HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

[popeyefoghorn]

Hi everyone, I have a vhf radio I am going to use to listen to in the house. I have a 12 volt power supply kicking around from some long lost electronic device. Can I just splice the wires together and run. Or is there something on the market specifically for this application??

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Hi there PF. It depends on how many amps your 12V power supply puts out. If all you want to do is listen, your radio won't draw many amps, but transmitting requires a bit more power. If your power supply was designed to run some small electrical devise, like a CD player or something, it won't be powerful enough to run your VHF radio.<br /><br />Check the Amp or mA output on the supply before you hook it up.<br /><br />Also, here in the states, transmitting on marine frequencies from land requires special permits. Is it the same in Canada?<br /><br />Good luck with your project.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Thanks Drowned Rat. How many mA would be needed to be able to transmit? The power supply I have is rated 300mA. I was only planing to listen. Up here, in the Great White North, you have to have completed a course which gives you an operators card. You must have one to transmit on a vhf or you could be fined. I think if you have a station that is using more than ---- watts (i don't know exactly) you will need a special permit or license. So I should be ok.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Hi again PF. 300mA is nowhere close to enough power. That is most likely a small battery charger for a portable electrical device like a cell phone or CD player or something. The cheapest way to get the power you need is to buy a very small deep cycle battery and then buy a trickle charger for it and leave it hooked up and charging all the time. Hook your radio to the battery and you're good to go. 12Volt power supplies that are powerful enough to drive that VHF radio are a bit pricey. Like say $100.00 and up. <br /><br />Good luck and let us know what you figure out. Maybe some one else will have another idea.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. You need a power source that will deliver about 3 amps, or 3000mA.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

I'm pretty certain the "Restricted Operator's Certificate - Maritime" applies exclusively to VHF radios fitted to boats & ships. Receive only should consume about 1.5A or so.

 

[Sea Six]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

If you hook your radio up temporarily to your car battery with an ammeter in series you'll know how much current you need from a power supply to run it. Whether it's 1.5 or 3 or 5 you can probably get the larger size for about the same price. That's not much power.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Lots of good info. thanks. So where would I be able to buy a larger power supply if I wanted to do so? I haven't had any luck finding one so far in and around town here.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Paul Moir... where abouts in Nova Scotia are you from? I have a cousine in Mavilette, he's a lobster fisherman. I love it down there.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

PF...another option is Radio Shack in Canada, they sell 12volt regulated power supplies just for that purpose, they have a 3amp one for $69.99 and a 6amp one for 99.99CDN, check out there webpage RS power supplies

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

OK great, thanks Boatin Bob. I checked out the web site. I don't believe it! I was in the store the other day and asked them and they said they had nothing like that?? Oh boy. Anyway, so now which one would I need to get?? The radio has an inline 6amp fuse.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

PF, the 3 Amp version will give you the power you need to transmit with a little to spare.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

excellent...thanks...I'll let you know how I make out.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

I suggest the 3amp model to just listen, 6amp model if you plan to broadcast. Paul is right, 1 to 1.5 amps to listen. Closer to 5amps to broadcast.

 

[Boatist]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

I agree with Rabbit get the 6 amp if you think it is legal to transmitt. It takes 2 amps just to push 25 watts out the antenna if the finals were 100 percent efficent and they are not. You still must have power for the mic amp, the modulator, LCD, the IF circuits and all the oscillators.

 

[Sea Six]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Get the bigger one. It's better to have 5 amps and not need them than to need 5 amps and not have them.

 

[popeyefoghorn]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

well just for the heck of it, I hooked up the small dc power supply I originaly started with. It is only 300mA. And the radio is recieving just fine. But I still intend to get the 6amp one from Radio Shack, I just haven't made it there yet. Thanks guys...we're nearing the end on this one.

 

[jheron]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

Check your ps and make sure its not getting too hot!! If your power supply is too small you have a potential fire hazard on your hands!<br />On the name tag of your radio it will list how many amps/ma the unit draws... don't risk burning your house down, its not worth it!<br />Sincerely Jon<br />PS I am an electrical inspector and I have done enough fire investigations to know first hand what can happen when you overload a cct. or power supply!

 

[BrettNC]

Re: HELP! Trying to hook up vhf in the house??

The receiver circuitry uses very little current. What uses more current is the audio amplifier circuitry. If you have the volume turned down to a decent level indoors then 300 ma should be fine.