Power cable for Astro Spectra

This forum is dedicated to discussions pertaining specifically to the Motorola ASTRO line of radios (those that use VSELP/IMBE/AMBE), including using digital modulation, digital programming, FlashPort upgrades, etc. If you have general questions please use the General or Programming forums.

Moderator: Queue Moderator

Post Reply
xnavyguy17
New User
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:30 am

Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by xnavyguy17 »

Good afternoon all,

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this query, so please feel free to let me know if there's a more logical board. I'm not a radio guy.

I have a mobile Astro Spectra which I had removed from my vehicle several months ago when I was buying a new one. I've since decided that I'd prefer to have the radio set up in my home office where I can monitor railroad frequencies. The challenge however is I'm not sure how to set it up to use house power instead of vehicle power.

Is there a special cable I'd need to buy to enable it to be plugged into a wall socket? Or maybe a power conditioner/transformer?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Sean
Jim202
Posts: 3609
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by Jim202 »

xnavyguy17 wrote:Good afternoon all,

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this query, so please feel free to let me know if there's a more logical board. I'm not a radio guy.

I have a mobile Astro Spectra which I had removed from my vehicle several months ago when I was buying a new one. I've since decided that I'd prefer to have the radio set up in my home office where I can monitor railroad frequencies. The challenge however is I'm not sure how to set it up to use house power instead of vehicle power.

Is there a special cable I'd need to buy to enable it to be plugged into a wall socket? Or maybe a power conditioner/transformer?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Sean


You will need a 12 volt DC power supply to match the power level of the transmitter of the unit you have. Typically a medium power transmitter should use between a 12 amp and an 18 amp power supply. If you have a high power radio, then your in the order of 22 to 25 amps required in transmit.

Hope this is enough to get you going.

Jim
xnavyguy17
New User
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:30 am

Re: Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by xnavyguy17 »

Thank you sir, will most power supplies have the appropriate plug for the radio's power cable, or will I need to have a special cable made?
Will
Posts: 6823
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by Will »

xnavyguy17 wrote:Thank you sir, will most power supplies have the appropriate plug for the radio's power cable, or will I need to have a special cable made?
Use the same power cable that the radio uses in the mobile. There are two different cables, mid power uses a 2 pin "trailer'' connector, high power uses a much larger two female pin molded connector.
Jim202
Posts: 3609
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by Jim202 »

Will wrote:
xnavyguy17 wrote:Thank you sir, will most power supplies have the appropriate plug for the radio's power cable, or will I need to have a special cable made?
Use the same power cable that the radio uses in the mobile. There are two different cables, mid power uses a 2 pin "trailer'' connector, high power uses a much larger two female pin molded connector.


The trailer 2 pin connector that Will is talking about is available at most auto supply places, even Walmart. They are used to provide power or directional wiring to a small trailer. They will have a white and maybe a green wire, not red and black.

You didn't tell ups if this is a med. or high power radio. The older Spectra power cables from the 100 watt high power radios will fit the Astro Spectra radios. It will have heavy black and red wires coming out of the special connector. These you will have to scrounge up from Ebay or even some of the older two way radio shops. Good luck finding them.

Jim
uman18
Posts: 218
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:09 am
What radios do you own?: XTS5000 VHF, XTL5000 UHF/VHF

Re: Power cable for Astro Spectra

Post by uman18 »

The "trailer" connectors are called SAE connectors.
Post Reply

Return to “Legacy Batboard Motorola ASTRO (VSELP/IMBE/AMBE) Equipment Forum”