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January 22, 2016
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Question about power supplies...
Instead of using the "Wall Warts" that I currently have powering 8 camera's, I would like to connect them all to one supply.
Coming from a ham radio background, I have a few 10 Amp Astron power supplies sitting around. They output 13.8 Volts, though they are used to power "12 volt" radio equipment. I could build a buss to connect all of my camera's to one power supply.
Will video camera's tolerate the extra 1.8 volts of power these power supplies provide?
I think it would depend on how the power supply operates. As long as it provides up to X amps per channel you would be good because PSU only lets cameras have what they need. If its constant 10 amps/12vdc to each channel no matter what then it would torch the cameras. We have 5 amp 12vdc power supplies, but they only give out what the cameras need. as far as it reading above 12 vdc that is good. anything under 12vdc the cameras can act strange.
January 22, 2016
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With all due respect, amperage and voltage are separate issues. the power supply will supply 13.8 volts to as many camera's as I hook up to it until i exceed the 10 amp rating of the power supply... at that point it would pop the circuit breaker. My camera's draw less than an amp each, so i have plenty of capacity for my 8 camera's.
The big thing I am worried about it the 13.8 volts. I could investigate turning the voltage down on the power supply to 12 volts, but i am not sure that is necessary.
That being said, I know radio equipment, not security camera's. Lowering the voltage increases current (amps) and that is usually not a good thing. More current = more heat which can lead to burning the camera up, or if your lucky just some unusual behavior.
My concern is that a little more voltage could be an issue as well. That's the answer I'm looking for. Radio equipment is generally OK from 11.2 all the way up to 14.6 volts, which is the range possible in todays autos.
You psu is a at least 1 volt over average for our equipment PSUs. I would say it won't torch it immediately, but over time it may shorten the life. Use at your own risk of damage to the equipment.
January 22, 2016
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Thanks for your input Dan. I dug around and found somewhere that the input power is 12V +/- 10%. That only gives me to 13.2 V. I will investigate weather I can turn my power supply down a little.
This is by no means a cheap solution. Astros power supplies are more expensive, and not as neatly packaged as yours... it's just that I have 3 of them just sitting here!
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