Topic: Bench Power for HB 997

[jpatrick]

I have rigged up an old power cable and car cell phone charger to mess with my unit out of the boat. I am getting 5.5 volts from the car cell phone charger but when I bypass the board in it I get 13.3 volts. What are the limits that will not hurt the 997 in the owners manual all I can find is to have atleast 10 volts.
Thanks
John Patrick

[LocDown]

i think up to 17volts, maybe 20

[jpatrick]

I found in the specs between 10 and 20 volts, used a cord off of an old 100sx works fine with the 100sx but wont power up the 997.
Thanks,
John

[Enufzed]

Hi JPatrick,
You should have a fuseable link in there somewhere amongst the mix to protect HB.
GG

[sonar2000]

Check the output amps from the car phone charger. It may not supply enought to run the unit.  It is not volts but amps that count. These cell phone stuff are very low amps..
Chuck

[George]

jpatrick

What Chuck states is important if the unit is starved for energy it may cause damage.  If you do a search for "120 volt ac to 12 volt dc", this has some information.

George

[Humminbird_Greg]

I would bet that low amperage is the issue as well.  Maybe you should just use a 12 volt battery from your boat until you get a more suitable 12VDC converter.  Just watch charging it inside (I had a mishap when doing this that my Wife will never forget!  ).

[jpatrick]

Thanks for all the info, for now I am just going to do what I need on a stool next to the boat. When it didnt work it scared the crap out of me so I took it to the boat and it works fine in there.
Thanks Again,
John

[stillbear]

John this is what i have used for the last two years it has 13.8 volts and 3 amps and I have it set up
on my pc desk I do updates an simulation on HB an Lowrance.       Gary

[George]

jpatrick

I also use my system on the boat most of the time, to make updates and to change menu settings. 

But when it is cold and/or if the unit is going to be used for and extended period of time it is brought into the house and I run it along with my computer trying the various recommendations or menu settings.

I purchased a 120vAC/12vDC @ 2amp power converter from Digikey that Robert suggested and have been using it for a couple of years.  I also have an extra GPS and transducer to place with all of the menus.

Many of the folks on this site have made use of a variety of power converter with success and have not heard of anyone (so far) reporting any problems to date.

It is a shame that Humminbird does not sell a power converter for in the house, a lot of folks would probably prefer to purchase a known safe system.

George

[Humminbird_Greg]

If we did that George we would have to jump through some expensive hoops for the FCC. 

[jpatrick]

I will have to make a trip to radio shack this weekend and get 1 of them.
Thanks for all the info.

[sonar2000]

Greg, what does the FCC have to do with power supplies?....Chuck

[xSilmarilSx]

Because switching power supplies emit a good deal of garbage radio frequency, into it's input and outputs.
So if HB want to sells PSU for these units, they must pass the FCC test or buy an already FCC approved unit and test it connected to their units to insure that the regulated output won't cause a unit defect.

[xSilmarilSx]

Hey guys, you all have big computers to access the internet. Just crack open the computer case and find a unused plug with 2 black cables and 1 red, 1 yellow. Just tap your power from the Yellow and 1 black and you have your full 12V with a good deal of Amps to spare.

And you will have it for less than 5 dollars!
And more!, it's safe. These PSU are bullet proof!