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Voltage drop an issue with small 12v and low amp stuff?

N

NN

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a sony bullet camera and when I move the power adapter
(switching) far away by extending the wire, It can,t power up the
camera. Is voltage drop really an issue with such a small device? if
yes, where do I find the formula for 12v stuff.
 
K

kip

Jan 1, 1970
0
What distance are we talking ???
Tell us more .
 
M

M Berger

Jan 1, 1970
0
Measure the resistance of your power cable and use ohm's
law to determine how much voltage you'll lose. You're
probably using wire much too small for the purpose.
 
J

Jim Land

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have a sony bullet camera and when I move the power adapter
(switching) far away by extending the wire, It can,t power up the
camera. Is voltage drop really an issue with such a small device? if
yes, where do I find the formula for 12v stuff.

Well, yes, evidently the camera is drawing enough current that the voltage
drop is too large with the wire size you're using. Just try a larger size
wire. For an application like this, the wire can be too small, but it
can't be too large.
 
N

NN

Jan 1, 1970
0
kip said:
What distance are we talking ???
Tell us more .
I putting it on a 30 to 45 foot pole and power unit would be cumbersome
with it , so the best I can do is put it at the base. So 30 to 45 feet.
 
N

NN

Jan 1, 1970
0
M said:
Measure the resistance of your power cable and use ohm's
law to determine how much voltage you'll lose. You're
probably using wire much too small for the purpose.
Do you get a reliable reading without the load. I know that it applies
to batteries charged but I not sure here. I guess it could be just as
easily measured with the carmera attached.
 
N

NN

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
Well, yes, evidently the camera is drawing enough current that the voltage
drop is too large with the wire size you're using. Just try a larger size
wire. For an application like this, the wire can be too small, but it
can't be too large.
Ok , all points to needing larger guage wire, I have a lot of phone
wire with 4 strands, can I use two strands per connection to double the
size? For example, does a 6 gauge wire behave the same way as two
insulated 3 gauge wires use together?
 
J

Jim Land

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ok , all points to needing larger guage wire, I have a lot of phone
wire with 4 strands, can I use two strands per connection to double
the size? For example, does a 6 gauge wire behave the same way as two
insulated 3 gauge wires use together?

Yes, but the other way around. (6 gauge wire is *smaller* than 3 gauge
wire.) Two 6 gauge wires connected in parallel will give the same
voltage drop as one 3 gauge wire. (Assuming American Wire Gauge.)

However, your telephone wire is likely to be more like 26 or 28 gauge,
fine for carrying telephone conversations, but very small for carrying
current to your camera. Try something a lot larger, like 18 gauge (the
wire for an electric lamp) or 16 (an extension cord) or 14 (house
wiring).
 
N

NN

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
Yes, but the other way around. (6 gauge wire is *smaller* than 3 gauge
wire.) Two 6 gauge wires connected in parallel will give the same
voltage drop as one 3 gauge wire. (Assuming American Wire Gauge.)

However, your telephone wire is likely to be more like 26 or 28 gauge,
fine for carrying telephone conversations, but very small for carrying
current to your camera. Try something a lot larger, like 18 gauge (the
wire for an electric lamp) or 16 (an extension cord) or 14 (house
wiring).
Yes , I got it the sizes reversed.


Thankyou for all the help leading to the solution
 
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