Lengthen DC cable

Dolby

Dolby

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So I bought an outside CCTV camera with a stupidly short cable - like 1m. It's a DC cable (12VDC) and I thought I'd just extend to something usable.

My technical friends are saying it's not that easy ... resistance ... voltage drops ... needs more amps.

Just wondering what the best is?
Do you get neat DC extenders that work?
Larger 12v PSU with more amps?
 
Lol. Extend it with a piece of 5mm ripcord. You want experience significant voltage drop over a join and 1m.
 
Oh I see the existing cable is 1m. You're unlikely to experience voltage drop over any reasonable distance.
 
Dolby said:
So I bought an outside CCTV camera with a stupidly short cable - like 1m. It's a DC cable (12VDC) and I thought I'd just extend to something usable.

My technical friends are saying it's not that easy ... resistance ... voltage drops ... needs more amps.

Just wondering what the best is?
Do you get neat DC extenders that work?
Larger 12v PSU with more amps?
Click to expand...

So, I am not an electrician nor do I work with electrical stuff as a hobby, but through my studies I have a basic understanding of electricity.

To clarify some of your confusion. You're technical friends are wrong about the amps. Over a cable, current won't drop, voltage will. So you don't need more amps (current). Nick333 is right. You'll experience a negligible voltage drop.

You can make up your own cable with some cable and connectors. It's simple, since you only have 2 wires. Just make sure you measure the resistance of the cable (or voltage drop over the cable). Thicker wires (of the same material) have less resistance. The longer the cable, the more the resistance. Ideally, you will want to use cable with the least resistance, but they get more expensive the lower the resistance.

Alternatively buy a ready made extension cable.

Lastly, make sure it's properly insulated.
 
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