Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Technical => Topic started by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 13:44:54

Title: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 13:44:54
I have received one of the above & it has 2 banana plugs on the end, one red, one black. Does anyone know the best way to connect to our mains. This is a continental fitting.
I did hold them on a car  battery & it worked, hope it still does, but dont like that idea.

A good opportunity for me to blow it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thanks
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Mac on Nov 28, 2011, 13:54:06
QuoteA good opportunity for me to blow it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it will if you plug it into the mains :cheesy:
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: mickw on Nov 28, 2011, 14:10:53
You might already have blown it up - I assume it is supposed to be 12 volt ?

It depends what you want or are able to connect to.  If it's a battery you'd need crocodile clips big enough to fit the battery terminals, if you have a spare phono socket on dew heater, just a phono plug would do or a cigarette plug.
Either way, you will probably need to change the plug
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 14:16:11
i think it says 12v or 120.

You would think they would fit the end to suit UK, as it was sold by FLO. If it plugged into the dew heater, would it be both of the plugs or one of them?
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: mickw on Nov 28, 2011, 14:37:06
Does your dew heater have banana sockets ? they are usually phono.

They are not interchangeable  :boom:
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 14:40:34
oh ok, phono

this is the  reply i got from FLO


Martin, Nov-28 01:33 pm (GMT):
Hi Virginia

They are " banana plugs" and connect into the terminals on some mains power supplies. If you need to connect to a Cig type socket then you will need to modify the lead with a Cig type plug.

Kind Regards

Martin
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Carole on Nov 28, 2011, 16:20:14
Disgraceful selling a component without the proper means to power it.

I was thinking of getting one of those from FLO but don't think I will after your experience. 

Carole
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 16:26:14
well what good is a foreign connection
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: mickw on Nov 28, 2011, 16:47:58
It's not a foreign connection,  it's banana plugs which are quite common in UK.

The phono plugs could also be called foreign because they are on stuff from the USA and are also common in the UK
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 16:50:40
i stand corrected    :unwell:
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Carole on Nov 28, 2011, 16:53:39
I still wouldn't expect to have to do some DIY in order to plug in an item I had just bought.

Carole
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Ian on Nov 28, 2011, 17:38:04
It certainly would have been good to have been told in advance, but there are no standard connectors for 12v so you get what you'

re given really.
Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: Fay on Nov 28, 2011, 17:40:21
so can I assume it is ok to clip onto 12v battery via croc clips Ian?

Title: Re: Flat light panel
Post by: mickw on Nov 28, 2011, 18:43:22
Sorry, yes
Red to red (+ve) black to black (-ve)

I think the assumption is that whatever we are sold, we will make it work  :-?