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winger
EVDO User
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 33
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 Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:25 pm Post subject: Techie question on alternate power supply for the Cradle |
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This whole Cradle, Tekkeon MP3400, U727 setup really has sparked my interest!
Question. This Cradle unit states it uses 6v but this Tekkeon MP3400 unit produces power up to 19v. Is there any chance of burning out the Cradle?
I remember doing an experiment many years ago as a youngster (maybe less than 10 years old?) where I took a cheap battery-driven radio that took about 3v. I then ran it off a 9v battery as an experiment. Within a week or two, the radio only ran off a 9v, no longer ran off 3v. I forget the exact reasoning, but somehow the continued higher voltage burned out the radio, in some respects.
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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the CTR350 actually looks for 5v input, not 6v.
the tekkeon has user selectable voltage output from 5v to 19v |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Techie question on alternate power supply for the Cradle |
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| winger wrote: | This whole Cradle, Tekkeon MP3400, U727 setup really has sparked my interest!
Question. This Cradle unit states it uses 6v but this Tekkeon MP3400 unit produces power up to 19v. Is there any chance of burning out the Cradle?
I remember doing an experiment many years ago as a youngster (maybe less than 10 years old?) where I took a cheap battery-driven radio that took about 3v. I then ran it off a 9v battery as an experiment. Within a week or two, the radio only ran off a 9v, no longer ran off 3v. I forget the exact reasoning, but somehow the continued higher voltage burned out the radio, in some respects.
Comments? |
The Tekkeon battery pack has an ADJUSTABLE voltage rating. It basically starts at 5v and can be adjusted up to 19v. When ever you unplug the battery cable, the unit will self reset to 5v as a precaution. The Cradle Point AC adapter was rated at 5v 2.5a which basically falls under the lowest setting that the Tekkeon battery pack offers as default.
www.macinfosys.com |
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winger
EVDO User
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Alex wrote: | the CTR350 actually looks for 5v input, not 6v.
the tekkeon has user selectable voltage output from 5v to 19v |
Thanks for the correction.
So, the same question goes for the OP who has four AA rechargeable batteries (1.2v x 4 = 4.8 volts)
or if I used four alkaline batteries (1.5v x 4= 6volts).
Would either of these alternatives cause issues w/ the router in terms of 'burning' something out ? |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| winger wrote: | | Alex wrote: | the CTR350 actually looks for 5v input, not 6v.
the tekkeon has user selectable voltage output from 5v to 19v |
Thanks for the correction.
So, the same question goes for the OP who has four AA rechargeable batteries (1.2v x 4 = 4.8 volts)
or if I used four alkaline batteries (1.5v x 4= 6volts).
Would either of these alternatives cause issues w/ the router in terms of 'burning' something out ? |
You want to be as close to the 5V as possible. From what I understand you could go as high as 6v BUT I personally would not recommend it.
www.macinfosys.com |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| jackrodgers wrote: | | macinfosys wrote: | | jackrodgers wrote: | Do you have any way of automating an email to yourself say every hour. Thus when you do not get an email you could assume that the Cradelpoint's battery pack died during that hour.
On the Mac side Calendar will send an email for scheduled events and maybe Outlook or something else will on Windows.
Note: I found that sending myself an email saying "Wake Up" was essentially useless. |
I do not need to do that. I have tools that I use with our servers and routers that will look for the routers IP address and if there is no response from the routers interface I will be notified that it has failed and no longer available. At that point I would know that there is no power going to the router and the battery pack has failed. |
Are these tools available to the public and if so where, thanks? |
There are quite a few different tools out there, Some are applications that run on servers dedicated in checking your devices and servers, others are servers and client tools and then there are some that are hosted and all you do is run a client tool that talks back to the MOTHER SHIP to let them know if the service / server is functional.
I personally use 3 different tools, they have different purpose depending on server access, services that need to be checked and the amount of details we are looking for.
One of the BASIC ones that is hosted and gives you some details and uptime info and is not that expensive is:
http://www.r-u-on.com
If you are interested in a solution that you can buy and run on your own servers, let me know what kind of devices and servers you want to check and what your platform of interest is and I can give you additional suggestions.
www.macinfosys.com |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| winger wrote: | | ... if I used four alkaline batteries (1.5v x 4= 6volts). |
there's no point in providing more voltage. all it can do is harm, not good.
what you want is more battery capacity (amperage).
i'm the OP, and will be testing 8xAA and 12xAA batteries wired in parallel so that voltage is still +/- 5v
i suspect that 8xAA will get me closer to 8hrs and 12xAA, 12hrs. |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Alex wrote: | | I suspect that 8xAA will get me closer to 8hrs and 12xAA, 12hrs. |
At this point I think the size and weight of this configuration would be larger / heavier than the Tekkeon battery pack and still give you less run time. But testing never hurts.  |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:33 am Post subject: |
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Since the Cradelpoint needs voltage and no matter how big your battery it will eventually die, is there any method of hot connecting/disconnecting battery packs, perhaps similar to a 4 port USB hub in design?
I envision two or more inputs for two or more battery packs. I suppose their inputs would be wired in parallel. Then one could be plugged in and one unplugged for recharge or replacement.
Never had a science class go beyond the 'Don't drop the hairdryer in the bathtub!" level... 
It seems to me that such a device would be quite inexpensive and might even be made from Radio Shack parts. In fact, I am heading for a Japanese lunch at a place next to a RS. Maybe I'll stop in and finally have an intelligent question to ask after fending off all those helpful attempts with 'Just Browsing, thanks." |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:57 am Post subject: |
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it takes 20-30 seconds for CTR350 to negotiate a new connection.
that doesn't seem like to inconvenient a time to wait between swapping battery packs. |
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jackrodgers
EVDO Addict
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 1131
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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My intent is to have both battery packs connected at once and then disconnect the weak one. Thus the current will always be there for the Cradelpoint. Didn't I state that clearly?
If not, my theory: The device would offer multiple inlets for the battery packs and one connector for the Cradlepoint. Multiple packs could be connected at once. When multiple packs are connected, any one could be disconnected and even replaced by another without interupting the flow of current to the Cradelpoint (or other router ).
Universal Power Supplies make the almost instantaneous switch after a power outage and computers keep on running so in theory my idea should work.
I did forget to stop at Radio Shack, maybe tomorrow.
Last edited by jackrodgers on Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3074
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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you stated it clearly, but its also clear that the solution you are after will be pricey, at best.
i don't believe it will be inexpensive, nor simple. make a mistake with a diode, and you'll fry your router.
my point is, why pay the price, when it only takes 30secs to switch a battery pack? |
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tbhausen
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Posts: 158
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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Cradlepoint told me 6V max would not harm the CTR-350. Use info at your own risk.
Todd/Indy |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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| jackrodgers wrote: | My intent is to have both battery packs connected at once and then disconnect the weak one. Thus the current will always be there for the Cradelpoint. Didn't I state that clearly?
If not, my theory: The device would offer multiple inlets for the battery packs and one connector for the Cradlepoint. Multiple packs could be connected at once. When multiple packs are connected, any one could be disconnected and even replaced by another without interupting the flow of current to the Cradelpoint (or other router ).
Universal Power Supplies make the almost instantaneous switch after a power outage and computers keep on running so in theory my idea should work.
I did forget to stop at Radio Shack, maybe tomorrow. |
If size is not a huge factor for you compared to the 4 AA battery solution that Alex has stated at the beginning of this thread, I would highly recommend my configuration with the Tekkeon solution. Not only does it last up to 48 hours but it can also be extended to 96 hours by adding one additional battery pack that snaps to the bottom of the main battery unit.
I think maybe within that time range you would then be able to either charge the battery pack WHILE you are still using it through the battery or swap it out with another fully charged unit. And the cost for this solution is still reasonably cheap.
www.macinfosys.com |
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macinfosys
EVDO User
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 43
Location: Lake Forest, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Alex wrote: | you stated it clearly, but its also clear that the solution you are after will be pricey, at best.
i don't believe it will be inexpensive, nor simple. make a mistake with a diode, and you'll fry your router.
my point is, why pay the price, when it only takes 30secs to switch a battery pack? |
I agree unless he is looking to run some sort of server solution through the CP that requires 100% uptime. I personally would NOT trust this kind of uptime through a device with battery power that was not really meant for such usage. Let alone Verizon and possibly Sprint in the future Capping your bandwidth if you over use it.
My 2c.
www.macinfosys.com |
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