Can you make an amp power supply out of a car radio vibrator?

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#2
It's probably possible, but vibrators are basically obsolete after the advent of the IC. You could use anything from a simple 555-based circuit to one of LT's advanced switcher-controllers to do the same thing better.

I suspect the current capability is governed by the output transformer and the transistors, though I doubt you'll find these numbers published.
 
#7
My thoughts would be using this to switch DC to AC, sending it to a transformer and rectify the AC to DC. With the right transformer wouldn't that give me double rails? I might even get away with using a voltage doubler instead of a transformer. I have to say though that when it comes to amps + PS design I am still a noob.
 
#9
ywara said:
They actually produce AC for old tube radios.

These guys seem to be the only ones still making them. Information is basically nonexistent but it sounds like they can source a few amps each.
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My answer was about the vibrator that was in the cluster intrument of the 1970 Volkswagens.
It was to stabilize the gaz gauge. Older VW vibrators were mechanical, then were replaced by solid state.

Another thing I had in the 60s was an inverter providing several DC outputs for military tube equipement.

Beware, it could be another vibro, too; Check where it is supposed to be plugged.

This inverter had a vibrator part to make square AC that was stepped up and down then rectified and filtered to give several DC outputs.
 
#10
ywara said:
It's probably possible, but vibrators are basically obsolete after the advent of the IC. You could use anything from a simple 555-based circuit to one of LT's advanced switcher-controllers to do the same thing better.

I suspect the current capability is governed by the output transformer and the transistors, though I doubt you'll find these numbers published.
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if you are talking about the LTC1970 and its ilk, to source and sink current or control the sourcing and sinking of current supplied by external fets; then yes, these things are the most excellent looking device for virtual ground single supply ccts and i would love to see someone use one for audio before i do 😀
 
#11
mastodon said:
As ywara points out, there are more efficient and durable ways of achieving this. Note that a vibrator is inherently prone to mechanical failure in the long term.
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Just to be clear, I would be using the new solid state equivilents not an old mechanical vibrator. I also want to point out that I would be doing this in a car so I am trying to get a higher voltage and dual rails. A SMPS would work but is much harder to design. This looks like it could be a simple solution but I am worried I am missing something.
 
#14
An easy alternative would be to use the kind of converters they use in RVs to get main ( 120v 60Hz AC ) from 12v batteries. Converting again to +30v -30v will give a not so good efficiency, but that is acceptable.
An easy cheap alternative would be to use a salvaged UPS ( Uninterepted Power Supply ) to do so.
A lot of UPS are thrown away because of the cost of replacing their inside batteries.
Small UPSs run from a12v battery ( for instance APC Smart-UPS 650VA ). Larger UPSs run from 24v or 48v battery packs.
A UPS works perfectly well on a car battery. Just be sure the internal battery was a 12v battery. This is my setup for my PC at home and in my camping car.
 
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