Portable car stereo running off car battery

[sid]

Hi All,
I've accumulated a few car stereo parts over the years and was thinking the other day about wiring them up in a wooden box and connected to a freestanding (ie. not in a car) car battery as a portable ghetto blaster/boombox for bbq's, the shed, camping etc.

Is this as simple as it sounds? My inital research on the net hasn't really uncovered anything fruitful.

First thoughts are to fix up a box out of plywood, cut the appropriate hoels for the speakers, stereo unit and room for the battery, wire the head unit to the battery via a fuse, and then speakers from the head unit.

Am I missing something? Will I blow myself up when hooking it together?

Thoughts appreciated.

cheers,
sid.:D

[BigJon]

You have pretty much got it.

Every now and then you will have to recharge the battery.

[sid]

You have pretty much got it.

Every now and then you will have to recharge the battery.

Speaking of a battery, will a ride on mower battery do the same job as a car battery voltage-wise? Thinking about this because it's smaller than a car battery but I guess the trade off is play time before needing a recharge.

The battery and the ply are pretty much the only bits I need to buy.

[pop058]

Any 12 volt battery will do the job. The larger (capacity) the battery, the longer the play time. As BigJon said, all you need to do is charge the battery and a small (read cheap) trickle charger will do that.

[richard4u2]

what you are talking about is the same as in a caravan

[sid]

How about fuses? Will a 10a fuse do the trick or will I need something a bit bigger?

I've also decided to throw a cigarette socket in there to charge an ipod while playing if needed, hopefully that should be something I can pick up from Dick Smith.

[BigJon]

10 amp fuse should be fine.

[rockyroad]

Sounds good, I have been wanting to do this for awhile now but dont really have the need for it, would have only been a did it because I can job.

[sid]

thanks guys, i'll try and post some photos when it's all done.

[bee utey]

How about fuses? Will a 10a fuse do the trick or will I need something a bit bigger?

I've also decided to throw a cigarette socket in there to charge an ipod while playing if needed, hopefully that should be something I can pick up from Dick Smith.
Comments: Using a lead acid battery until it's dead flat will kill it promptly. So you need to recharge before you think you need it. A digital volt meter wired with the radio will give you a hint. Me personally I would have a small solar panel attatched to keep the charge topped up. It could have a few metres of cord to allow it to go outside somewhere. Or you have a charging plug so it can be run off your car system as well.

[sid]

Thanks, I'd thought about the solar panel to keep it topped up during the day - would I need to run it through some kind or transformer or will a small panel wired directly to the battery be ok?

[VladTepes]

Me I prefer the peace and solitude of the bush than a blaring stereo... cheaper too.

[bee utey]

Thanks, I'd thought about the solar panel to keep it topped up during the day - would I need to run it through some kind or transformer or will a small panel wired directly to the battery be ok?

Find a second hand solar panel on ebay, then buy a regulator to suit. The panel should be 20 watts or so to charge the battery and run the radio. If you don't have a regulator in there your volt gauge will need to be watched so you don't overcharge it. A volt meter such as this one will do:

Blue LCD Digital Volt Panel Meter Voltmeter 7.5V-20V - eBay, Meters, Electrical, Industrial. (end time 23-Sep-10 22:30:38 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Blue-LCD-Digital-Volt-Panel-Meter-Voltmeter-7-5V-20V-/200519229895?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item2eafe0a1c7)