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-   -   Using car accessory ports to power radios? (https://www.radiobanter.com/equipment/11748-using-car-accessory-ports-power-radios.html)

Bob M. October 5th 03 05:10 AM

"VHFRadioBuff" wrote in message
... for anything other
than the cigarette lighter. There is no rating in the book
or on the cap for the accessory port that tells the max amps that can be

drawn.
It looks like I'll have to run wires to the battery after all.


In the manual it should say what fuse covers what circuit, and what it's
amperage is. My guess is your acc. port is a 20A circuit.



Dick October 5th 03 08:16 PM

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

On 30 Sep 2003 13:15:38 GMT, pamme (VHFRadioBuff)
wrote:

Hello all. My car has a seperate "accessory" port from the standard cigarette
lighter. My understanding is that this port is actually rated for more amps
than the cigarette lighter and might actually be ok to power my 50 watt 2m
mobile if I were to add a cigarette lighter plug to the end of it.

Can anyone comment on this? Any experience using these accessory ports to power
50 watt radios? The car in question is a 2000 Mercury Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com


Dick October 5th 03 08:16 PM

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD

On 30 Sep 2003 13:15:38 GMT, pamme (VHFRadioBuff)
wrote:

Hello all. My car has a seperate "accessory" port from the standard cigarette
lighter. My understanding is that this port is actually rated for more amps
than the cigarette lighter and might actually be ok to power my 50 watt 2m
mobile if I were to add a cigarette lighter plug to the end of it.

Can anyone comment on this? Any experience using these accessory ports to power
50 watt radios? The car in question is a 2000 Mercury Sable.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com


VHFRadioBuff October 6th 03 03:17 PM

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD


Thanks for the reply! Finally one with information instead of speculation! :)

I'll consider what you've told me, although I am now thinking I might just go
ahead and wire it directly to the battery, like I have it in my other car right
now.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

VHFRadioBuff October 6th 03 03:17 PM

I talked to a friend of mine who until recently was service manager at
a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. His wife currently has a 2000 Sable. He
said the outlet is fused for 15-amps, and apparently feeds from a
distribution panel fused for 20-amps. I would think you would be OK
with a 50-watt radio as long as you don't put anything else on the
outlet.

Dick - W6CCD


Thanks for the reply! Finally one with information instead of speculation! :)

I'll consider what you've told me, although I am now thinking I might just go
ahead and wire it directly to the battery, like I have it in my other car right
now.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

Keith Hosman October 7th 03 01:13 PM


"VHFRadioBuff" wrote in message
...
Many lighter plugs available on the
market, may be adequate for five amperes, but not much more. I recall
melting
insulation on the wire to a lighter plug on a car I used to have, and the
fuse
never blew. The rig I was using only ran 25 watts output, but it had a
problem!


But again, I am not asking about the CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG. I am asking

about
the ACCESSORY port in the car, which is supposed to be used to power
"accessories", like inverters, computers, etc. I originally asked for

anyone
with actual experience with using 50w FM radios and the accessory port,

but I
guess I am the only ham in the world that reads this newsgroup that has

wanted
to try this.

If anyone has any factual information for me, preferably actual

experience,
please let me know!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com



I am running a Azden PCS 6000-H 2m rig on high power through an accessory
port whenever I travel with the Red Cross, as I am usually in a rental car
and I doubt that the rental company would like me running wires all over the
place, this way too when I am in my hotel I can plug the same rig into my
power supply to ragchew a bit before going to bed.

I also have run other rigs this same way and never had any problems, I do
however have an inline noise filter in place so as to avoid any alternator
or other noise.

73 de Keith
--
--
KC8TCQ

"3 out of 4 people surveyed, belong to 75% of the population."



Keith Hosman October 7th 03 01:13 PM


"VHFRadioBuff" wrote in message
...
Many lighter plugs available on the
market, may be adequate for five amperes, but not much more. I recall
melting
insulation on the wire to a lighter plug on a car I used to have, and the
fuse
never blew. The rig I was using only ran 25 watts output, but it had a
problem!


But again, I am not asking about the CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG. I am asking

about
the ACCESSORY port in the car, which is supposed to be used to power
"accessories", like inverters, computers, etc. I originally asked for

anyone
with actual experience with using 50w FM radios and the accessory port,

but I
guess I am the only ham in the world that reads this newsgroup that has

wanted
to try this.

If anyone has any factual information for me, preferably actual

experience,
please let me know!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com



I am running a Azden PCS 6000-H 2m rig on high power through an accessory
port whenever I travel with the Red Cross, as I am usually in a rental car
and I doubt that the rental company would like me running wires all over the
place, this way too when I am in my hotel I can plug the same rig into my
power supply to ragchew a bit before going to bed.

I also have run other rigs this same way and never had any problems, I do
however have an inline noise filter in place so as to avoid any alternator
or other noise.

73 de Keith
--
--
KC8TCQ

"3 out of 4 people surveyed, belong to 75% of the population."



VHFRadioBuff October 7th 03 03:05 PM

Like I had said in an earlier post Andy, there are usually rubber grommets
on the firewall of most cars and trucks that yo could feed the wiring
through, which removes the need for drilling. Good luck


No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that, which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

VHFRadioBuff October 7th 03 03:05 PM

Like I had said in an earlier post Andy, there are usually rubber grommets
on the firewall of most cars and trucks that yo could feed the wiring
through, which removes the need for drilling. Good luck


No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that, which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com

WA8ULX October 7th 03 03:24 PM

No kidding. I'm well aware of that. That's how I've been hooking up my radios
for years, but when I move to this other car, I'd prefer not to do that,
which
is why I asked if anyone had any experience using the accessory port, not if
anyone has suggestions for wiring up my radio. Thanks for the input though.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
73! de Andy KC2SSB - WPYI880 (GMRS)
Beachwood, NJ USA! Grid FM29vw
http://vhfradiobuff.tripod.com


Typical Andy, know nothing, and doesnt want to learn.
Got a question, you have your Ham Call, your GMS Call, but I dont see your CB
Call or HANDLE listed, whats the problem Andy?


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