Dual Band HT that has car charger/dock?

[KF5DCI]

Does anyone know of any name brand dual band HT's that have have actually dock-like car chargers? Not a plug in style. Something similar to the car chargers like the Motorola commercial two ways use where you can just drop/pull the radio in/out quickly. See image below if you have no idea what I am talking about.

[fineshot1]

I do not think there are any vehicle adapters for any of the currently manufactured amateur
portables. There used to be a company called Vocom that made them for some of the older
model dual band ht's but they were gobbled up by a competitor long ago and the new co
stopped making them.

[scansalot52]

If the radio has a drop in home unit available, and the drop in unit uses an external transformer, and if that transformer drops 110vac to 12-15vdc then you may be able to get a second one or aftermarket one, cut off the transformer, save the plug that goes into the drop in unit and power it that way from your car. Make sure that you observe proper polarity and that you use an inline fuse even if the drop in unit has one internally.

If the drop in unit requires a different input voltage, then some folks around here have used a 12vdc to 110vac voltage inverter unit rated at the required amps.

Use of this suggestion is at your own peril

[KF5DCI]

Originally Posted by scansalot52

If the radio has a drop in home unit available, and the drop in unit uses an external transformer, and if that transformer drops 110vac to 12-15vdc then you may be able to get a second one or aftermarket one, cut off the transformer, save the plug that goes into the drop in unit and power it that way from your car. Make sure that you observe proper polarity and that you use an inline fuse even if the drop in unit has one internally.

If the drop in unit requires a different input voltage, then some folks around here have used a 12vdc to 110vac voltage inverter unit rated at the required amps.

Use of this suggestion is at your own peril

Yes, but unless it is a smart charger than leaving it in there for extended periods of time would be a fire hazard.

I am thinking there is no such thing for a dual band ham. The only option would be go with a less expensive pair of commercial radios, like maybe the HT1250.

[scansalot52]

Certainly for a local use radio where the frequencies are not changed often, your idea is probably the most cost effective provided you have some way of getting it programmed.

I'll add some other comments based on what we've already posted, but I think your idea is best.

If it will be a newer radio, probably a drop in would be a smart unit. Not always, but it could be. I purchased an EMS 20i smart charger from BatteriesAmerica.com for my ICOM W32a. I've not tried it in the car. It does require 24v from the transformer, so you'd be back to the inverter idea there also

There is the option to hooking it up so that its only on when the car is on, although I doubt that would serve the purpose.

Make some other way of switching it on and off. Put a switch in line (not useful?) or there are timers for similar purposes.

[KF5DCI]

Originally Posted by scansalot52

Certainly for a local use radio where the frequencies are not changed often, your idea is probably the most cost effective provided you have some way of getting it programmed.

I'll add some other comments based on what we've already posted, but I think your idea is best.

If it will be a newer radio, probably a drop in would be a smart unit. Not always, but it could be. I purchased an EMS 20i smart charger from BatteriesAmerica.com for my ICOM W32a. I've not tried it in the car. It does require 24v from the transformer, so you'd be back to the inverter idea there also

There is the option to hooking it up so that its only on when the car is on, although I doubt that would serve the purpose.

Make some other way of switching it on and off. Put a switch in line (not useful?) or there are timers for similar purposes.

Thanks for your suggestions and insight as it is very helpful and much appreciated.

Funny you mention the ICOM, last night I was looking into possibly a T90A. They offer the rapid recharge (li-ion) dock which is a smart charger (after the battery is full it provides only a trickle charge) and the even offer a auto adapter for it. Even better than popping the HT in the dock to recharge, I was considering getting a second battery and using the dock just to charge the battery. Reviews say average life of the battery (1300mah) is roughly five to six hours, and recharge time is roughly 90 mins. So even under using the HT constantly, there would be no down time. While one battery is being used, the next battery is already charged and ready to go.

Also, on the inverter not you mentioned, while I am looking at installing a 1500W inverter for not only my laptop but to power other devices in an emegency, I noticed an interesting note in the front of the manual (of a CPI1575).

Notice
Caution Warning
Caution:Rechargeable Appliances
Certain chargers for small nickel cadmium batteries
can be damaged if connected to the Cobra 1500 watt
inverter. Two particular types of equipment are
prone to this problem:
1.Small battery-operated appliances
such as flashlights, razors, and
night lights that can be plugged
directly into an AC receptacle to
recharge.
2.Certain batterychargers for
batterypacks used in hand
power tools. These chargers have
aWARNINGlabel stating that
dangerous voltages are present
atthe battery terminals.
This problem does not occur with the vast majority of
batteryoperated equipment. Most use a separate charger
or transformer that is plugged into the AC receptacle and
produces a low voltage output. If the label on the AC
adapter or charger states that it produces a low voltage
AC or DC output (less than 30 volts), the inverter will
have no problem powering the adapter safely.
Notice
Caution Warning
Plug In Directly
Dangerous Voltages

I am not sure if this applies to HT's and radios as such, but it would seem that one might def look into charging the battery instead of the radio directly. (Which I believe, or at least I know in the scanner realm, this is always the suggested method to recharge batteries over recharging batteries inside of the radio)