Nav Station Monitor

[Rick Johnson]

Over the weekend I finally installed the 15inch flat panel monitor I bought for my Catalina.     Using the video processor from Viewsonic, it can now act as a TV or a laptop monitor (playing dvds or acting as a chart plotter).  I tried plugging it into the AC power and everything works great.  I then checked the power supplies and both are outputting 12 volts.  Can I just wire both systems into my boat's 12-volt system?  I tried asking Viewsonic but they have retreated behind the "that will void your warranty" wall.  I did try pointing out that the warranty has expired from both, but that was no help! It seems like this would work, but I still view electricity in the same realm as "black magic".  Cheers.

[Craig Illman]

I remember trying to do something like that in my '63 Chevy about thirty-five years ago with a 50-watt amplifier board. It fried it. I wouldn't recommend it. There's too much variability in the house bank voltage.

- Craig

[willie]

Sorry - I disagree Craig

Sounds like the input voltage on each devise requires 12 volts DC. This being true means  the internal power supply for each devise requires 12 volt DC input as well. The internal power supply that supplies varying voltages to difference sub systems on the board is regulated. So , it has an operating threshold. It will simply turn off if the input voltage is not with in the threshold. For example 8.3 volts to 16.8. You can provide the divices a 12v buffer, basically a big capacitor to manage voltage spikes and power up surges.

Hope that helps.

[Joe Kern]

I installed a 15 inch LCD TV in the same location as the picture shown.  Out it on a cantalievered mount.  Also allos for PC connection so I culd use that for it too.  rather than mess with the 12v power issue I simply plug it into the wall when I am in the marina and then bought a $39.00 400 watt inverter (way more than needed ) at West.  Works great.

Joe

[Rick Johnson]

Well after 3 days of searching I think I found my answer.     While watching re-runs of "The Fast and Furious" I saw that the kids are now installing PCs in their cars.  (It must be true if it was in a movie) I tried a google search (hopefully not being tracked by George W) and turned up http://www.carnetix.com/index.html.  I can now get a CNX-P1260 DC-DC Regulator which is a +12V in/+12V out DC-DC regulator designed specifically for the CarPC market.  The CNX-P1260 takes a battery input of +7.5VDC to +18VDC and provides a regulated +12VDC +/-5% output at up to 5Amps. There are several posts on their site about boat installations, so I'm not the first to try this.  Seems like a good solution and I'll let everyone know how it works out!

[willie]

Perrrrfect!