Thread: 12v car blacklight wired to 120v?

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I have a couple of interior car black lights. They are hard wired to a cigarette lighter plug. I'm not going to use them for my car. I'd like to use them for accent lighting in the home.

Does anyone know how to wire these up to plug into 120v?

All you need is a 12v power supply rated to handle the current that your blacklights require. Depending on who made them, if they're neon, CCFL or LED and their length is going to determine how much power they pull. Some can be as little as 300ma, others pulling a full 3-4 amps per lamp.

Radio Shack has various 12v power supplies, all the way up to a 25A unit. They can be had a little cheaper from various online electronics retailers.

If it's going to be a one night thing, the easiest way to go is simply use a 12v battery from your car, tractor, motorcycle, etc. Even at a few amp draw, a car battery will last MANY hours.

They are CCFL. The instructions did not give me any specs on them though..

these are the ones I have:
Amazon.com: Neon Street Lights Automotive 15-in 12-volt Black Light: Automotive

Fry's electronics should carry an adapter to take 120VAC to 12VDC with a cigarette outlet. Radio Shack used to carry one, but I don't see it on their webpage.

If you have a DMM, you can easily test what the current draw is by putting the meter inline with the positive (or negative) wire between the adapter and the light.

As DD mentioned, various places sell the power supply with the lighter adapter built right into it. I'm always budget minded and those adapters are an absolute ripoff (typically). 1A power supply for $25, meanwhile you can buy the same thing with pigtails for $14. That's certainly the easiest route to go, however.

That price is a ripofff. I got a 12V 1A unit from Frys for $9.99.

They are having server problems at the moment, but I got the FCP-1000.

Wow. That's a pretty good deal. Unfortunately, we don't have any Fry's out here on the East Coast. Micro Center has good deals, but the closest one to me in Cincinnati.

Radio Shack is generally very high in price. You pay for the convienence I suppose.

My bad. They are now $34.99 !!!!

RadioShack.com - Power & Batteries: Home & office power: AC (Home) adapters: AC-to-DC Portable Power Supply

Originally Posted by Brandon_K

My bad. They are now $34.99 !!!!

RadioShack.com - Power & Batteries: Home & office power: AC (Home) adapters: AC-to-DC Portable Power Supply

Yikes!! $9.99 sounds a bit better but then there's shipping. I have a ton of wallwarts. I guess I will check the amps on it and see if I have something.

..or maybe build a circuit..if anyone has something on this..

You could use any DC power supply with enough current, 12-24vdc, then use a 7812 regulator. They're good for up to 1A (a little more with a heatsink) and will give you a regulated 12v source.

The 'Shack stocks them. Last I check $2.50 a piece.