54V Device in 12V Car?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=144594
Printed Date: May 02, 2025 at 11:35 AM

Topic: 54V Device in 12V Car?

Posted By: rjkboyle
Subject: 54V Device in 12V Car?
Date Posted: July 13, 2018 at 12:36 PM

Hi guys, long time lurker. I have a DC power question you'd be best suited to answer.
I'm in the networking industry, not electrical so forgive the dumb question.

I have customers who want to put a Cisco Meraki Z1 (small router, with cellular input) into a vehicle to provide internet while mobile, that has the ability to VPN back to their company. The use case is a lot of police and city vehicles.

The Cisco Meraki Z1 has DC power input at 12V - 1.5A. This is straight forward because from what I understand, you can ground the negative cable, and fuse the positive into a second car battery source.
But Meraki has released a new product called a Z3, which the DC power input for is 54V at 0.92A. Because this is 54V not 12V, can this be wired in a similar way. What would be required to make this work inside a vehicle with 12V wiring.

Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: July 13, 2018 at 12:46 PM

If the DC power supply plugs into a 110-120V AC outlet, you can install an inverter into the vehicle and plug it into that. This is likely your easiest solution.

-------------
posted_image

the12volt • Support the12volt.com

Posted By: rjkboyle
Date Posted: July 13, 2018 at 12:47 PM

Okay so stick to a 12V DC device, or go the inverter DC to AC to DC route?
Thanks!

Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: July 13, 2018 at 12:50 PM

Yep. Inverters works well and are inexpensive, so if you want to use the device with the 54V power supply, I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

-------------
posted_image

the12volt • Support the12volt.com