Is this safe?

[twoshadetod]

I am trying to build a portable charging station to bring with me to the field. I picked up this panel, it was made for audio - looks like it goes on a speaker. I included pictures of it.

I plan to run the wires directly to a battery. I don't know much about electricity besides you can shocked playing with it. Since the 2 metal terminals/posts are close together will it arc? How/why does an arc occur? IS this set up safe even though it is sold as audio equip?


ps - pictures are from my phone so they aren't the greatest.

[AleG]

You would need a LOT of curret to bridge that gap with a spark, you`re safe from that.

Since the metal projects from tha panel, the only safety issue to be concerned would be shorting the terminals if some metal gets in between, a plug, screw, paperclip, necklace, etc; you can avoid that by putting som insulation material around it, extending a little bit over the top.

[ebill3]

Well, arcs occur because of high voltage, not current. I can't comment on the device, but if you are talking about 12 VDC, arcs are not a problem.

What current are you concerned with? Some of those wires look a wee bit small.

Bill

[twoshadetod]

Yeah this is 12v DC. These wires are actually a little thicker than was came attached to them. How can I tell? What happens if the wires are too thin? Does it breaks, melt, short? That's funny, the man at radio shack told me any wire will work and sold me some wire about the gauge of ipod headphones! I remember when I was asking about different things he said "Well 12volts can't kill you so if it doesn't work you'll just get shocked"

Well, arcs occur because of high voltage, not current. I can't comment on the device, but if you are talking about 12 VDC, arcs are not a problem.

What current are you concerned with? Some of those wires look a wee bit small.

Bill

[ebill3]

Again, what current? The smaller the wire, the higher the resistance. The higher the resistance, the greater the power loss due to heat generation.

That looks like an Apache charger. If your device is going to be used to feed the Apache, I would recommend at least 18 gage wire.

Bill

[twoshadetod]

Again, what current?

how do I tell? an ahh yes, I am using an apache charger

[ebill3]

Use an Ammeter or Whattmeter. But never mind - with the Apache, 18 gage or better will be fine. BTW, when the American Wire Gage (AWG) number increases, the wire size decreases.

Bill

[twoshadetod]

Good, this is thicker than 18. It is used for thermostats. Now that I googled thermostat wire it says it's 18. That weird, because it went down(or up) to 14gauge hanging from the wall but I wanted something thicker and this is. Maybe it just looks bigger to me. But either way this is 18 or thicker. I honestly thought it was around 12. The wires coming out of the apache are considerably smaller, I believe.


Use an Ammeter or Whattmeter. But never mind - with the Apache, 18 gage or better will be fine. BTW, when the American Wire Gage (AWG) number increases, the wire size decreases.

Bill