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Cigarette Plug for Motorola Radio

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MtnBiker81

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I used to have a Motorola 800 Spectra Radio with a power cable that was run to the battery for power. I also had a Motorola Power Cable that had a cigarette plug which would allow the radio to be more easily transferred between vehicles. It worked great, but I noticed that it didn't have a strong output. I am interested in having this option again for a Motorola Mototrbo. The cord came like that from a previous owner. Anybody using such an option? Thanks.
 

PJH

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No, since most power plugs do not supply enough amprage required for the radio.

I've never seen a "factory" plug as an option...considering that all the manuals made for the last 30 years show it being hard wired to the vehicles battery :)

With that aside, most radios 45 watts or less are typically fused for 15 amps, which is more than most cig lighters or even some power ports will supply. Either way, its just not a good idea. This is also not taking into account what sized wiring is running from the plug to the vehicle interface, or the wiring used on your plug to the radio (hence why you may have had low power output among other possible things).

Motorola said:
Route the red radio power cable from the radio to the vehicle’s battery compartment, using accepted industry methods and standards. Be sure to grommet the firewall hole to protect the cable. Remove the 15-amp (P/N 6580283E06) fuse from the fuseholder and connect the red lead of the radio power cable to the positive battery terminal using the hardware provided as shown in 7. Connect the black lead to a convenient solid chassis ground point. DO NOT connect the black lead directly to the battery’s negative terminal.

A good reference for what you really need can be found here:
Wiring Size Guide
 

n5ims

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Most mobile MotoTRBO radios can pull up to 11 or 14.5 amps (depending on which model), which is well above the rating for the cigarette lighter plugs. There was a low power 800 MHz Spectra mobile that only pulled 9 amps max and might have worked that way (although still over the rated power level for the plug).
 

MtnBiker81

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Cig Plug

Thanks for your input. I guess it is a simple, but misguided solution to make it easy to transfer a radio. So, I will just purchase another power cable and run it from the battery. Thanks for your responses.
 

kb4mdz

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If you have dedicated vehicles you'll be transferring between, get the appropriate power cable and wire one into each vehicle.

If it's to be a 'discrete' installation; ie no telltale outward signs, just route it to between the seats or into the joint between the seat cushion & the back, or some such; tuck it out of the way when not in use. Oh, and put some loom around it so it looks closer to factory.

+1 to anyone else who disses the cigarette lighter plug, for anything more than just a couple of amps; they are prolific only because it's what is handy, not because it has any good sense to the idea. They often don't hold into the sockets well, are easily jostled out, (again) can't carry significant amperage, yadda, yadda, yadda.
 

theoleman

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If you've got the correct size fuse installed for the cig lighter, it'll blow every time you key up the Moto. Increase the fuse capacity and smell the insulation burning.

Follow the mfg's instructions for any 2-way and connect to the car battery.
 

DieselFF918

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If you have dedicated vehicles you'll be transferring between, get the appropriate power cable and wire one into each vehicle.

If it's to be a 'discrete' installation; ie no telltale outward signs, just route it to between the seats or into the joint between the seat cushion & the back, or some such; tuck it out of the way when not in use. Oh, and put some loom around it so it looks closer to factory.

+1 to anyone else who disses the cigarette lighter plug, for anything more than just a couple of amps; they are prolific only because it's what is handy, not because it has any good sense to the idea. They often don't hold into the sockets well, are easily jostled out, (again) can't carry significant amperage, yadda, yadda, yadda.

add my +1 to this. The idea of having a cable in each vehicle is the best option. A good way to do this, would be to source some matched plugs, similar to what Yaesu uses for their power cable on the 1802m. This way you can have an identical set of leads in each vehicle, unplug from one, plug into the other.

That is also an option too, if you can find a non working Yaesu 1802m, the power leads on those units are a decent size and should be fine to source for your radio.
 
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W2NJS

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Newer cars often have power outlets rated at 20 Amps, which works fine if your radio needs no more than, say, 18 Amps. 18 Amps X 13.8 volts provides almost 250 watts of power, but if you can do it you're better off with a direct power run to the battery. I've run an Icom 208 that puts out 55 watts of RF on VHF for years in three consecutive Subaru wagons using the rear power outlet with full power out and no noise on receive. Find out the power rating of the outlet and go from there.
 

BigLebowski

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Motorola does in fact make factory cigarette lighter power cables, I just purchased one for a project last week. Mine was for a Maxtrac, not sure if they make one for a Spectra.
 

MtnBiker81

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Jake - Do you have a point of contact for questions about cig plug for Mototrbo mobile? Thanks.
 

MtnBiker81

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Cig Plug for Mototrbo XPR 4550

Just wanted to know if it is possible to plug a mobile into cigarette lighter for temp usage....hardwired into primary vehicle. If so, looking for a plug that will connect to another factory power cable. Thanks.
 

Jongage

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If you are just receiving on the radio, you could use the cig lighter attachment as it will not draw a large amount of amps
 

MtnBiker81

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Cig plug options

I have the appropriate motorola power cable but what cig plug will work with the gauge wire of the moto power cable. Will be mostly receive.... If I need to hardwire for transmit, then i will. Don't want to run down battery with hardwire... Any suggestions on retailer/manufacturer for cig plug? Thanks for any information.
 

Jay911

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witthoft

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Well, I dunno, but it worked in my situation. Fused properly should not create "magic smoke"

My situation was I powered a 25 watt UHF radio in a Kawasaki Mule, worked like a charm.
 

kayn1n32008

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I have been running a FT-8800 with a cig-plug in the power-port of my F-350 since I got the radio with no problems and no noise. My plug is fused @ 10Amps, not sure what the power-port is fused at, probably 20Amps. Although all my memories are set at the highest mid-power(20W I think) setting, I have zero issues at high power with my un-modified radio, on either Uhf or Vhf with the plug fused @ 10Amps. No smoke, or power cycling at all.
 

N4KVE

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Well, I dunno, but it worked in my situation. Fused properly should not create "magic smoke"

My situation was I powered a 25 watt UHF radio in a Kawasaki Mule, worked like a charm.
A 25 watt UHF radio should draw no more than 8 amps on TX. At least that's what my 25 watt UHF Kenwood draws. However most Spectra's are either 45 or 100 watts, & will draw much more. Should the OP have a Motorcycle Spectra that's factory set to 15 watts output, and draws 6.5 amps, then the liter plug will do, but those radios are very rare. GARY N4KVE
 
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