Feeding an Icom charger from the boat supply

[JumbleDuck]

I have today received my nice new-to-me Icom M31 - thanks to Photodog - and have been having a look at the charger. The wall wart is a 12V 500mA one and the charger itself says it likes to be fed 13.8V. Is it likely to object if I wire it up to the boat's "12V" system, which actually goes up to 14.4V when the engine's running?

 

[William_H]

First question that comes to mind is what sort of wallwart is it. If it feels heavy it has a transformer in it. These typically will give about 14 volts no load down to less than 12v on a load. (when described as 12v output) . The other more modern type of wall wart is light in weight with a switch mode power supply which will give an accurately regulated 12v if so described. I would suggest you try charging from 12v supply on the boat with no charging (engine off). Hopefully the 14.4v won't be a big worry but of course it may be. If you are worried a silicon diode in series will drop .7 volt or even 2 in series will drop 1.4volts. good luck olewill

 

[AllanG]

Icom sell a dedicated 12v charging lead, which has a cigarette socket plug on one end and the connector to plug into your radio charging base on the other. I've been using one of these for years without any problems.

http://www.force4.co.uk/icom-12v-lead-for-icom-handhelds.html#.VS9RNXCkqrU

 

[savageseadog]

The 12V lead is pretty much the same as any used for 12V consumer devices. You could possibly get one from a pound shop.

 

[Momac]

There is a user manual on the icom website which includes advice on battery charging.
http://www.icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/PDF/productManual/IC-M31um.pdf

 

[aluijten]

I have today received my nice new-to-me Icom M31 - thanks to Photodog - and have been having a look at the charger. The wall wart is a 12V 500mA one and the charger itself says it likes to be fed 13.8V. Is it likely to object if I wire it up to the boat's "12V" system, which actually goes up to 14.4V when the engine's running?

I've simply connected the charger cradle to the boat supply. Has been working fine for several years now. Only need to buy a fitting DC plug and some wire.

 

[prv]

Personally I'd just crack on and do it, but don't blame me if yours breaks

13.8v sounds to me like code for "a nominal 12v system which sometimes might be in charge mode"

Pete

 

[YachtAllegro]

Yup, I just cut the lead from the wall plug and wired it into the boat's 12v supply. It's worked fine with that setup for 2 or 3 years so far. No problems charging either with engine on or off.

Cheers
Patrick

 

[JumbleDuck]

Icom sell a dedicated 12v charging lead, which has a cigarette socket plug on one end and the connector to plug into your radio charging base on the other. I've been using one of these for years without any problems.

http://www.force4.co.uk/icom-12v-lead-for-icom-handhelds.html#.VS9RNXCkqrU

Thanks. I should have said that I have seen these and wondered if the plug was any more than a connector - whether it had any regulating circuitry in it. They also make one without a cigarette lighter plug for wiring in directly

The 12V lead is pretty much the same as any used for 12V consumer devices. You could possibly get one from a pound shop.

I have loads of chargers for long dead equipment around the place, so finding a wire won't be an issue.

I've simply connected the charger cradle to the boat supply. Has been working fine for several years now. Only need to buy a fitting DC plug and some wire.

Ta.

Personally I'd just crack on and do it, but don't blame me if yours breaks

13.8v sounds to me like code for "a nominal 12v system which sometimes might be in charge mode"

Pete

Thanks.

There is a user manual on the icom website which includes advice on battery charging.
http://www.icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/PDF/productManual/IC-M31um.pdf

And thanks to you too. I'm a bit disappointed that the charger doesn't seem to cut off automatically, but I suppose a switch won't bankrupt me.

 

[prv]

I have seen these and wondered if the plug was any more than a connector - whether it had any regulating circuitry in it. They also make one without a cigarette lighter plug for wiring in directly

I think the second part answers the question in the first part - no

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

I think the second part answers the question in the first part - no

Not quite ... the simple wire is described as a 13.8 supply wire so it doesn't guarantee that the charger can cope with 14.4v ...

The hell with it. I'll risk it.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Ours is an M71 and the instructions here http://www.icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/fieldsetField/255/IC-M71_0.qxd.pdf (p26) seem to show essentially the same set up as the M31 instructions (see link above). I must admit I just plug the lead into the cradle and a 12V socket. I can't remember if I've done so with the engine running, though I suspect I probably must have done at some point. But I've certainly done so with the mains charger on, without any problems - but perhaps that doesn't get to 14.4 V (not near boat to check - but it's set for open cell lead acid).

So I, too, think you'll be OK. (BTW, the battery holds charge very well in my experience.)

 

[JVL]

I've got one it works (alternator puts out 14.58 v )

John

 

[nigelmercier]

13.8v sounds to me like code for "a nominal 12v system which sometimes might be in charge mode"

Agree 100%, this unit is surely designed for charging on a boat.