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charger for lights???

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  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,337 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 3:31 PM
Sure, wall-warts are a great source.  The probably only have a few hundred milliamp rating, though.  If you're using, for example, 30 mA Minitronics bulbs, then a half-dozen of them will come up to 180 milliamps.  That's all you can put on if you've got a 200 milliamp supply.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 154 posts
Posted by greendiamond on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 2:52 PM

You will need to determine it's current capacity (amps, milliamps ma) so you don't exceed it.  The closer you get to it's maximum, the hotter the unit will get.  As long as you don't exceed its capacity, there's no problem using it.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: eastern Nebraska
  • 219 posts
charger for lights???
Posted by binder001 on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 2:10 PM

I just got a new cell phone and was ready to throw out the old charger coard and realized that its output is rated as 12V DC.  Can I wire this as a cheap lighting power source for some of my structures?  I know its a goofy question but 1) I hate the throw away useful stuff and 2) I don't want to burn down my layout.

 

Thanks in advance.

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