One of my external battery packs stopped working with my Promark 2. I have 2 with the same setup. I repaired wire connection on both a few years ago. So when this one stopped working I first thought it was the wire connection. Cut the heat swrink tape off, re-did the connection. Looked good thou. Had to reapply the heat swrink tape again. Got the ole multimeter out. Negitive wire to the cradle was fine. Continuity to the possitive side was no go. I popped the case open on the voltige regulator, and something fell out. I have no idea what it is. All I know is it's round, and it use tobe on the circuit board. The regulator is toast as far as I'm concerned. I need a new inline voltage regulator. Knowing you are a Magellan Ashtech Guru I need your advice. Will any of these work? Or do you have a better choice.
HOSSEN® DC/DC Converter 12V Step Down to 3.3V 3A Power Supply Module, Non-isolated
Autek DC to DC Buck Converter 12V to 3.3V 3A 10W Step Down Car Power Supply Module(DCCON-C3.3)
DROK 12V to 3.3V 3A 10W DCDC Buck Power Converter Low Voltage Regulator Waterproof
SMAKN Dc/dc Converter 12v Step Down to 3.3v 3a Power Supply Module
I'm pushing 4 D cells = 6 volts imput.
Thank You,
Jules J.
Thanks! I looked, but no go. Will look to get what you have for my PM3.
Unsure on all those items.
That choke even works on a 12 v battery or cigarette lighter adaptor. If you want to use 12 volt go on ebay and look for a Map 330 auto adaptor. It comes with a screw in base. You put a screw into the Map 330 where the PM2 antenna connection is, do not screw into your antenna connection. It has the choke, or whatever it is technically called, and usually comes with a mount to hold a Map 330 or a PM2. Good if you want to use the PM2 to navigate to a job. Ols style compared to today's auto GPS but it works.
Some years ago I did a test and posted it on the other board. I used external batteries, 4 AAs, 6 AAs, 8 AAs and 12 volt through the choke and all output 4.4 v =/-to the PM2. Then I measured the PM2 output to the antenna and it was in the 7 v range with all of the above and with just the internal 2 AAs only.
I believe you need 4.5 v or the PM 2 will not switch to the external power source.
Paul in PA
Check with Mark Silver at Igage. They are an Ashtech dealer, and they have some adapters for the PM3 that were made in house. I have two, and they works great. It would not surprise me if they had, or could fabricate, what you need for a reasonable price.
Mark is a great guy.
Good luck.
Thanks!
I have 2 external setups for 2 PM2's. One's working. One is not. Both are factory setups. Came with 4 D cell, and 4 AA cell battery packs. I'm on the road this week. When I get home I'll meter the voltage on the working one.
If I can't get things working I'll give Mark a call. Thanks!
> That choke even works on a 12 v battery or cigarette lighter adaptor. If you want to use 12 volt go on ebay and look for a Map 330 auto adaptor. It comes with a screw in base.
I wasn't able to find any listed on eBay or anywhere else. They may have gone out of existence.
I do recall that the Map 330 is about 2mm thinner than the PM2. Early on I bought some Map 330 download cradles to modify for use with external power, and quickly learned that the spring arm on top is too short to grab the PM2. I had to put a custom arm on in order to make it work.
I Have 5 Map 330s
Exact same size as ProMark 2s.
I have a Map 330 cradle used to load Maps that I use as a backup PM2 download cradle.
Paul in PA
I Have 5 Map 330s
> Exact same size as ProMark 2s.
Perhaps the cradles I bought are for a different Map model. It's been about 10 years, and my memory ain't what it used to be.
Below is a photo of a modified cradle arm. If you look carefully you can see the line where I sawed away the plastic hook to gain the 2 mm necessary to accommodate the PM2. I can't find a model number on this cradle anywhere, so I don't know which Magellan it was designed to accommodate. I sure thought it was the 330.
