Powerpole to USB adaptor?

Would a power bank fit the bill ?
Most have 2 usb outputs .

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=powerbank+with+usb&adgrpid=70893999725&gclid=CjwKCAjwjLD4BRAiEiwAg5NBFuCt4qAjYwrC-Glh5Te72sQyxDdwK6l5hDIjM0GVtrMbdUjP22qKthoCTo8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=359305087636&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9046490&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=4975856759153837658&hvtargid=kwd-356442018690&hydadcr=4179_1794989&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_5qyfr1xl0e_b

Plenty of items like this on Ebay / Amazon.
Could you just add the powerpoles and connect to your standard SOTA battery pack?

Motorcycle 2.4A Dual USB Charger

2 Likes

I built one ages ago which works fine but of course its in the UK and I’m in the US. Used some cheapo Chinese 12v to 5v converter board from AMZ.

I just bought this for my current “do SOTA in a heatwave” tour of the California deserts peaks.

1 Like

West Mountain Radio will have a new RIGrunner 4004 in September. http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=rr_4004_c

73, Hans PB2T

2 Likes

That looks perfect - similar to the discontinued SOTAbeams Phonepole.

Perhaps not the cheapest solution, but probably the neatest.

I’ll see how I get on for the next 6 weeks with a powerbank. I know Jimmy @m0hgy has some of these, so I’ll ask to borrow something for my activating trip in the first week of August. (Have any of yours got two USB sockets Jim?)

I also built one myself, and it’s noise-free (no switching converter).
I described it here:

Mine only gives 5V at 1A, but there exist higher current linear regulators.
One of the PP outputs has an ON/OFF switch, I use it for a small fan, to keep my KX3 (or me!) cool.

Luc ON7DQ

1 Like

It should be easily fixable. It only contains one active component! But it can only deliver around 800mA before the output voltage starts to sag (at least that’s what I measured on mine). Even at that current it gets quite hot.

Converters with a higher current rating are likely to have switching regulators of some kind, which may cause a QRM problem.

What current do you need? You can work out from that how much power a linear regulator would need to dissipate, and hence how big a heat sink it would need.

Martyn

Rigrunner 4004U is £69 used at an emporium in Barnsley.

Does he have one though as the advert in the US says “The estimated release date is September 1, 2020” ?

And even though it’s in a nice box etc, £69 for 4 powerpoles and dual USB is bordering on Dick Turpin territory.

That is most likely the old version with 1 Amp fuse. It’s good for a phone but not for a tablet.

Says 2 in stock.
or you could buy new @ £109.95 if you really need one. (from the emporium down south & son).

the spec says “Each fuse has a blown LED” I would hope they replace them FOC.

2 Likes

Tom , have you looked inside the broken one to see if it’s something simple like a cracked solder joint / broken track?

1 Like

Another aproach would be to use a “cigarette lighter” socket, and a matching “cigarette lighter” USB charger, both of which could be bought for well under £10 - you probably already have at least one of the USB adaptors anyway.
It doesn’t fully answer your original question, as you would still have to arange an extra Powerpole connection, and perhaps do a bit of crimping / soldering, but I mention it in case it helps. I made up a rather bodgy “Y” cable with PP connectors for when I need two battery connections.

7 Likes

I think I binned the broken one a while back. I really did zap it. Managed to connect it to the battery with polarity reversed, with a big pop and smoke resulting!

ISTR the version I had was good for Android but not for iPhone. Can’t remember why (maybe because it was actually iPad that was mentioned).

Anyway, I’m very much liking Adrian @G4AZS’s workaround. I could use that in conjunction with the current SOTABEAMS PP distribution box linked above. This would be to charge up an iPhone 7 Plus and an Acer Windows 10 8” tablet. Anyone any comments as to whether that will work?

*Or I think I might have a PP Y cable somewhere…

I guess I need to check some parameters. I’m currently sat in my car at the Cat & Fiddle waiting for sufficient strength to return, after a 15km circular walk taking in Shutlingsloe at the other end. I was hoping to do G/SP-004 at the end of the route, but insufficient energy remained. The walk started with the bonus of being able to walk into the Cat & Fiddle and buy food & drink. OK it was only a pie, bag of crisps and can of fizzy coffee (yes, really), and take away only - but still positive, as this establishment has had its doors closed for far too long (from years before any mention of lockdown).

The iPhone expects some sort of resistance or signal, I have a solar panel that has two outputs one is labelled for Apple.

I find a small power bank (usually 3*18650 inside) are enough for a tablet and phone and not to heavy, also separates the supply capacity from the radio.

G4AZS’s idea is a good one as well, maybe take one apart and solder direct fly lead?

I have a small 3 panel solar panel that unfolds and will do 1.5A into a tablet or phone, but in the UK a battery solution may be better if it’s not that 1 sunny day?! :joy:

2 Likes

I have one of these mounted in my POTA battery box, but no reason you couldn’t adapt it to PowerPoles.

2 Likes

The @G4AZS solution worked perfectly btw. Powerpole Y-cable + Powerpole-to-cigar lighter socket + cigar lighter triple USB socket. Got the two PP bits from MLS, already had a car USB gizmo.

Thank you.

2 Likes

My tablet only has a single micro USB socket for either data transfer or recharging.

Now wondering if putting a Y-cable in there would allow me to keep it charged up while simultaneously using it for running Datamodes?

Pretty sure you can buy a cable to separate power from the data of the shelf, not sure your exact tablet but I think you said Acer windows - assuming it’s micro usb something like this:

Female to Micro USB Male and Micro 5 Pin Female Adapter Host Charging Converter(Micro Male Straight) Amazon.co.uk

There are loads on amazon with different combinations but it’s a common issue when the load draws more power than the tablet or phone will provide (some usb headphone day/amps have the same issue.)

If you have an iPad your stuck with the Apple usb3 to lightening adapter that has a lightening for charge as well as standard usb-a for data.

1 Like

Is it a USB-OTG (USB On-the-go) port? If so I think you probably need an accessory charging adapter:

I’m not aware of any other standard than OTG which allows the same Micro-USB port to be used for both charging and connection of peripherals (though the manufacturer might have done something proprietary).

Martyn