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Old 21 Mar 2013
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External power of Spot 2 device
Hello riders!

I'm preparing for a long trip to Africa so I've purchased a SPOT 2 device to be able to tell family and friends I'm ok, but specs disappointed me a bit, as it eats 3 AAA lithium batteries in a week if using track.

Because of that, I've decided to modify it so it can receive external power and chosen to use USB as source (It is cheap to buy an ligher USB adaptor, and USB uses 5v, same as Spot 2).

Mod is super simple, you just need to drill a hole on the cover, cut an USB cable and get positive from the red wire and negative from the black one (as standard).

Here is the proof it works!



Hope that helps someone!
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Old 22 Mar 2013
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That's a great idea. I used the spot2 on my trip anduswd rechargeables but they barely lasted a day. Is this a kit I could buy or a complete DIY project. Would love to see a tutorial on how to do it. Looks straight forward, what are those white parts?
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Old 22 Mar 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stephen.stallebrass View Post
That's a great idea. I used the spot2 on my trip anduswd rechargeables but they barely lasted a day. Is this a kit I could buy or a complete DIY project. Would love to see a tutorial on how to do it. Looks straight forward, what are those white parts?
It is a complete DIY project, and yes, it is a straight forward. Simply cut a regular USB cable, and pick red as positive, black as negative, discard the other two, drill a hole in the back cover of the Spot 2 and connect wires to both ends of the spot device.

The white parts are two hand made plastic pieces that emulate the AAA batteries to push the wires so I don't need to fix the wires permanently (in order to be able to remove it easily and connect batteries if I ever need to), but that is an optional step.

Let me show you a better detail!



Hope that helps!
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Old 22 Mar 2013
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That's awesome, thanks. I'm totally doing that at the weekend.

Bon Voyage

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Old 12 May 2013
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Just an update, I've been using this trick for last 25 days across my Africa trip, from Spain to Cape Town (16200 kms) and still works like a charm, no problems!

So it works, guaranteed! (even under heavy rain, lots of mud, the dust of the sahara and namibia.... no problems at all)

Cheers!
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Old 21 May 2013
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Thanks for this idea

I will try this on my delorme Inreach device!

Surfy
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Old 23 May 2013
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The new Spot 3 has a USB charging port (plus text capabilities).
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Old 24 May 2013
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Yes, I did something similar for my SPOT, but using a 12V to variable voltage power supply - HERE -- so I could run it off the vehicle lighter socket. Used two dead batteries with the power leads soldered to the appropriate ends - but of course I will have to watch out for leakage from the batteries. The dummy plastic ones are better.

Worked perfectly over three months through Mexico except for one three-hour stretch when the lighter plug worked its way out.

Quote:
The new Spot 3 has a USB charging port (plus text capabilities)
is that the Spot Connect?? If so I rejected it simply because without a working smart phone it becomes useless except for emergency alarm. If there is a Spot 3, I can't find a reference to it.
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