So I've tried to resolve this problem on my own. Every time I think I have the solution I come to a new question. SO I thought I'd ask some experts on the subject as the electrical science has muddied my brain in the last few days. I promise to try and learn
So let me explain my project and where I need some help.
My goal is to use a small 12v battery to run a couple LED bulbs in my camper. Here's what I have:
1 x 12v 18aH SLA battery (ExpertPower EXP12180)
1 x 7w LED bulb designed to run on 12v system
1 x standard bulb socket base
1 x cigarette lighter socket
Questions:
Is it possible to run both the cigarette socket (with two phones charging) and the LED bulb on the battery at the same time?
As far as a fuse goes, should I use one rated at 15a or 10a?
You don't fuse a stable dc source like a battery. You could, but it's pointless.
Your wire gauge needs are determined by the current draw you expect to consume.
You can run the LED and the socket together just fine. The socket itself does not draw anything. That is to say, that's a stupid question because it all depends in what you're going to plug into that socket.
Read your battery datasheet thoroughly and you'll have all your answers. Read your LED datasheet and see if it can handle voltages greater than 12v because that's what your battery will push out.
csrain:
Questions:
Is it possible to run both the cigarette socket (with two phones charging) and the LED bulb on the battery at the same time?
As far as a fuse goes, should I use one rated at 15a or 10a?
What gauge wire is appropriate for this project?
Yes you can run them both at the same time if you wire them in Parallel
Fuse should be 5A since your phones will draw 1A each (assuming they're not quick charge usb 3.0) and your 2 bulbs will draw 0.6A each. Use automotive fuse. Fuse should always be installed on the ungrounded side of the circuit.
Alternatively you could also use separate fuses for each cigarette lighter socket so it will be easier to figure out which one of your charger went bust while the good one can still keep charging your other phone. In this case use a 2A fuse for each cigarette lighter socket and single 2A fuse for both light bulbs.
Wire gauge depends on both current draw and length of the transmission wire. If you are going to use for within 10 to 25 feet I would suggest going for 20 gauge or 18 gauge, and go for copper.
run a couple LED bulbs in my camper. Here's what I have: 1 x 7w LED bulb designed to run on 12v system
You need to be specific on how many bulbs you plan to run, the answer will depend on that.
INTP:
You don't fuse a stable dc source like a battery. You could, but it's pointless.
INTP:
'May have shorts' is bad design, not a reason to throw a fuse at it which fixes nothing. A predictable battery is predictable.
The OP intends to use phone chargers that plugs into his cigarette lighter socket. Since he is not designing the chargers himself there is a good chance that his charger will go bust since there are a lot of cheap poorly built chargers in the market. This is exactly why the 12V sockets in cars are connected to a separate dedicated fuse in the car's fuse box.
No technician would ever recommend using electrical circuit in cars or boats or campers without a fuse. These things are not pointlessly added for reasons unknown. It would break a lot of safety regulations if such a circuit without a fuse was done by the vehicle manufacturer.
Wrong and more wrong. Not sure why you keep bringing up automotive electrical systems when the topic is a standalone battery.
And your fear-mongering about those darn unreliable cheap chargers is more irrelevance. But if it makes you feel any better, they typically have fuses in the tip anyway.
INTP:
Wrong and more wrong. Not sure why you keep bringing up automotive electrical systems when the topic is a standalone battery.
And your fear-mongering about those darn unreliable cheap chargers is more irrelevance. But if it makes you feel any better, they typically have fuses in the tip anyway.
Saying that a lot doesn't automatically make your claims right. It looks like you didn't read what the OP said in the first place. He is going to use that in his camper, which is an automobile. He is going to power it using cigarette lighter sockets, which are automotive components. Even if his project didn't relate with automobiles it is still advisable to use a fuse especially with batteries that can discharge high amounts of current.
lol, cheap unreliable chargers having fuses in the tip. So much for the word "cheap and unreliable". OP could even make a mistake in wiring his things and risk the chance of setting his camper on fire. Your blatant disregard for basic safety precautions is only going to make matters worse for the already confused OP. At least he has the common sense to ask for a fuse in the first place.
@csrain
I would definitely use fuses to be on the safe side. Better safe than sorry. You never know what someone else might put into the cigarette lighter socket (or otherwise), deliberatly or by accident.
From usability point of view I would prefer that my (LED) light would stay on when other fuses blow, as repairing electricity in the dark can be quite annoying. Maybe I would even consider a 2nd battery for light only but that would depend on the size of the camper.
