Converting Power Cord to Battery Pack

Mike~Sileck · 05-10-2006, 04:49 PM

Hello everyone!

This is my first time in the DIY section. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Just a brief overview. I recently bought one of those pictures that has little lights on it at certain parts of the picture (it happens to be a picture of some cars, and the headlights actually *light up*). Anyways, its going to look great in my movie room, except for the long ugly cord that comes out from the bottom of it. I know I could hard wire it into my wall but to be honest it was a cheap little $50 dollar picture and I don't wanna work that hard for it. So this was my new plan. Build a little battery pack for it. There is space behind the frame for probably one or two 9v batteries, so hopefully this works out. Also, there is an on/off button, so I'll only have it on when I'm entertaining people, and the batteries should last a long time.

Anyways, here are the specifics. The cord connects to the picture via a typical circular input, one of the bigger ones (it seems to be about the same size as the PSP one. The transformer box that plugs into the wall says this:

MINI-PICS
AC WALL ADAPTER
FOR ELECTRONIC ART
Model: 35 - D09 - 300
Input: 120VAC 60hz 6w
Output: 9VDC 300mA
Class 2 Transformer

Now, I'm not really all that good at electrical stuff, but it's only a few lights, so I don't see why a 9v or two wouldnt work. Only problem is that I have no idea how to wire it all up. So, if y'all wouldn't mind lending a helping hand, could you guys give me a basic overview with pictures (or RadioShack links) for the type of things I need to pick up? Thank you so much for any help, and if you have any other questions then please ask.

Thanks
Michael Sileck

Joey Skinner · 05-10-2006, 06:27 PM

Cut the plug from the transformer, strip some insulation from the wires and attach them to a 9v transistor battery. If the bulb is incandescent the polarity shouldn't matter. If it works, get a proper battery connector from Radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search . If you don't want to use the plug from your transformer you could probably get one of those from Radio shack also.

Mike~Sileck · 05-12-2006, 01:09 AM

Works perfectly.

Thanks Joey

Wayne A. Pflughaupt · 05-13-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

so I'll only have it on when I'm entertaining people, and the batteries should last a long time.

Don’t know what your idea of “a long time” is, but consider that the parking lights in a car (which really aren’t that bright) will usually run down a huge car battery in eight hours or so. I don’t think a pair of dinky (i.e., low capacity) 9v batteries is going to last more than a few hours at most. Keep us posted, it'll be interesting to see how it works out.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Mark Hayenga · 05-17-2006, 08:20 PM

You'll get an hour or two at most if it draws the full 300mA. Parallel more 9V batteries for more lifetime.

**HTF Ads**



Skin Chooser:	Contact Us - Advertising Information - Home Theater Forum - Archive - Top