WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

I am hoping someone here could help me, our Station has 3 hand held radio's we want to install into one of our appliances but before we do I need to find out if the supply voltage is compatible. I noticed the power supply supplied with the desktop charger has an output of 10.5V DC so would we need to get a voltage converter to drop it down to 10.5V DC or will it be safe to supply it direct from a 12V DC tap off one of the appliances batteries with a 12V regulator? (the appliance is 24VDC with 2 batteries in series) I have tried emailing the suppliers / maunfacturers but have had no response.
Any information would be very much appreciated.

What brand are the radios?

Generally radios that need 10.5V from the mains charger will not cope well using 12V and it may damage the batteries.

Was worried that might be the case. Looks like I will have to dig through my memory back to pre apprenticeship days of electronics and make a 10.5V regulator or just Google it.
Now I know I should already know this but a plug pack charger is normally just a power supply and doesn't contain any special electronics for charging?
The unit's are VX standard VX-829's

As a last resort, maybe just chuck in an inverter. Only down side is its not as efficient going 24V > 240V > 10.5V but its the 'easy' way out. Just work out the max draw of each charger to get a sufficient inverter model.

The power pack itself won't be anything special, but does the pack plug straight into the radio or a base? Usually the base has the fancy stuff that controls the charging.

Will check at our station and will PM you.

There are carkits and charging adapters available for the VX829 from OCP sales. Very cheap and reliable (and genuine). If you already have a base you can just purchase the adapter. The kit Part number is VCM-2 it comes with power adapter E-DC-24, a 24/12 volt 1.2 amp adapter. For the sake of the radio and reliability I would not be making my own. The entire car kit is less than $80 dollars from memory
Nick


Edited twice

Excellent, Thanks Nick and thanks everyone else for your help, I'll contact OCP on Monday and let the equipment officer know.
Cheers

According to the spec sheet the VX-829 runs on a supply of 7.4 volts.

From memory 7.4V is the battery voltage so the charger supply will always be greater.