Indoor car show power - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

dmwhiteman · 02-20-2013, 10:15 AM

Showed my car at Motorama this past weekend and unfortunately wasn't able to show my lights or play my stereo because I needed to unhook my battery. I've done a lot of research on how to get the power to my car, ie: inverters, power supplies, converted PC power supplies, battery chargers....

My question is, where does this hook up to the car? Do I run a wire to the fuse box for each piece of equipment I want to power?

My light strip and halos plug into the fuse box under the hood, those will be easy to power. The radio is powered through a fuse box in the trunk if I am not mistaken.

grocerygetter · 02-20-2013, 12:08 PM

power supply...hooks to battery.

dmwhiteman · 02-20-2013, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grocerygetter

power supply...hooks to battery.

Hooking it to the battery, which is not connected to anything, wouldn't do any good. Do you mean the + and - wires that have been removed from the battery?

The power supplies are only rated for so many amps. I think they are meant to be hooked directly to the components being powered.

Deke736 · 02-20-2013, 12:35 PM

AAC sells a power supply for just this reason. It's a 120v supply that you can plug in for indoor shows.

Here is a link: http://www.automotivelightstore.com/30aps-1.aspx

Here is the thread explaining it:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178347

Decibel JJ · 02-20-2013, 05:01 PM

Hook it to the battery wires. That way it'll power everything from a central hookup. If you're doing it often, you can Y off a 4 or 8 ga. quick disconnect plug so you don't have to wire it up at each show.

I used cascade hybrid power supplies hooked to an optima hidden away in the back of the booth. That way I had 90 amps continuous (depending on draw) and 800 amps available for transients. You don't have to use the battery though if you're not pulling that much current. I had that setup running 3 cars at the LA auto show.

http://www.cascadeaudio.com/power_co...converters.htm

dmwhiteman · 02-22-2013, 06:26 AM

I have a 2/15/100 amp battery charger/starter and a 30 amp power supply already. I could hook the battery charger/starter directly to the + and - cables that come from the battery, with alligator clips. This worries me though because I don't want to send to much power through the computer and fry something.

The 30 amp power supply directions show how to hook up a car stereo indoors, as in: in your home. If I connect it to my + and - will it have enough power to turn my stereo and lights on? It only uses 14 gauge wires to connect to devices. That doesn't seem heavy enough to be able to pass that much current.

The Stig · 02-22-2013, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deke736

AAC sells a power supply for just this reason. It's a 120v supply that you can plug in for indoor shows.

Here is a link: http://www.automotivelightstore.com/30aps-1.aspx

Here is the thread explaining it:
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178347

Exactly what I was going to suggest

dmwhiteman · 02-22-2013, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AACstyle

Granted, it will not run the stereo or other high-draw devices but will handle any lights just fine

Yes, very similar to a big trickle charger

This looks like a great device, but it will not power my stereo.

Like I said, I already have the equipment to provide the power. I really don't want to buy something else that will do what I already have. I just don't know how to get it from the unit to the car, be able to run everything, and not hurt my car.

If I take a +12v from the power supply and put a fuse jumper in the head unit fuse, will that turn the head unit on? I would also like to be able to do this without my key having to be in the ignition, which it would be if i just replaced the battery with a power supply unit.

grocerygetter · 02-22-2013, 11:40 AM

I have more time to type. I've done way more indoor big carshows with my other past cars than most except for TCAudio on here. lol
That battery in there as a reserve/buffer for a power supply is smart. You don't have to have a battery disconnected to get past fire marshalls. You have to disable the ability for the car to start. Put a disconnect on the starter wire on a switch if you want. Hook the power supply...cascade, kinetik, stinger, etc...to the battery. There are other ways too. This is just one.

SimpleGreen · 02-22-2013, 12:47 PM

I build fire trucks for a living. When we send trucks to indoor show we attach a power cord to the battery studs that has a powerpole connector on the end. It's a common quick connect style plug that is available for even battery cable sized wire. At the show they unhook the batteries and plug in a box we made here that contains three truck batteries and an auto charger. The truck batteries can run all the lights on their own for a while and then they can plug the box in to maintain charge.

dmwhiteman · 02-22-2013, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grocerygetter

Put a disconnect on the starter wire on a switch if you want. Hook the power supply...cascade, kinetik, stinger, etc...to the battery. There are other ways too. This is just one.

This sounds like the best idea. I already have everything wired to be able to quick disconnect a battery tender. I could just draw off the battery and have the tender keep the battery charged. Is this healthy for the battery?

Is there a fuse I could pull rather than putting in a switch?
Edit: Fuse 12 is the starter.

grocerygetter · 02-22-2013, 01:48 PM

I guess pull the fuse and see if it turns over...if not, you are probably fine. If it cranks, most firemarshalls will say 'no go'.

02-20-2013, 10:15 AM	#1
dmwhiteman Drives: 2SS Black w/ Inferno Orange Stripes Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: PA Posts: 565 View My Garage	Indoor car show power Showed my car at Motorama this past weekend and unfortunately wasn't able to show my lights or play my stereo because I needed to unhook my battery. I've done a lot of research on how to get the power to my car, ie: inverters, power supplies, converted PC power supplies, battery chargers.... My question is, where does this hook up to the car? Do I run a wire to the fuse box for each piece of equipment I want to power? My light strip and halos plug into the fuse box under the hood, those will be easy to power. The radio is powered through a fuse box in the trunk if I am not mistaken. __________________ Black Widow 2ss/RS

02-20-2013, 12:08 PM	#2
grocerygetter instigator Drives: 2020 6.2 Trail Boss, 2022 XC90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 72034 Posts: 3,979 View My Garage	power supply...hooks to battery. __________________ -John S.

02-20-2013, 12:35 PM	#4
Deke736 COTW 12/3/12 Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glen Carbon, IL Posts: 3,279	Indoor car show power AAC sells a power supply for just this reason. It's a 120v supply that you can plug in for indoor shows. Here is a link: http://www.automotivelightstore.com/30aps-1.aspx Here is the thread explaining it: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178347 __________________

02-20-2013, 05:01 PM	#5
Decibel JJ Car nut Drives: Tahoe Z71, Race cars Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 671	Hook it to the battery wires. That way it'll power everything from a central hookup. If you're doing it often, you can Y off a 4 or 8 ga. quick disconnect plug so you don't have to wire it up at each show. I used cascade hybrid power supplies hooked to an optima hidden away in the back of the booth. That way I had 90 amps continuous (depending on draw) and 800 amps available for transients. You don't have to use the battery though if you're not pulling that much current. I had that setup running 3 cars at the LA auto show. http://www.cascadeaudio.com/power_co...converters.htm __________________ Quote: Don't you just hate it when Satan steals your ride and does all these weird ass mods to it? R.I.P. Evan .. A true Friend Last edited by Decibel JJ; 02-20-2013 at 05:20 PM.

02-22-2013, 06:26 AM	#6
dmwhiteman Drives: 2SS Black w/ Inferno Orange Stripes Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: PA Posts: 565 View My Garage	I have a 2/15/100 amp battery charger/starter and a 30 amp power supply already. I could hook the battery charger/starter directly to the + and - cables that come from the battery, with alligator clips. This worries me though because I don't want to send to much power through the computer and fry something. The 30 amp power supply directions show how to hook up a car stereo indoors, as in: in your home. If I connect it to my + and - will it have enough power to turn my stereo and lights on? It only uses 14 gauge wires to connect to devices. That doesn't seem heavy enough to be able to pass that much current. __________________ Black Widow 2ss/RS

02-22-2013, 11:40 AM	#9
grocerygetter instigator Drives: 2020 6.2 Trail Boss, 2022 XC90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 72034 Posts: 3,979 View My Garage	I have more time to type. I've done way more indoor big carshows with my other past cars than most except for TCAudio on here. lol That battery in there as a reserve/buffer for a power supply is smart. You don't have to have a battery disconnected to get past fire marshalls. You have to disable the ability for the car to start. Put a disconnect on the starter wire on a switch if you want. Hook the power supply...cascade, kinetik, stinger, etc...to the battery. There are other ways too. This is just one. __________________ -John S.

02-22-2013, 12:47 PM	#10
SimpleGreen Drives: 2015 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 2,112	I build fire trucks for a living. When we send trucks to indoor show we attach a power cord to the battery studs that has a powerpole connector on the end. It's a common quick connect style plug that is available for even battery cable sized wire. At the show they unhook the batteries and plug in a box we made here that contains three truck batteries and an auto charger. The truck batteries can run all the lights on their own for a while and then they can plug the box in to maintain charge. __________________ 2015 Camaro 2SS/RS SIM 2016 Jeep Wrangler 2DR Willys Wheeler 1993 C1500 Single Cab Stepside 5.3L LS Swap

02-22-2013, 01:48 PM	#12
grocerygetter instigator Drives: 2020 6.2 Trail Boss, 2022 XC90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 72034 Posts: 3,979 View My Garage	I guess pull the fuse and see if it turns over...if not, you are probably fine. If it cranks, most firemarshalls will say 'no go'. __________________ -John S.