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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: Rpflueger on August 30, 2013, 11:32:09 am

Title: Can I use a power pack toy transformer as a Power supply for tattoo machine?
Post by: Rpflueger on August 30, 2013, 11:32:09 am

I have this Allstate Powerpack Toy Transformer as shown here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Allstate-HO-Scale-Train-Powerpack-Toy-Transformer-6030AS-Tested-Works-/310731362958?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item485908528e (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Allstate-HO-Scale-Train-Powerpack-Toy-Transformer-6030AS-Tested-Works-/310731362958?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item485908528e)

Input 115v A.C. 60 cycles
Output 18V A.C - 4-18V D.C. - 20V - Amps

To track 1.5 amps max
To access 18v A.C.

Now My girlfriend is a tattoo artist. Her Powersupply went out on her mid-tattoo on a customer. She has one of those cheap china ones that come with a beginners kit.

I busted out this power supply used for model trains, hooked up her tattoo machine to the 1.5 amps d.c. connectors and she was back in business... Sweet!

I took a look at her cheap power supply, and decided to take out her voltage meter and wire it to the train PS, so now it reads what voltage its at while she tattoo's.. I know genius right!!

This good ol made in usa power supply works like a champ..  now it reads voltage and is fairly adjustable with the "Fast-Off" switch. Works in Reverse mode and Forward, ( I think This makes little difference either direction is good) I wired her foot pedal between the gun and the PS... Im so proud of myself this power supply will work till im dead!!

OKay its ghetto.. a bit janky, old as a dinosaur, and rigged to work. I think it has got character, she thinks its a Piece of Crud and wants a new digital readout Dual power supply with liner and shader speed settings etc.  cost arond 25-30 dollars.

I bust out the spray paint and give it a nice coat of Sail Blue - Add some gloss white accent's and ViolA!! Looks nice she says.. 100% better!

But it doesn't have a place to plug in her gun or pedal.. its not digital.. and the variance is either all the way fast or barely moving..

Im knee deep into this project now, there aint no way im giving in.

Problem: How to wire the pedal and Gun Plugs? DO I need a better variable POT to have more control of the voltage for tuning her gun? How would you do this? any advice is appreciated.

Solution: ALready ordered her a new Power Supply as shown here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321192912528?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/321192912528?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)

Thanks for your help!

Title: Re: Can I use a power pack toy transformer as a Power supply for tattoo machine?
Post by: MrAureliusR on August 30, 2013, 04:58:44 pm

In the future please resize your pictures down to 1024x760 or similar, huge photos make it very difficult to see what's going on, even on my 1440x900 monitor. That said, welcome to the forum! Hope you keep coming back.  :-+