RE: External power source.
if you use a car battery that will be at 13volts or higher and you would have to keep a battery charger on it at all times so as not to drain (and kill) a battery. with a charger on the battery you could see average voltages of greater that 16volts because charges cycle the voltage. You may have to look to find a good deal for a good power supply but they are out there. Do you know much about electronics?