Cobra HH 125 handheld vhf

skipper681

skipper681

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 Sep 2012
Messages
681
Location
Northern Ireland
Visit site
Hi Folks..

I came across mine recently in a cupboard in the kitchen.. The reason its in the cupboard is because it came with a car cigarette charger which I have lost more than a few years ago so this thing is sitting dead.

I know it takes AAA batteries and i can replace them but id prefer to charge the batteries in it.

Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead, I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... Any help appreciated or do I need to keep putting in batteries because I dont have the charger, not cool, batteries die when you need them, y'all know that.

Regards
Skip6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cobra-MR...m3cf927c227:g:LWUAAOSwEzxYWSnK&frcectupt=true
 
If the original car charger was just a standard 12v input then just replace it with one from ebay or another appliance that uses similar. From the photo it looks like a standard 12v in cigarette lighter so all the charging circuits will be in the radio itself. On the bottom of the radio near the input it might say 12v 1A input or something similar. Obviously make sure you put rechargeables in it when you do get a new charger input.
 
""Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead, I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... ""

Sorry to reiterate but possibly I asked wrongly on the first post..
God help us if I mayday yous lol.
Obviously thanks for your help and I whole heartedly appreciate it but it was not to the question.

"Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead"
 
Last edited:
skipper681 said:
""Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead, I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... ""

Sorry to reiterate but possibly I asked wrongly on the first post..
God help us if I mayday yous lol.
Obviously thanks for your help and I whole heartedly appreciate it but it was not to the question.

"Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead"
Click to expand...

What do you want to charge it from? 240v Mains, 12v on the boat?
 
Sounds odd... I mean you'll need to buy a male jack and then either

1. an AC 240v to 12v output adapter
Or
2. A cigarette lighter 12v adapter

Either way why buy them as separate parts to only then have to solder / connect them together? They're available label as a premade unit cheaper than the individual parts.
 
I have the same radio. The manual clearly states that the charging voltage is 6.0 V (which makes sense, as it contains 5x1.2V NiMH AAA batteries), so you need to supply that to the radio's charging socket. Easiest done by using a DC-DC buck converter driven by your boat batteries. That's what is inside the Cobra plug.

As pvb pointed out, the correct charger is under a tenner, so building it yourself makes little sense. Just buy one. Cigarette lighter outlets, although far from perfect, are the most widely accepted way of providing 12V sockets on boats.
 
skipper681 said:
Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead, I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... Any help appreciated or do I need to keep putting in batteries because I dont have the charger, not cool, batteries die when you need them, y'all know that.
Click to expand...

What did you want your lead to connect to (at the non-radio end?).
- If its direct to the 12v battery then you would need croc clips, but this will not work if the radio requires 6v as suggested.
- Otherwise you would still need some type of socket and some electrics to convert to the 6v.

So your only options are to put in a cigarette-lighter style socket and use the proper lead or continue using AAA batteries.

Edited:

Ok I think you must want to connect direct to the boats 12v battery, in which case you could use one of these and connect the Cobra lead to it:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accessory-Socket-Battery-Clamps-Crocodile/dp/B003SQ6U6Q?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duc08-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B003SQ6U6Q
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all your kind replys but that's not exactly my query... I want to solder one up to 12v.

"I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... "

Regards
Skip6
 
Last edited:
Yngmar said:
I have the same radio. The manual clearly states that the charging voltage is 6.0 V (which makes sense, as it contains 5x1.2V NiMH AAA batteries), so you need to supply that to the radio's charging socket. Easiest done by using a DC-DC buck converter driven by your boat batteries. That's what is inside the Cobra plug.

As pvb pointed out, the correct charger is under a tenner, so building it yourself makes little sense. Just buy one. Cigarette lighter outlets, although far from perfect, are the most widely accepted way of providing 12V sockets on boats.
Click to expand...

Cheers guys.
 
skipper681 said:
Thanks for all your kind replys but that's not exactly my query... I want to solder one up to 12v.

"I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... "

Regards
Skip6
Click to expand...

Stupid question, but as the Cobra one is only a tenner why not buy that, separate it and wire it the electronics up to whatever connector you want?
 
The radio takes AA rechargeable batteries so you could buy two sets. Buy a cheap 12v battery charger - there are many and hard wire into the boat. You can put the batteries inwhen charged.
 
Why not just fit a cigarette type 12v socket in the boat? That would save you trying to get the car on board...
I have 2 on mine - both then have USB adaptors in them for charging phones, tablets, lithium power bank, etc.
 
stevie69p said:
Why not just fit a cigarette type 12v socket in the boat? That would save you trying to get the car on board...
I have 2 on mine - both then have USB adaptors in them for charging phones, tablets, lithium power bank, etc.
Click to expand...

You read my mind. I didnt want to confuse the already confusing wiring but needs must so I got a 12v cig lighter port with usb from ebay.

I guess what I was looking for is something a lot handier, I have two way radios that charge from a cradle, easy peasy.. sort your stuff out Cobra lol.

Once again thanks for your replies and guidance, I've just ordered the 12v port but still need the charger.

Kind regards
S.
 
Last edited:
pvb said:
To be certain it'll work properly, and the plug will fit, get a Cobra lead - about a tenner.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/marine-communication/accessories/cobra-12vdc-charger-for-mr-hh125
Click to expand...

Thanks, I rang them and apparently the postage to N.Ireland would have been twelve quid on top of the £9.50.. I told the guy on the phone that I should buy a boat and come over and collect it lol. ;)

I didnt buy it, I figure rather than twenty odd quid for a charger I'll be better sticking another fifty on it and getting another radio and a charger that will do both, is there a method in my madness, I dunno.

Anyway, charging port bought but still no charger.

Regards
S.
 
Last edited:
skipper681 said:
Thanks, I rang them and apparently the postage to N.Ireland would have been twelve quid on top of the £9.50.. I told the guy on the phone that I should buy a boat and come over and collect it lol. ;)

I didnt buy it, I figure rather than twenty odd quid for a charger I'll be better sticking another fifty on it and getting another radio and a charger that will do both, is there a method in my madness, I dunno.
Click to expand...

Well, in all honesty, the Cobra isn't a great radio, so you're going to be better getting something newer. I'd go for a Standard Horizon HX210E - it's waterproof, floats face up, has a good display, has 6W output, has a mains charger plus a 12v charging cradle, has FM entertainment radio reception, and has a 3 year warranty. £95 here - https://www.marinesuperstore.com/ma...io/standard-horizon-hx210e-handheld-vhf-radio
 
skipper681 said:
Hi Folks..

I came across mine recently in a cupboard in the kitchen.. The reason its in the cupboard is because it came with a car cigarette charger which I have lost more than a few years ago so this thing is sitting dead.

I know it takes AAA batteries and i can replace them but id prefer to charge the batteries in it.

Can anyone with electronic experience suggest how i would make up a charging lead, I dont want a cig lighter one anyway because I have a habit of forgetting to take my car with me when I'm at sea... Any help appreciated or do I need to keep putting in batteries because I dont have the charger, not cool, batteries die when you need them, y'all know that.

Regards
Skip6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cobra-MR...m3cf927c227:g:LWUAAOSwEzxYWSnK&frcectupt=true
Click to expand...

some options are;

1) rechargeable batteries and just recharge them at home or on shore power via a 240v plug.

2) buy the 12v charger with the cigarette lighter attachment and cut it off and connect it to an appropriate 12V source ensuring you get the + - the right way around, but you would have a lead hanging out somewhere and may look unsightly

3) fit a cig lighter socket in your boat (and wire it) and just use the plug that comes with it, also handy to charge phones and other stuff off your 12v system

also my experience with the handheld cobra is its just about alright short range but thats about it, so if you have some spare pennies upgrade :)
 
Thanks all for your replies.

Aye the reason it was in the kitchen cupboard was because of the fact it wasn't the best. I need a new icom wired unit and a metz ariel but i hate waste so wanted this to work too.

Cheers
S
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top