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Reply-To: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at peoplepc.com>
From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at peoplepc.com>
To: <kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET>, <jakidz at pullman.com>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Mobile advice?
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 21:11:08 -0500

Gang,
A cigarette lighter socket will truly have a greater current capacity than
the K2 will draw - but the problem with using the lighter socket is in the
connectors.  Many folks have found significant voltage drops when using the
lighter sockets and plugs.  The best solution is to use direct wiring from
the battery (with BOTH leads fused).
If your lighter socket works for you - that is great (and mighty
convenient), but please be aware of the potential problems.

73,
Don Wilhelm  - Wake Forest, NC   W3FPR home page: http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/
  QRP-L # 485   K2  SN 0020   mailto: w3fpr at arrl.net

*** Life is what happens when you're making other plans -- Mike Cross  ***

----- Original Message ----- > >
> > Will a cigarette lighter adapter provide enough DC power for an Elecraft
K2 to
> > function on SSB mobile? I've got the sudden and unexpected task
(opportunity?)
> > of a 1300 mi freeway solo trip in a Ford F150 ...

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From: "Rod N0RC" <rod at n0rc.com>
To: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at peoplepc.com>, <kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET>,
        <jakidz at pullman.com>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Mobile advice?
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 20:08:01 -0700

Folks,

If you want a quality cigarette lighter plug, check out the offering
at Power Werx: http://www.powerwerx.com/mobil.html

My "New" VW Beetle has three power jacks, each are rated at 10amps. I
have used the plug from PowerWerx with my K2 (~3amp draw); my Yeasu
FT-1500 drawing 5-10amps and a Icom 706 drawing almost 10 amps.
Everything worked FB. Of course I kept the power lead short < 3ft with
heavy 10-12 gauge wire.

The Jacks in the VW are "cigarette lighter" in style but are intended
as PTOs.

I wonder, with a full tank of gas to idle the engine, how many
amp-hours could it provide? ;-)

73, Rod N0RC
Ft Collins, CO

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at peoplepc.com>
To: <kc4kgu at ENTERZONE.NET>; <jakidz at pullman.com>
Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 7:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Mobile advice?


> Gang,
> A cigarette lighter socket will truly have a greater current
capacity than
> the K2 will draw - but the problem with using the lighter socket is
in the
> connectors.  Many folks have found significant voltage drops when
using the

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Reply-To: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" <rlewis at staffnet.com>
From: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" <rlewis at staffnet.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Mobile advice?
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2002 22:57:52 -0500

I'd opt for a lighter plug that has a built-in fuse. At the very least
you should put an in-line fuse very close to the plug. The wires in
the small power connector to the K2 can short and you'll have a melt
down if you are not fused at or inside the ligher plug. DigiKey has
ligher plugs that have a built-in fuse in the tip plus an LED to let
you know that you are getting power to the plug.

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