Export Cb radio power plug upgrade

[Eldorado828]

Found this from Matt at the radio garage. Not his invention but seems like a good idea and his testing videos show good results as well. I researched and found they are commonly used in drone power connectors. Pretty cool, could be a good upgrade and bolts right up to the common 3 pin plugs. I may just order some from Amazon to try on the 29 with rfx.

 

[Brother DXer]

It looks sturdy and like you said, should have good results. This could be a good upgrade for any power issues.

 

[Eldorado828]

It looks sturdy and like you said, should have good results. This could be a good upgrade for any power issues.

And the installation looks clean too, looks like it was made that way.

 

[Cable Guy]

Got me questioning that 3rd pin. What is\was it's purpose? A forgotten ground? Can't be to keep from plugging it up backwards cause I have done it, notched plug, offset pins and all. Pop goes the diode.

 

[wjm1129]

I think the third wire is for some radios that require power for memory.

 

[Xracerx13]

I think the third wire is for some radios that require power for memory.

The single pin is usually power. And the 2 pins are grounds.

 

[TM86]

The single pin is usually power. And the 2 pins are grounds.

Which manufacturer did that? I'm asking so I can avoid their products in the future as I've never seen it done that way.

 

[Xracerx13]

Which manufacturer did that? I'm asking so I can avoid their products in the future as I've never seen it done that way.

Cobra, president, uniden, etc.. Do a search on ebay for cb power cord. Look at the pic.

 

[TM86]

Cobra, president, uniden, etc.. Do a search on ebay for cb power cord. Look at the pic.
View attachment 64971

If you have one of these, check it with an ohmmeter. Positive goes to the pin that's sort of sitting off by itself. Negative goes to the pin at the opposite end of the connector, and nothing connects to the pin in the middle.

It's like wjm1129 said, that third pin is there for radios that need a constant voltage to store something in memory. Usually those are color coded red for main radio power (gets switched by the on off switch in the radio), yellow or orange for memory power (does not get switched, because that would wipe the memory), and black for ground.

Just to make sure I wasn't remembering it wrong, I pulled two power cords I have that are set up like the one in the picture. One of these is a few decades old, the other one I recently bought for a radio that came without a power cord. Neither of them had the center pin connected to anything.

 

[Eldorado828]

If you have one of these, check it with an ohmmeter. Positive goes to the pin that's sort of sitting off by itself. Negative goes to the pin at the opposite end of the connector, and nothing connects to the pin in the middle.

It's like wjm1129 said, that third pin is there for radios that need a constant voltage to store something in memory. Usually those are color coded red for main radio power (gets switched by the on off switch in the radio), yellow or orange for memory power (does not get switched, because that would wipe the memory), and black for ground.

Just to make sure I wasn't remembering it wrong, I pulled two power cords I have that are set up like the one in the picture. One of these is a few decades old, the other one I recently bought for a radio that came without a power cord. Neither of them had the center pin connected to anything.

That's correct, I haven't seen a power cord with anything connected to the center pin since I've been in the hobby (about 20+ years). That was long before my time anyway. I'd always wondered myself why the extra pin and thought if it had ever been used was for ground because of it being closer to the one used as a ground already.

I take it they still use the same plug because most of the cb industry still does. I prefer it over a cord dangling from the back of the radio though.

But maybe it's time they go with the one in the original post.

 

[NZ8N]

The Cobra Plus series used the center pin for memory retention. Like cobra 29 Plus.

 

[TM86]

But maybe it's time they go with the one in the original post.

Wish they would. If it was cheaper they would have already switched over.

 

[Eldorado828]

The Cobra Plus series used the center pin for memory retention. Like cobra 29 Plus.

Thank you for your knowledge sir, I have learned something.

So is there even still a power cord available to supply that type of radio today. That's probably a unicorn these days.

 

[Eldorado828]

Here ye be if anyone else is willing to try it out.
This package comes with the chassis mount type socket and plug to make your own power cord.
Imo I think 8 awg wire is a little extra beefy but 10 awg would provide more than enough if the run isn't too long.

 

[Greg T]

Do they fit into the radio hole?