12v Power Supplies

[nauticoons]

I am thinking about constructing a small computer to use on a boat where 12v power is available from the boat batteries. The voltage would normally vary from about 11-15 volts, as the battery is charged and discharged. The battery bank is substantial. Does anyone know of a PC power supply that would work off of a battery with this characteristic?

I know that I could buy a laptop, and use an inverter. I already have one on the boat, and do this all the time. However, I want to integrate the system a bit more, and be able to use the computer as a media center on the boat(music and TV tuner), for navigation, inventory, etc, and I think that I can accomplish this better if I build one myself. The small case designs described on Tom's intrigue me, but I haven't seen any power supplies that I could use without going thru an inverter.

Any help would be welcome.

Ralph Caruso

 

[Crashman]

You need regulated 12v for stability, I've seen 12v regulators (active) and ITX power supplies that run off 12v.

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[nauticoons]

Thanks. I thought there might be something available, but I searched and could not find one. I realize that the battery supply will need to be regulated, because the boat battery voltage does vary - it rarely goes below 12v (only when I run the microwave), but is frequently above 12v when the various charging sources (solar, windmill, shore power, engine) are running.

I will search again - any hints about manufacturers would be appreciated.

 

[Crashman]

I just found stuff doing a web search last time.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>