help needed - monitor has 12V plug

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I'm building a 50%-replica of the Donkey Kong cab and got this 15"-monitor for it:

http://www.godlyday.co.uk/products/details/camos-tm-1510d-15-tv-monitor-tm-1510d/14461/

Unfortunately, I didn't know it's supposed to be used in camping trailers ( ), which means it doesn't have this kind of power plug



but this one:



The real problem here is, of course, that it doesn't use 230V but 12V. I looked for an adapter but the small ones I found only give you up to 500mA. The monitor takes 2,5A, which means I would have to use one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Spannungswandler-220V-230V-12V-Wechselrichter-/310321736430?pt=Netzger%C3%A4te&hash=item48409deaee

Apart from being expensive, they're much too big and I don't think I can fit one in the limited space of the cab. 

Any ideas?

[Franco B]

I presume there is going to be a PC in the cab with a PSU? If so just power it from that.

I would probably chop the cigarette lighter end off it and add a molex on the end of it so you can plug it into the PSU loom.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I presume there is going to be a PC in the cab with a PSU? If so just power it from that.

I would probably chop the cigarette lighter end off it and add a molex on the end of it so you can plug it into the PSU loom.

Well I'll be damned... yeah, I'll put a PC in there. So, uh, won't this be complicated then? What about amperage etc.? Will I have to do math and solder resistors in there? I don't know much about electricity and I don't want to destroy the monitor...

[Franco B]

AFAIK as long as the PSU has enough 'spare' amperage (which it should do) then you should be fine. There is no need for resistors as you will connect it to the 12v output. 

Someone more in the know with electrotrickery will probably be able to give you a better answer but I think it will work just fine.

[BadMouth]

So, uh, won't this be complicated then? What about amperage etc.? Will I have to do math and solder resistors in there? I don't know much about electricity and I don't want to destroy the monitor...

math and resitors?!?!!?
Either the power supply can supply enough current or it can't.
(unless it is absolutely ancient, you should be fine)

1. Cut off cigarette lighter adapter or buy the receptacle for it.
2. Solder positive (tip of lighter adapter) to the yellow wire on a molex plug.
3. Solder negative (side of lighter adapter) to the black wire on a molex plug.
4. Plug molex plug into your pc power supply and enjoy

I've been running a 12v monitor off of an ancient 250w AT power supply for over a year now and had no issues.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

You're awesome, guys! Cheers!!

[lilshawn]

Our Price: £664.12

i sure hope you didn't pay THAT much for it...

you can buy a new 15" off ebay for about 45 or 50 euros including shipping.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

Our Price: £664.12

i sure hope you didn't pay THAT much for it...

you can buy a new 15" off ebay for about 45 or 50 euros including shipping.

Nah, it was 110 Euros for a used one, but it's in perfect shape. I looked for a 12-15" monitor for months, all I could find were used/ old ones. Problem with old TFTs is that the viewing angle is ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, and the monitor in DK cabs is angled => strange colours etc.

A cursory Ebay search didn't wield any results. Can you link me to one of these super cheap monitors?