce 12 volts or ground into a particular circuit for trouble shooting purposes. This would work well, but may be on the expensive side, as I think I paid somewhere between $150-$175 for it off the "snap-on" truck, although it is NOT a "snap on" tool.
Lynn

Lynn

Thanks for the post. My trickle charger doesn't like to act as a supply unless connected to a battery. Darn things are getting too smart. Sanp On does come to our location, but not until next week. I was hoping to go through it this weekend.

Jim

[John H.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

James -

I keep an old battery on hand (not good enough to use in a car any more, but works fine as a bench power source) for that kind of thing; made up a pair of fused test leads to use with it, and put it on my Battery Tender occasionally to keep it alive.

[Roger W.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

I use my Coleman Powermate Emergency Jump Start System for a 12 volt test supply. There are various other companys who make these portable jump start systems that are recharged by plugging into a house 120 VAC outlet. They go for around $30, and come in handy once in awhile when a jump is needed.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Jim:
Go to a store like Batteries Plus or a good battery supply store and buy a cheap 12 volt burglar alarm back up battery. They cost about $25 or less and will supply enough current to test most anything except perhaps a heavy motor that draws considerable current like a power window motor (although I have never tried to use mine on one so maybe it would work). I use mine for testing headlights and it works great and is small and weighs nothing. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[Bob B.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Any ideas as to what I can use for a 12V dc source? I have to troubelshoot some electric seat circuits and would rather not use my battery

Jim

Jim when I do any 12v testing I just use the battery pack off one of my DeWalt drills or saw with wires / alligator clips and when it gets low I put it back on the battery charger. Oldbaldbob

[James W.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Jim when I do any 12v testing I just use the battery pack off one of my DeWalt drills or saw with wires / alligator clips and when it gets low I put it back on the battery charger. Oldbaldbob

Thanks, guys. Some really good suggestions. I'll have to try the battery pack thing, since I've got a dozen of them sitting around. The backup charger may be a good idea, anyways. Thanks agin for the ideas.

Jim

[Joe R.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Jim,

You might also want to consider a power supply. In other words, a piece of equipment that plugs into the wall and provides a regulated DC output, roughly 12 V in this case. I assume you will be testing in the comfort of your garage. I don't know where you live, but they're available here in St. Louis at surplus electronics stores pretty cheap. The more current you need, the more pricey they get. But you shouldn't need a lot of current to do what you're interested in. I'm just not a fan of batteries, I avoid them whenever possible. You might also try eBay.

Joe

[Gary C.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Jim, think Lynn was referring to the Power Probe II available from Amazon for about $70 bucks. Gary....

http://www.powerprobe.com/powerprobe/PP2.html

[Roy B.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Many newer battery chargers cant light a 12v bulb , buy one that when you touch the + and _ to gather it sparks , that one will run any thing 12v and light a light bulb

[James W.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Many newer battery chargers cant light a 12v bulb , buy one that when you touch the + and _ to gather it sparks , that one will run any thing 12v and light a light bulb

Gary

The PowerProbe looks good. I'll have to see about one soon. I did get my seats sorted out, so its not the emergency it was, but I'm sure I'll need one again.

Jim

[Lynn H.]

Re: Alternate 12V dc Source

Jim, think Lynn was referring to the Power Probe II available from Amazon for about $70 bucks. Gary....
http://www.powerprobe.com/powerprobe/PP2.html

Gary,
While not exactly like the one I have, this one looks to serve all the same purposes. Mine is a "PGI Pistol Probe", manufactured by Waekon Model 78100. The one on amazon at about half of what I paid (we all know there are no bargains on the snap on truck), looks to be a much better buy on something that works just as well.
Lynn