Electrical question.
T66
02-27-2006, 12:53 AM
How do I step 12v dc down to 5v dc? It is for a home build car alarm.
sierrap615
02-27-2006, 04:58 AM
if you use just a small amount of current, a 3 pin linear voltage regulator from Radioshack may do the trick. but be warn, they waste a lot of energy by heat.
you can also buy DC to DC converters, where i'm not sure(Radio shack?)
another option is to find a power adaptier like for a cell phone or CD player that puts out 5volts and wire it to work. 5 volts isn't that common though. the closest you may find is 4.5V or 6.0V
lastly, if you know the resistance of the 5V circuit, you can do a little math and find a resistor to use in a voltage divider circuit (i think thats what its called)
if it was me, i would use a combonation of a resistior to knock down the voltage, then a voltage regulator, and a capatior to clean it up a little.
you can also buy DC to DC converters, where i'm not sure(Radio shack?)
another option is to find a power adaptier like for a cell phone or CD player that puts out 5volts and wire it to work. 5 volts isn't that common though. the closest you may find is 4.5V or 6.0V
lastly, if you know the resistance of the 5V circuit, you can do a little math and find a resistor to use in a voltage divider circuit (i think thats what its called)
if it was me, i would use a combonation of a resistior to knock down the voltage, then a voltage regulator, and a capatior to clean it up a little.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025