External power for the Vertica V2

On Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:37:35 -0700, gwblood wrote:

On Sunday, June 2, 2013 9:11:27 PM UTC-6, wrote:
The battery on the V2 doesn't last long enough, and I'd like to supply
the unit with some power from my on board 12V system. I know I can set
up a cigar lighter plug in type connection to the mini connector at the
bottom. But I'd like to use the DC connector at the top. What voltage
and what type of connector can I use? Can I put 12V directly in with
simple plug that fits?

Guy

Squeaky,
Yes indeed that hole in the top is for a head phone jack. I just checked
it out. I'm I glad I asked here first before plugging in 12V. I too am
going for the lighter plug-in. Having a cigarette lighter hole in the
panel will look weird, but hey, it looks like the right, and simple,
thing to do.
Now, how am I going to run my Colibri GPS into this thing? No there's no
end, is there?
Guy

IMO cigar lighter plugs are good things to avoid: most of the time I
spend more time pushing the buggers back into the socket than I do using
whatever they're powering.

However bits of them are useful: the cheapie cigar lighter USB charger
you find in eBay is very easily improved. If you carefuly open up the
plastic plug that fits the lighter, you'll find a tiny switch-mode 12v to
5v converter, complete with an LED to show when its on. Here's how to
make it useful:

- take it out of the plastic plug moulding

- get a small box from Maplins (in the UK) or Farnells (anywhere)
to house it

- remove the 12v cigar lighter contacts and solder on some suitable wire
that will connect to your glider's power supply. Add connectors etc
to match your glider's electrical installation.

- put the adapter (plus a fuse and holder if you want) in the small
box, install behind your panel. Use grommets and strain relief
where both leads exit the box. Optional: drill a small hole and press
fit the LED in it so you can see it when you've screwed the top on
the box and mounted: this is handy for trouble shooting.

- thread the cable with USB through to where you've mounted the V2: this
cable should still be attached to the circuit board.

- job done. You've gotten rid of a big, unreliable cigar lighter socket
and should now have a small, neat, installation.

FWIW I've had a setup like this in my Libelle for 6 years now. Its never
given any trouble at all. I used an IPAQ 36xx car charger as the basis
because its rated for 5v at 1400 mA, rather more headroom than the 5v at
1000 mA of your typical Chinese USB charger.


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martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
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