Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) on a 12v Battery?

westyd1982
westyd1982 Solar Expert Posts: 85 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Does anyone know if an Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) can be run directly from a 12 volt battery? It has a 12 volt power brick, but does it have a built-in regulated power supply that can handle 11.5-15 volts?

I've used two Linksys products that work great from a 12 volt battery.
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  • soylentgreen
    soylentgreen Solar Expert Posts: 111 ✭✭
    #2
    Re: Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) on a 12v Battery?

    Great question, and I'd be interested to hear what you determine. El-cheapo automotive 12v-120vac inverters are quite inexpensive. Also, you can get DC-DC converters that could probably convert 15V down to 12V. What's your limiting factor : Space? Time? Money? Efficiency? Reliability?
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  • westyd1982
    westyd1982 Solar Expert Posts: 85 ✭✭
    #3
    Re: Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) on a 12v Battery?
    soylentgreen wrote: »
    What's your limiting factor : Space? Time? Money? Efficiency? Reliability?

    Efficiency and Reliability - I don't want to go DC-AC-DC. Plus it gives me more capacity on my SureSine-300 for other things.
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  • zoneblue
    zoneblue Solar Expert Posts: 1,220 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) on a 12v Battery?

    ON 12volts this is trickier. On 24v theres more headroom. A 12v battery would drop to say 12.5v while off charge, and still in reasonable SOC, even lower if flat. That doesnt leave much headroom for a regulator.

    Anyway i use a ton of these dc dc converters.
    http://dx.com/p/mini-dc-dc-voltage-stabilizer-regulator-module-red-126106

    Not sure what the min headroom voltage is, but you could try it and see.

    Hang on now i think on it theres a variant on that regulator which is auto buck boost, ie it has both on board (can either increase or decrease the voltage) and can match pretty much any voltage to any voltage. I often thought id try to use a small flexible solar panel to charge a netbook or tablet with it while out in the sticks.

    http://dx.com/p/dc-3-35v-to-1-25-30v-converter-auto-step-up-step-down-solar-power-supply-module-for-arduino-147356

    Good luck.
    1.8kWp CSUN, 10kWh AGM, Midnite Classic 150, Outback VFX3024E,
    http://zoneblue.org/cms/page.php?view=off-grid-solar


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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Apple Airport Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation) on a 12v Battery?

    My concern is the voltage present when recharging the battery, sometimes near 15V. If the Airport has internal regulation (most routers have a 5V and 3V internal regulator.

    But that $8 auto buck/boost switcher looks pretty nifty! Bare circuit board, but still looks like the ticket.
    http://dx.com/p/dc-3-35v-to-1-25-30v-converter-auto-step-up-step-down-solar-power-supply-module-for-arduino-147356
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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