running rc charger from in bed power outlet.

[beason]

has anyone did this? with almost every new vehicle coming out having a 12v socket in the bed/cargo area, you would think the companies making these would offer a plug on them instead of clips..

has anyone tried this? will the wiring hold?

 

[MotoGod]

I run my 20A Power Supply off the 110 Outlet in the Bed of my Tacoma TRD ;-) I usually run a fan as well. It's a 400W inverter...so it should hold just fine for me at least. I can't run much off of it...and when I charged 2 4s LIPOs back to back at 5A...I killed my battery with the truck running.

It should run a charger NO problem though!

 

[beason]

i just have a 12v socket, like a cigarette lighter plug. but my charger has clips to run on a battery. i need to figure out how to wire it since i dont want to hack off the clips.

 

[MotoGod]

Buy something that runs off a cig lighter...and clip the wires ;-) or find an old cell car charger. Solder up some banana clips to it....then clip your alligator clips off...and toss bananas on there as well. Make it all interchangeable. <3 Banana Clips!

 

[sweetdiesel]

The problems I see is the lighter receptacle not pushing out enough voltage and not being able to handle the amp load of the charger. The power that comes from the lighter may be unregulated. I'd also hate to see a blown lighter fuse in the middle of charging lipos.

 

[RC Addict]

Most lighter receptacles are rated for 15 or 20 amps. You will be alright re-wiring for a lighter plug as long as the rating on the charger does not exceed 20 amps. If it does, and you can access all the wiring in the vehicle, you can move up from the typical 14 gauge wiring (for 20 amp circuits) to 10 gauge or better, then install a 30 amp fuse and have at it. And PLEASE don't just change out the fuse for a bigger one, kiddies, 'cause the stock wiring can't handle that kinda load and lots of smoke will ensue!

 

[beason]

i have the venom pro, and the highest I've seen it do is 5a, but i dont know how much it pulls when doing this.

 

[RC Addict]

Check the label on the case. It should list the amperage draw somewhere on there. It is on the UL label...

 

[hamz9561]

Beason, you can check the fuse installed in the charger itself. If that is below the 15 amp level, you should be able to run it with the pigtail adapter that was described earlier. My Super Brain 989 uses a 10-amp AC power supply so I know it would work fine off of that circuit.

 

[beason]

good idea hamz!! ill check it tonight. Thanks guys!