Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter in Ham Radio

Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter in Ham Radio http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22536436 en Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:29:19 EDT Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:29:19 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22607001 KA3SGM : I have the main unit of an Icom 2710H(2M/70CM) Dual Band 50w/35w rig) mounted under the drivers seat, less than 1/2 of an inch from the Airbag Controller.

The antenna is a roughly 19" 2m quarter wave and 440 3/4 wave, attached to an NMO mount, on the center of the roof of the truck.

Maintaining the Times Microwave LMR-240 coax(100%foil, 95% braid), and a negative battery connection to one of the drivers side seat belt bolts, I haven't had any serious issues with any of the on board computer systems.

The antenna however is mounted on the center roof, keeping the main RF radiator(antenna) with a solid sheet of steel between the antenna and any on board computer systems.

The actual RF source(antenna) mounted behind a second solid sheet of steel, between it and the actual powertrain control module (PCM).

The radio seems to have been the culprit in setting an unexplained "Check Engine" light only one time, being an Oxygen Sensor fault, and I has never seen the problem repeated again, in more than 10 years.

The radio in this instance is powered off of one of the Trailer wiring terminals on the under hood fuse center, and grounded at the closest seat belt anchor bolt.

I believe initial power grounding/ and significant shielding between the radio and antenna, makes a really big difference.
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ROCK TIL' SUNSET]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22607001 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:13:23 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605603 Gbcue : If I had an older car, go ahead, drill holes.

But my car is *brand new*. It's less than 2 months old. I DO NOT want to void any warranty by drilling holes, or attaching anything that might damage the weather stripping, etc.
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Black Friday Ads]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605603 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:24:11 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605541 drjim : A lot of hams tend to be incredibly cheap...not frugal, not cost-conscious , but downright CHEAP!
Others go the other way, and spend more than required to do whatever the job at hand requires.
I tend to do things the "right" way, and my last car had the power leads run directly to the battery, with fuses in both leads, and an NMO mount in the middle of the roof for the antenna.
BUT....I'm not against using a mag-mount and a cigar-lighter for power when I have to. I *do* strap the radio in so it won't go flying in a panic stop, but then I don't use it that way in the car every day because it would interfere with use of the passenger seat.
My current car has a decent 20 Amp accessory receptacle that I use to power the radio, and I've installed a Diamond hatchback mount for the antenna. I prefer to only take a radio with me at certain times, as opposed to having one permanently mounted in the car.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605541 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:12:32 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605487 joshb :

said by Splitpair

said by joshb

:

Now don't get me into what effects that a high strength RF field will have with your Airbag controller, Anti-Lock Brakes, or Traction-Control System......

There are a lot's of RF sensitive systems on modern automobiles, always beware of what else your RF could affect.

Hey Wayne,

I am more than aware of than of that fact... A short term rental is one thing... A long term install is completely different... My understanding of the OP's post was a long term deal.

Your going to have to cut me some slack here... I might have ham call sign... But I know squat about ham culture... I am a radio pro and I know nothing about how hams choose to do things... Feel more than free to put me in my place... cause I know I am going to deserve it.
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R.I.P Mom.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605487 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:59:11 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605361 Splitpair :

said by joshb

I fully understand where you are coming from however keep in mind there are literally, on a daily basis dozens if not hundreds of mid-power 35 or so watt rigs are seatbelt installed in rentals without any problems and yes the cigar lighter is the most common power source.

Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22605361 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:33:08 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22603014 joshb :

said by KA3SGM

This is exactly why as a radio pro and also now a ham.. The only place I can and do recommend sticking radio's is in the trunk of a car. Or on trucks I sometimes get creative depending on the back seat arrangement..

As for the OP question... Please do NOT use the cigarette lighter adapter to power your radio... And as far as glass mounts they are not worth the trouble. I would use a mag mount before a glass mount.

Trust me when I say doing this right is well worth it. If you do not know how to wire it or just un-sure of what it takes go to your local radio shop.

A couple notes there before you let them touch your vehicle. Make sure you speak to the actual install tech. Not the sales person. Also ask if you can see the shop... It should be really clean. Sterile is next to god'ness in this type of work. If the sales person refuses to let you talk to the tech run for your life. The only thing worse than a know it all sales person is going out to your vehicle after words and finding nothing was put where you asked. and than 6 months later needing a tow truck due to the Tech messing up... I have had more than a couple walk In's in places where I have worked because the local ham decided to go to best buy or where ever he could get the best price. I have seen some really simple wiring jobs turn into really big disaster really quick.

The shop I am at right now when you bring your vehicle for the appointment I spend the first 15 minutes with every customer in there vehicle discussing where to put stuff. and normally another 15 minutes at end answering questions and doing a basic once over of how to use and any issues that might need to be dealt with.

As much as I hate doing customer service at the end of day it makes everyone's life a lot easier and the customer walk away smiling and happy. :)

If done right this is one time expense that will provide you with many years of use of your HAM radio.

Sorry for the long rant.... :(

Regards

Joshb
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R.I.P Mom.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22603014 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:54:07 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22601048 KA3SGM : It all depends on the vehicle.

My truck has 6 Cigarette lighter sockets, all wired together to a single 20 Amp fuse(yes it's ludicrous, but I didn't design it that way).

2 in the dashboard, 1 in the center glovebox/armrest, 2 in the second row seating area, and 1 more at the back tailgate.

Actually, they are all cigarette lighter sockets, but there are actually no cigarette lighters anywhere, or ashtrays either.

I don't smoke, neither does my wife, and if I caught any of my 3 kids smoking, well, ........

LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT, NOBODY SMOKES IN MY TRUCK !!

Needles to say, my truck is a SMOKE FREE environment.

MY laptop Computer draws a maximum of 130 watts, and using the recommended voltage converter, it still works fine, connected to one of the front cigarette lighter adapters.

Needless to say, you will notice some degree of voltage drop, but the closest lighter socket to the fuse panel, and the shortest/heaviest gauge wire you can use, and your installation will probably work out OK.

Now don't get me into what effects that a high strength RF field will have with your Airbag controller, Anti-Lock Brakes, or Traction-Control System......

There are a lot's of RF sensitive systems on modern automobiles, always beware of what else your RF could affect.
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ROCK TIL' SUNSET]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22601048 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:02:33 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22575077 burner50 : Me 3

;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22575077 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:14:06 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22573806 Subaru :

said by burner50

:

And as it happens to be GBcue is a member over there

Me too :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22573806 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:53:28 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22551779 drjim : The cutting board is actually a little better, as it has an oval hole in one end that I use as a handle to pick up the radio and carry it out the door with me.
I'll post some pix this week of how I have my TM-D710 mounted.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering.

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22551779 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:03:29 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22551708 Gbcue :

said by drjim

:

I've always mounted my "portable mobile" radios on a piece of wood, or a plastic cutting board. That way I have something to strap them in using the seatbelt on either the passenger seat, or the back seat if I have somebody riding shotgun with me.

Interesting concept!
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Black Friday Ads]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22551708 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:50:01 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22546202 drjim : I've always mounted my "portable mobile" radios on a piece of wood, or a plastic cutting board. That way I have something to strap them in using the seatbelt on either the passenger seat, or the back seat if I have somebody riding shotgun with me.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22546202 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:33:22 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22546133 pokesph :

said by Splitpair

said by Gbcue

:

Should this even be tried?Thanks!

It may not be cool, but it is fun and challenging.. been there, done that many, many times :p
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»www.ppnstudio.com]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22546133 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:16:43 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22545498 mattmag :

As has been noted, many of the newer vehicles have "power points" that accept the cigarette-lighter plugs are are very much to the task at hand. They employ larger wiring, have wired grounds, and are capable of supplying large loads easily.

The older, actual cigarette lighters themselves though, are marginal at best.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22545498 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:24:01 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22545271 Splitpair :

said by Gbcue

:

Should this even be tried?Thanks!

While not with that radio I have used the lighter socket in rentals with mid powered (45 watt) Motorola's and a mag mount antenna without an electrical problem. Now securing the unit inside the car is a different story as retreiving a radio that has just hit the floor using the microphone cord while driving is just not cool.

Wayne

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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22545271 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:16:56 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541411 burner50 : And as it happens to be GBcue is a member over there]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541411 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:21:20 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541406 mr weather : There you go.

I figured someone would find something on Radioreference. There are lots of radio installation threads. Some professional, some... not so much.
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"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541406 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:20:25 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541186 burner50 :

said by Gbcue

:

2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited V6 4WD.

»www.radioreference.com/forums/ra···n-forum/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22541186 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:45:09 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22540645 Gbcue : 2009 Toyota RAV4 Limited V6 4WD.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22540645 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:20:19 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538708 mr weather : I would recommend against it. Too many unknowns. The plug may be rated to 10 A but the voltage drop as you approach the limit will be significant. The plugs in the cars I've owned are only fed with maybe 18 awg wire.

There is always a way to run your power lines to the battery. If you tell us what kind of car you have we may be able to suggest a possible route.
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"It's all coming down!!" - Mike Holmes]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538708 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:53:20 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538306 burner50 : Cigarette lighter? No...

Powerpoint? Yes. I do, good signal reports, and its fused at 35amps from the factory.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538306 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:22:19 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538176 Waldothe3rd : Depends on the quality of the 12v plug you'll be using - the $0.59 ones won't handle the current - If you can get a heavy duty one, it probably will work, but no guarantees.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22538176 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:39:14 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22537704 drjim : Straight-to-the-battery, both red and black leads, has always been advised, and Motorola includes a power lead made for that, and advises it in their manuals.
HOWEVER....I've run numerous radios, from 5 Watt HT's to Motorola Radius -line, from the cigarette lighter socket with no problems. I recently ran an ICom 2200H at 65 Watts from the 12 Volt accessory jack on my Jeep Cherokee, also with no problems.
have I been 'lucky'? Perhaps, but for a temporary solution it probably depends more on the car and its wiring than anything else. My Jeep has the 12 Volt accessory sockets run directly to the battery, with a separate fuse, and it works just fine.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22537704 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:41:37 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22537608 accounting : I have a 2 meter rig running on the cigarette adapter and it runs fine even on 65 watts with good signal reports... but I guess I just got Lucky maybe.

What would be a better way? Straight to the Battery terminals? I wasn't sure.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22537608 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:20:51 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536773 SmokChsr : While it's rated at 10 Amps, you'll see quite a bit of voltage drop.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536773 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:40:25 EDT Re: Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536627 mitchell : While it may "appear" to be adequate, please don't. Unless you run low power, you may have noise on your signal, both transmitted and receive or other assorted things. I had a friend who was running a d700a that way on medium power and he was always complaining about noise and the other hams complained about hise signal into the repeater (was not grounded properly) along with lower current draw.

Please properly wire your radio....

KO4Lloyd]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536627 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:11:07 EDT Mobile Powered by Cigarette Adapter http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536436 Gbcue : Should this even be tried?

I'm thinking of getting a Kenwood TM-V71A

I've got a new car and don't want to drill/run any wires from inside to the battery.

The cigarette adapter is rated for 12V @ 10A, surprisingly.

Thanks!
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Black Friday Ads]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,22536436 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:38:25 EDT