Garmin 12 power supply

[marchhare]

I have a Garmin 12 which needs a 6v supply, as oposed to the xl which will take a 12v supply. One option to get a cost effective supply, as oppose to the £30+ for cigarette lighter supply type with a built in volt dropper, would be to have a pair of identical resistors in series across the 12v supply and tap off between them. What I have not a clue about is the ohm size of suitable resistors. Anyone out there with the answer please, or any other way to achieve the same result?

 

[zvidoron]

For approx. £23 you can get a combined power/data cable, that solves your supply problem and gives you PC connectivity so you can use free mapping and waypoint/route editing software like OziExplorer. Well worth every penny.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Avoid the resisters option, you will continue to use power just to heat up the resisters. Sounds as though this is a stone age solution anyway. Go for the factory options or a proper modern type, electronic, integrated circuit, buzz word, buzz word device thingy. Why not get some rechargable cells, the new better improved type, not nickel cadmium, and a recharger. This will have other uses as well

 

[jfkal]

Please do not use the resistors. Works only for fixed loads and heats up like hell.
Will never give you 6 volts stable since depending on the power consumption the resistance of then device changes and gives you a good chance to burn your appliance. If you DO want to built something yourself get one of those three pin solid state voltage regulators but make sure that you provide it with an ample heatsink shall cost you no more that 2-3 pounds. If I recall they are numbered 75XX, XX stands for the output voltage.

 

[Plum]

Re: all you need to know...

Go to http://pfranc.com/projects/g45contr/g45_idx.htm and buy a plug to fit the Garmin 12. Go to http://pfranc.com/projects/g45contr/assemb.htm for the instructions and go to http://www.milair.co.uk/adapt.html for how to build a 6volt supply or you can go to Maplin at http://www.maplin.co.uk/ and buy a cheep of-the-shelf 6volt supply for you to cut off the plug and solder on a plug purchased from the website above. Or, you can buy a non-Garmin power cable from: http://www.blue-hills-innovations.c...12.html?L+scstore+bjcv1539ff6cba6c+1007913955.
I agree with one of the other posting in that you should consider getting a PC link cable too and using some of the free software available on the web, you will be able to enter all your waypoints onto your PC and download them to the Garmin in seconds. This also means you always have a backup.

 

[marchhare]

Re: all you need to know...

Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[Guest]

I keep a small Pocketpower 12/230Volt inverter with me, fitted with cigarette lighter plug. This charges the phones, charges rechargeable batteries (for the Garmin), charges the hand-held VHF, the lap top etc. without having to pay rip-off prices for special leads.

 

[davel]

are you certain the Garmin 12 takes an external power feed? I was under the impression that the 12 didn't but the 12 XL did.