Thousand Oaks Dew Controller

desler · #1 08-07-2008, 06:54 PM

Hey all,

Just took possession of a Thousand Oaks 4 x dew controller and various heaters and found the power cable plug is a male type cigarette lighter job with fuse!

Just wondering what sort of mods anybody has made re connecting to either battery or power supplies. My first thought was to just cut the plug and attach some connectors, but now, not to sure.

Any idea's/thoughts greatly appreciated.

Darren

Bassnut (Fred) · #2 08-07-2008, 06:58 PM

You can buy multi output cigarette lighter extenders from auto shops (and Jaycar), and sockets with battery clips.

gbeal · #3 08-07-2008, 07:00 PM

While mine isn't a 1000 Oaks, I faced the same problem recently.
With no particular reason I have settled on the RCA plug as the default for my outfit, with everything having an RCA plug or socket.
I cut the cigarette plug and fitted an RCA. OK, I miss the fuse, but the convenience of the RCA for me was too much.
Gary

desler · #4 08-07-2008, 07:01 PM

Thanks Fred!

erick (Eric) · #5 08-07-2008, 08:38 PM

I recommend that you keep the cigarette lighter plug and buy the adapter. Various power supplies come with a cigarette lighter output. Eg. this one that is currently at a bargain price of $79 from Dick Smith Electronics - I bought one (then tweaked the adjustment to bring the output voltage down to close to 12V rather than the 13.8V - well because I could and it seemed like a good idea).

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...uct/View/Q1755

And the Jaycar version of crocodile clips to a cig lighter socket is Cat # PP2007 ($7.30)

marki · #6 09-07-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

I recommend that you keep the cigarette lighter plug and buy the adapter.

I also think you should keep the lighter plug. All I did on mine was buy an lighter extender chord from DSE ($10 or there abouts). The chord has a female plug on one side and male on the other. I simply cut off and discarded the male plug and attached two bannana clips (red on wire with white text). You can attach alligator clips for battery use or simply plug it into a power supply if using AC. Best of all you get to keep the fuse just in case something goes wrong.

desler · #7 09-07-2008, 06:39 PM

Down to Jcar in Springvale this afternoon and picked up Eric's suggested part.

I also have a 13.8 volt transformer from my old CB radio days, which I'm told should be fine for the home purpose, and no, I don't know how to tweak it down, so I wont go sticking a screw driver in something I can break!

Thanks for the quick replies!

Darren

erick (Eric) · #8 09-07-2008, 10:05 PM

Now I'd better get to Jaycar and buy one myself. It'll be handy to have even though I have wired my main battery directly to a ciggie socket. if something goes wrong, I can connect to another battery.

The DSE power supply has an accessible pot underneath to adjust the output voltage - it's in the manual. I've forgotten too much about electronics to go pulling the top off and fiddling - they have become too sophisticated since I was building regulated power supplies in my electronics hobby days of the 60s and 70s.

ps. 10-4 Good Buddy! Yes, I had a few years of CB madness as well!