Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Posts: 30

If you have the DC power cable for the Magellan GPS Companion, please let me know. I have a couple technical questions about it.

Help is greatly appreciated.
- Sean

__________________
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I fly; therefore, I am.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sreidy
[B]If you have the DC power cable for the Magellan GPS Companion, please let me know. I have a couple technical questions about it.

Help is greatly appreciated.
- Sean

Hey Sean,

While I don't have the DC power cable, I too am looking for some technical information about it. This was my post from earlier last month in the "Springboard Modules discussion" area:

I have a quick question that I hope someone can address.

I would like to take advantage of the power plug of the GPS Companion that attaches
to the car�s cigarette lighter. The reason for this is that the rechargable alkaline
batteries I use in the unit don't come close to lasting the advertised 10-11 hours. I
wonder if I'm getting a premature low battery indication (something to address I guess
in another post.)

I have a number of different plugs with a Universal DC auto adapter that I bought from
Radio Shack a few years ago. One of the settings is for 3V, which equals the power
requirements of the GPSC (2AAA @ 1.5 V each.)

However, I do not see anything in the manual, on the unit itself, or on-line that specifies
what the polarity of the plug should be. Obviously, I do not want to fry the unit, but at
the same time it seems silly to buy a completely new power cable when I already have
one.

Anybody had any success with this?

Thanks in advance!

Hopefully, someone can help us BOTH out!

Good luck,

RodneyD

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Derry NH USA Earth
Posts: 154

Do you have an adaptor/charger for AC use? If so use a voltmeter to determine the voltage and polarity of that (if it isn't marked). Keep in mind there's a limit to how much current those adaptors can put out and RS offers several models.

The voltage may be higher than 3V and there may be some electronics in the charger for voltage regulation and/or overcharge protection. At any rate, I think manufacturers keep that type of information secret so you have to pay $25 for their $8 adaptor.

Rechargeable Alkalines never perform as advertized. I'd recommend NiMh rechargeables.

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Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 116

I have not figured out the polarity yet, but I am putting together a power regulator that will allow 1.8 to 20volt input and will output 3v. Then I can throw 4 to 14 AA NiMH batteries in a pack and run it all week long.

Parts so far have cost me $30 and I can make 4 regulator / packs. I also plan to hook up to the visor itself either with a jack on the side or right off the battery terminals.

I'll let you know how it works.

__________________
Scott Olendorf
Sony Clie N610C,
Blue Visor Deluxe, Magellan GPS Companion

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

quote:

---

Originally posted by enhanceyourlife
Do you have an adaptor/charger for AC use? If so use a voltmeter to determine the voltage and polarity of that (if it isn't marked). Keep in mind there's a limit to how much current those adaptors can put out and RS offers several models.

* Hey Mike & Scott,

I don't have an adaptor/charger for AC use, nor a voltmeter so I'm outta luck there.

The voltage may be higher than 3V and there may be some electronics in the charger for voltage regulation and/or overcharge protection. At any rate, I think manufacturers keep that type of information secret so you have to pay $25 for their $8 adaptor.

*That's for sure! A couple of wires and resistors and I've got to fork over $25 bucks?! OK, I know there's a -little- more to it, but you catch my drift.

Rechargeable Alkalines never perform as advertized. I'd recommend NiMh rechargeables.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

I too am interested in knowing the specs of the DC power adapter for the Magellan Companion, because I'd like to replace it with a "standard" one.
The problem for me is not so much the price as the availability, because I live in Europe. I'd hate paying $30 of shipping for an item that's not worth 15...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

Still no news?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

quote:

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Originally posted by olivier101
Still no news?

---

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Posts: 30

Thanks for sharing that Rodney,

Actually, I've been getting to the point where I was about to plug it in and see what happened. I can't speak for this particular unit, but with other (perhaps less sensitive) electronics that I've played with for the last umpteen years, some devices aren't particularly biased about polarity. (Take your old Stomper trucks for instance..... if you put the batteries in backwards, the car simply runs backwards now, but doesn't fry any circuits.) That may not be the case with this unit however.

Another question though.... just because the unit uses 3V of battery power doesn't necessarily mean it uses 3V from the power adapter. It could be 3V, or 4.5, or 6, or really anything in between. I'd like to know for sure.

Keep us updated!
- Sean

__________________
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I fly; therefore, I am.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

quote:

---

Originally posted by sreidy
Actually, I've been getting to the point where I was about to plug it in and see what happened

---

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

Here's the response I got from my co-worker:

quote:

---

I am looking at the adapter and packaging and there is nothing that indicates what the amperage or voltage is ???? I would say that your best bet is to get the power requirements for the GPS.

---

So, Sorry, I tried to help. I wish I knew what they were, so I could make one too! I thought that UL requires any electrical device to note voltage and amperage requirements... Oh well, guess I was wrong.

-Larry

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

I have never seen a power adapter that didn't indicate input and output current requirements...

Please, Larry, ask your co-worker to use a meter and tell us at least the voltage and polarity!!!

Magellan didn't answer my mail regarding the power requirements for the unit...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

Here's the reply I got from Magellan support regarding the car power adapter:

"The voltage is 12 volts input to the visor it has a built in regulator to handle 12volts and the center pin is positive also you could call(800)669-447 extension5503 to find out where to get one
Thank You
Magellan support"

I believe they did not understand my question, because it looks like they are talking about the cigarette lighter plug, not the Companion power input. I can't believe it takes 12V input!

I'm not in the USA so I can't call this toll free number. If someone out there could call and ask the real question (what are the requirements for the Companion power input??) I'd be thankful if they could communicate the answer...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

Am I the only one still looking for this information?

Please, anybody in the USA who is bored at work, call Magellan support at (800)669-447 (ext. 5503) and ask them what is the *$#%+* voltage and polarity of the power input for the Visor Companion!!
I'll even buy you a beer if you come to this part of the world

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 6

Response from Magellan

O.K.
After waiting on hold for about 15 minutes (not bad actually...), I spoke with a tech rep who provided the following information.

The center pin is positive!!!
The voltage input range is 9 to 35 volts. I was quite surprised that it was that high, but he indicated it is the same regulator used on several of their handheld units. He suggested he would not recommned anything higher than 35 volts. Again, I asked if 12 volts would work fine. He indicated that would be just fine!!!

The toll free 800 number previously provided in this thread is missing one digit. I used the technical support number posted in Magellan's web site (904) 394-5000.

Good luck guys... I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 6

O.K

One correction on the phone number. The area code is 909, not 904. 904 is my area code...

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

Thank you very much guys!

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but this means Magellan is selling for more than $30 a car power adapter that is merely a piece of wire???

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 6

Yes, but it matches their $50.00 vehicle mounting bracket nicely.

Seriously... if you look at the picture of the external power cable with the cigarette lighter adapter, that is just what it is... a cable with a cigarette adapter in one end and the pin connector at the other end (look at picture of it that came with the Companion documentation).

Now that we have taken care of the power adapter, does anyone have any ideas for a mounting bracket that is more affordable than the $50.00 Magellan wants for theirs?

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Posts: 30

visor/companion suction mount

I also felt $45 was way too much for Magellan's custom Visor/Companion suction cup mount for the windshield. Let's face it... their actual cost to produce such an item is probably in the $1.00 range.

So..... I already had one of the "universal" PDA suction mounts from Staples, like $15. It just required a bit of modification to allow it to work with the Companion.

Took the holder apart, and used a bandsaw to cut an opening on the front half (with the foam) to fit the shape of the Companion. Then used a table saw to carefully rout the back half of the holder just 1/4 inch or so. Put the halves back together, and used some super glue to make up for the fact that one of the screw holes was now unusable.

Works like a charm! I take it flying with me too. Thanks for the DC adapter info!
- Sean

__________________
-----------------------
I fly; therefore, I am.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 68

Since I'm reluctant to directly connecting the module to my car battery, I'll try an adapter that produces 9V. If the guy from tech support was right, then it should work. Even this is less than $7.

As for the mounting bracket, I use an unmodified cell phone holder. The Visor itself is too broad to fit in, but the protruding part of the GPS module does fit in, so basically the Visor is held by the GPS module... I was not too confident in this setting at first, but it never moved one millimeter.