JMLB 24 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 how would you go about powering a wifi router that take 500mA at 12V with batteries. i was thinking 8 AA batteries they rate about 1.3A/h Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bluehash 1,581 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I'm sure they bring the voltage down to 5V or something lower than 12V. Are you taking it apart? Theres hould be a voltage regulator inside it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 I would not be surprised if the wifi needed 12 though. i have it apart. ill look for the voltage regulator. I tired connected 8 aa and the LED light but but the router does not boot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Get one of those 12V toy car batteries or step-up converter. If there is a regulator, then you can get step-up to the right voltage and bypass regulator. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 im looking at the WRT54G and it only takes 6Volts. I am wondering why mine take 12. I might just buy a WRT54G. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fe2o3Fish 33 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 All WRT54G/GL/GS take 12-volt input on its power connector EXCEPT the WRT54G version 1.0, it used a 5-volt power adapter. The older 54G's can use up to about 1/2-amp. Going with the version 3 & 4 as well at the GL will reduce that current drain a fair bit. What I use when I take my 54G's into the field is a 12v, 7.2-AH gel cell battery but do watch the battery voltage though. You don't want it going too low or the battery will be damaged. If you insist on using dry cells, then go with an 8-pack of D-cells. -Rusty- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 The reason they changed from 6v to 12v could be that they needed more RF power which they could not get using 6v and using step up converter was more expensive than putting in 78xx and wasting few watts. If you are planning to use your router often, you should find out what voltages are needed and get step up chip from TI, Maxim, or Linear. This will be more efficient than supplying 12v which will be then regulated down. Also, step ups have usually wide input range, so your battery can be used longer. Here's one example from TI, TSP61093 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fe2o3Fish 33 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 That's a bit of a stretch, Rob. Power output between the 5v units and the 12v units are negligible. It had more to do with the change in chipsets within the routers and that the RF section was integrated onto the motherboard than the miniPCI WiFi card in the v1.0 units. Also, the 12v units run almost entirely off 3.3v internally. -Rusty- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobG 1,892 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 ...Also, the 12v units run almost entirely off 3.3v internally. Not sure what the reason was, just a guess. So I took my WGT624 apart, and it has a switcher inside providing single 3.3v. I wonder what's inside 5v model, switcher or regulator? If it's a regulator, that would make 12v version more efficient and more reliable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for your replies. I ended up pluging a battery that said 14V on it I didn't think it would be too much but the voltage regulator chip ( i assume cause I can't read the part number) caught on fire. I don't think the battery was 14V I was at the store trying out the battery so I couldn't confirm with a volt meter. I bought a dlink print server and it works on 5V. a battery pack of 4AA seems to work fine Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zeke 693 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Wow. You probably asked that poor little regulator to absorb (14-3)=11 Volts @ ~250mA which is about (11*.25)=2.75 Watts. If the unit tried to draw more than 250mA then it just gets worse for the regulator. POOF :!: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GeekDoc 226 Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I ended up pluging a battery that said 14V on it ...the voltage regulator chip...caught on fire. Ahhh, the old Smoke Test. Won't always show a positive result, but you're always positive when you get a negative result. JMLB 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMLB 24 Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 Ahhh, the old Smoke Test. Won't always show a positive result, but you're always positive when you get a negative result. LOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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