Regulated power?

[dgadee]

What would the disadvantages/problems be for having a 12v regulated supply through a boat?

I have a 12v pc and tv and note the need for regulated supply for LEDs. Why not just regulate after the battery?

 

[William_H]

When you do regulate a supply you invoke inefficencies. Perhaps 10% loss though much depends on load. Now many devices like transceiver instruments etc will have their own regulation. Modern fridges tend to have efectively a regulator built in. Likewise an inverter. Heavy current drain items like anchor winch or bow thrusters are not regulated but tend to operate oK ona range of input votages.
So you are left with some concern re LEDs and the need for regulated supplies for PC and TV. If you are lucky enough to have them made for 12v (precisely). ie in lieu of a mains adapter that delivers 12v regulated. So I would suggest it is not practical to provide an all purpose 12v regulated ship supply. Just use regulators where you really need them.
ie likely 18v v needed for computers and 12v or some higher voltage for TV.
Incidentally LED current regulators are more efficent than running an LED with resistive current limiting either with or without a regulated supply. good luck olewill

 

[GHA]

They're so cheap off eBay it's worth looking into just getting a regulator where it's needed, as William said. I've one which runs a netbook at 19v day in, day out. Plus another little buck/boost for charging the few things which don't have usb.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5-28V-t..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item51ab7d061a

Wouldn't break the bank for a lighting circuit. Even cheaper direct from china.

 

[dgadee]

Thanks - I understand now. I'll get one for the power socket which runs the tv - the pc already has this internally.

 

[nigelmercier]

I've got one of these: http://amzn.to/1wboDsf

Specifications:
Input range: 8-40V DC
Output voltage: 12V DC
Output current: 6A (Max) / 72W
Case material: die-cast aluminum
Potting material: epoxy sealed

I bought it to wire into my internal lighting circuit, thus preventing damage caused by overheating LEDs.

 

[pagoda]

I've got one of these: http://amzn.to/1wboDsf

Specifications:
Input range: 8-40V DC
Output voltage: 12V DC
Output current: 6A (Max) / 72W
Case material: die-cast aluminum
Potting material: epoxy sealed

I bought it to wire into my internal lighting circuit, thus preventing damage caused by overheating LEDs.

+1
Similar device found on Ebay, good for 10A, not that it will ever need that much!.Only the cabin lights circuit. Having said that the internal (now LED) lamps are rarely on when motoring anyway, but when a mains charger is in use the battery voltage is >14V for a while, so the regulation keeps the LEDs safe. I haven't managed to kill any LEDs outright prior to this I have to admit.