12V Power Supplies

[ffighter17]

Sorry if this has been covered, but cannot find much info related to scanners. I was wondering if anyone is using a 12V power supply to run multiple scanners off of instead using multiple wall adapters? If you are using one can you post pics so I can see how you have it setup.

Thanks
T

 

[FrensicPic]

You certainly can. As long as the total current draw of all the devices is within the current capability of the power supply you will be fine.
You can connect multiple cables to the power supply outlet or, use a barrier strip terminal block (or similiar) to provide multiple connections from the single power supply outlet.

 

[jtwalker]

Scanner Master sells a 4-way adapter for Uniden scanners but it has been out of stock forever.

 

[jaspence]

A single power supply with enough output can handle more than one device. I run a DMR 50 watt transceiver, 2 meter all band transceiver, and my 100 watt HF rig from a single variable voltage supply. I don't try to transmit on more than one radio at a time, but for receiving they don't come close to drawing the supply output. Why are you suggesting 12 volt? The highest voltage any of my scanners use is 4 AA cells which give 6 V for alkalines or 5 V for rechargables. If you go too high above the manufacturer's rating, you will kill the radio or shorten it's life.

 

[a417]

Why are you suggesting 12 volt?

If he has a 996 or similar styled uniden, the 3 wire input in the back is 12v DC.

 

[tvengr]

Make sure that the power cable for each scanner is individually fused with a fuse rated for slightly over the maximum current required by the scanner. Otherwise, your scanner could be fried if there is a problem.

 

[sallen07]

I was wondering if anyone is using a 12V power supply to run multiple scanners off of instead using multiple wall adapters?

Yup. I'm using an Alinco 30 amp power supply to run multiple mobile scanners. I think with all of them on they draw maybe 2 amps, but I went with a brand and model I was familiar with that does well with my ham rigs too.

I took the 3-wire harnesses and trimmed back the orange wire (used for dimming the display) and put crimp-on ring terminals on the positive and negative leads. The power supply has lugs on the back that will take the ring terminals.

 

[sallen07]

Make sure that the power cable for each scanner is individually fused with a fuse rated for slightly over the maximum current required by the scanner.

If you use the vendor-supplied cables (designed for mobile installations) they are fused.

 

[737mech]

I use a SEC 1212 switcher power supply for my scanners. (+) and (-) Posts from the back to a fuse block like this Amazon.com works great and you can set your own blade fuses for your scanner or other loads.

 

[morrisr3nd]

You can try this one from eBay.

1 Power Cable 12V Splitter Uniden Scanner SDS200 BCD996 BCD536HP BC780 BC355 | eBay

1-4 Power Splitter for Uniden Scanners - YouTube. 1-2 Splitter 1-4 Splitter. No scanners or power supplies are included. They will work with the following scanners Paste link into a browser window:[isdntekvideo].

www.ebay.com

 

[sallen07]

Scanner Master sells a 4-way adapter for Uniden scanners but it has been out of stock forever.

I had one of those (OK I'm sure I still HAVE it around here somewhere) but became unhappy with it. I had four scanners connected to it, but had to turn them on in a specific order and wait between each one or they would shut off again.

No such problems with a real power supply.

 

[Ubbe]

I have a heavy conventional, non-switched, 12V 10A power supply I where to supposed to use with my scanners. I bought $5 cables from Ebay with 4 standard connectors in a row on a long cable that fit Uniden scanners and also one cable with the special connector that Whistler needs. I haven't finished that project but would free up a lot of outlets and get rid of all small wall warts type of power supplys. I already use one 5V 7A power supply with 10 USB outlets to power portables and other devices.

/Ubbe

 

[CrabbyMilton]

Perhaps I'm the only one but I charge the batteries in my 436HP with a power bank. That way if the batteries go dead I can just plug it into one of those and it works just fine. I also take a with me in the car if I take the scanner along since I only have one USB port in my car.

 

[N9JIG]

I have always used a large 12VDC power supply to power multiple scanners. In my tower build I had 2 dozen scanners and several accessories (multicouplers etc.) powered off a 25A Astron power supply. In my current slimmed down shack I still run that same Astron with 7 scanners, an Icom R8600, a dual bander and a GMRS radio, all with no problems.

I use PowerPoles, this makes it incredibly easy to connect and make changes. Proper fusing and staying within the limits of the power supply will help ensure proper operations.

Those 4-connector adapters mentioned above are fine as long as the power supply has enough capacity to run the devices connected to it. The issues @sallen07 reported are probably due to initial voltage drop, the supply itself possibly had a bad voltage regulator and when the radios would all turn on at the same time it would fail due to that. If you have a voltmeter try checking the voltage to see if that is the case. (As an aside, those adapters were actually developed for surveillance camera use...) I have used the ScannerMaster adapter for running 3 scanners and a multicoupler and there was no problem, it is possible he got a bad unit or (less likely) one of his radios had excessive current draw.

WallWarts and other cheap power supplies often have poor voltage regulators and sometimes rely on the load itself to bring down the voltage to the proper level while more expensive supplies (line Astron's and Samlex) are more properly regulated.

I tend to prefer linear power supplies as they usually do not require fans for cooling like most switching supplies do. The fan noise can be distracting, even the ones that are are only on as needed.

Switching supplies are often smaller, lighter and cheaper but the fan noise bothers me. Newer ones are less prone to making RF noise and switching supplies had a bad rap in the past but newer and better ones (like the Samlex SM1325 I have) are no RF noise issue as far as I have seen.

 

[majoco]

I use a homebrewed linear 12volt power supply conservatively current limited to 10amps to supply two UBCT8 scanners, an Icom R7000 VHF/UHF receiver, a Kenwood R2000 HF receiver, a KDK FM2030 2m transceiver and other bits and pieces around the shack. The big heatsink on the back gets slightly warm when supplying all this stuff which draws a little over 2Amps. In the long term plan is a proper distribution box but at the moment it's all fed via a 12 way connector block. The Power supply is that big box in the centre bottom - it's oversized to match a Yaesu FT901DM many years ago - the PSU was made in the mid-80's!

 

[sallen07]

Those 4-connector adapters mentioned above are fine as long as the power supply has enough capacity to run the devices connected to it. The issues reported are probably due to initial voltage drop, the supply itself possibly had a bad voltage regulator and when the radios would all turn on at the same time it would fail due to that.

@N9JIG That sounds exactly like the issue I had, and I think the regulator issue developed over time. When I first bought it I didn't have any problems at all, but it got to where I had to turn the scanners on in a specific order (which seemed to vary!). I finally had enough and got a real power supply instead.

 

[merlin]

What I use to replace multiple wall warts is a switch mode supply used in Proliant class servers.
A small one rated 470 watt could run a dozen scanners. (38 amp)
They do take a simple mod to turn on and if you need 13-14 volt, another mod.
SMPS are notorious for generating noise, but these are the cleanest supplies I have encountered.
Lot of 2 HP DPS-460EB 12V Power Supply HSTNS-PD14 Proliant 460W 499250-101 | eBay
Just one of these can easily run 100 watt ham transceiver and hardly get warm.

A 750 watt version runs my whole bench. including 110 watt Harris radio.

Just paralell each connector making SURE of the polarity and as stated, an inline fuse to each scanner is a wise idea.
Cheers