President McKinley Radio Power Question

[KB4MSZ]

I have what I think is a simple question but I have been unable to find an answer for.

The President McKinley CB Radio is specified as being compatible with either 12 or 24 volt systems. Does this mean I can assume that it will work at any voltage between these values? Here is what the manual states:

"Your PRESIDENT MC KINLEY USA 12/24 V is protected against
an inversion of polarities. However, before switching it on, you
are advised to check all the connections. Your equipment
must be supplied with a continued current of 12 or 24 volts"

The last sentence doesn't really make sense to me technically. The reason for the question is for the possibility of running the radio on various cell count batteries between the 12 to 24 volt spec.

 

[doctordialtone]

Your equipment
must be supplied with a continued current of 12 or 24 volts"

The last sentence doesn't really make sense to me technically. The reason for the question is for the possibility of running the radio on various cell count batteries between the 12 to 24 volt spec.

According to the specs, you're right. Either 12 OR 24 volts.

Specs

 

[KB4MSZ]

12 or 24 volts

or

12 to 24 volts

?

 

[doctordialtone]

Your equipment
must be supplied with a continued current of 12 or 24 volts

What do you think?

 

[KB4MSZ]

"continued current of 12 or 24 volts" doesn't make sense. Continued voltage of 12 or 24 would.

I guess I could hook it up to a 5 cell lipo and see what happens.

 

[prcguy]

I would assume the radio has an internal regulator before the radio circuits that will supply the needed voltage to the radio and will work with any voltage between 12 and 24v and probably up to 30v. Aircraft electrical systems will run about 28v when charging and can go a little higher. If the radio is only specd to 24v max that would be unusual and would not work in an aircraft.

Of course this is my opinion as I don't know the actual facts. Not long ago a friend asked me about a removable keypad to an expensive Harris military radio that looked just like the one on the radio and had the exact same cable and connector. I told him my opinion was why would Harris make another type of keypad with the exact same cable and connector that might harm another model? He tried it and it was not compatible and it fried his radio. Oops. Please verify with the factory or open the radio and do some measurements before trying something other than 12 or 24v.

 

[KB4MSZ]

I would assume the radio has an internal regulator before the radio circuits that will supply the needed voltage to the radio and will work with any voltage between 12 and 24v and probably up to 30v.

Ok, there's the answer I was wanting. Thanks everybody.

 

[jassing]

Since car voltages can range from 11 to 14 rather easily, I think it would be safe to assume it's "12 to 24 volts". "12 volts" really means 13.8, but nothing ever says "12-13.8 volts"

 

[kayn1n32008]

It appears that the radio was designed to work off of 12v AND 24v electrical systems.

I would choose one or the other, +/-15% @ 12v OR +/-10% @ 24v. I would not try to run it from on a power supply between about 15v to 21v. There is a real chance it will not like that 15-21v range.


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