spot connect

The device Kharn is referring to is a Spot Connect GPS tracker. It is normally powered by batteries. They are sold on this site.

Thanks Rod, obviously I need to get out more. LOL

Cheers, Bruce.

Bruce C
I would have asked the same thing.
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The company instructions say you must use lithium non-rechargeable batteries, NOT rechargeable. I tried the rechargable batteries but the device did not work. Rechargables a have a lower voltage and a very low resistance. The non-rechargeables have a higher resistance so lose some voltage in the battery.

Rechargeables are 1.25v each and non-rechargeables are 1.5v each.

I hope that helps. If you find a solution please let us know. The batteries are the biggest problem with the Spot devices I think. Otherwise they are brilliant.

I've also used normal alkaline batteries in mine - they only lasted a couple of hours instead of 5 days.

i was told battery life is 5days seems like it would be better to hard wire it and thats that.dealer in perth said he had never heard of anyone doing it.i was sure sombody must have sorted it out

Yeah on the tracking mode your about right and if you have heavy cloud or if you are under a forest canopy that will decrease even more. Just on "check ins" I have read that you will get up to 700 per set. I run a spot device hiring company and we have have ran them up to around 200 check ins with no dramas but we don't do the tracking function on the hire units.

You may void warranties and the like in the process but if you are happy to use it just as a "tracker" and to disregard the emergency functions there is no reason why you couldn't get a 12v transformer from Jaycar and run the power through that?
Tim

Why would we need to "disregard the emergency functions" if it was hard wired?

A Spot is, what I would consider to be on the same page as en EPIRB. It's small, portable and can be used with minimal input (in comparison to say a HF or satphone) if you happen to be semi conscious or suffering serious injuries.

The benefit these devices have as emergency devices is that they are portable. Now when it comes to hard wiring them, the better the hard wiring job, the more difficult it is to get out of the vehicle.

Now if we look more closely at the device, to hard wire one, we have 2 options.

Firstly we can solder on to the battery connections or make up "dummy batteries" and have the power running in through them still utilising the battery connections. Soldering directly onto the existing connections will then have implications with batteries when you do put them in and you won't be able to fit the cover on properly and the batteries can become dislodged or fall out.

The other option is to run the cables into the unit itself. Sounds like a great idea however your water/dust proofing factor goes out the window.

So either option we take, we have reduced the capability of the device. Now let's look at some scenarios.
1. Roll your car
2. Car catches on fire
3. You want to take the device for a bush walk

-First step in every case is to disconnect it from the power supply. Sounds easy until you apply the stress factors in scenario 1 and 2.
-Second step, let's put the batteries in. Again, high pressure, high stress (without taking into account potential injuries) and your cognitive functions diminish. So getting batteries in becomes a mission but that's only if you remembered where you placed them and also to get them out of the car.
-Third step, alright, we remembered the batteries, held ourselves together for long enough to get them in, now lets activate it. Whoops, the water must have got in when I was walking though the creek in scenario 3 and now it doesn't work.......

The biggest down fall with these devices is the batteries. Obviously they are a little different in nature to an EPIRB but the battery life in an epirb is a mind resting factor. By messaing around with the devices weakest point you are playing with fire and it would seriously deplete the confidence I have in them and that is why I would be disregarding the emergency functions if I was to play around with the power supply.

thanks peteS i was trying to find out if i hard wired it if there would be any problems.i wonder why they dont put a power plug on the outside for this and that would make it a lot better unit for 24/7 use like i want to do thanks . info cheers

Think the reason they don't put an external power socket socket on kharn is that it makes it very hard, if not impossible, to make it totally waterproof.

Cheers
PeteS