external battery pack/ jump start

[Jim Hartley]

Anyone using any of these external batteries that are the rage right now? Hard to believe these small units are used for jump starting engines and charging portable electronics as well.

I have a Garmin 296 I would like to use with one but I suspect there is no adapter plug available.

Jim

[3Dreaming]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

I purchased one for my son for high school graduation last spring. He was always leaving his lights on. Of course ole dad would get the call to come help. I got a from Earth X through Wicks. He has used it a few times now for both his car and helping others. It seems to work OK. Sometimes you have to leave it connected a little bit before starting, but it has always gotten the job done.

[M Towsley]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Geez, Tom, get him a car with auto on/off lights.

[Mark Bowden]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

While there is an adapter for just about everything, with your 296 you will have to make a bit of a mod. First challenge is to match the voltage of the Garmin and the battery, then the plugs.

The Garmin voltage input, it is 11-35 VDC.

The new battery bricks have USB standard output at only 5 VDC, thus they can’t plug into your 296.

But with the battery cables that come with those new “bricks” that is 12+ VDC. Simple way is to take the two power leads off the Garmin cable (with fuse) and clip them to the car jumper cables on the battery. You might not get a full charge, but should get close.

If you wanted to use the USB ports, here is a possible way to make it work you could get a spare 296 cable (eBay or Garmin still) take the red and black power leads and splice them into the output end of a 5V to 12V USB power converter cable. Cut the finished 12V end off and use some crimped spade, male/female connectors. Or solder them together.

To get a 5-12 V DC step up converter cable, search Amazon or Ebay for one. This is a decent search term string: “5 to 12 Volt step up”. It must be a step UP converter.

Try and find one with as high as current rating as you can. You might not be able to run the 296 but it should charge the battery at least. Again you might not get a totally full charge on the 296.

One example on a quick search:

https://www.amazon.com/KUNCAN-Converter-Step-Voltage-Dc5-52-1mm/dp/B01ID90K4A/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1489615221&sr=1-6&keywords=5+to+12+vdc+power+converter

You could also do it the Radio Shack way and get a module like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/mini-5W-USB-...-/271843152682

Then you can use any portable battery “brick” with USB output.

If you want to keep using the 296 for a long time, I would recommend getting a battery for it. It is a proprietary form factor and when they quit making it you might be out of luck. However if the 296 will work without the internal battery then the above external connection might keep you going. It depends on the current draw of the 296.


Hope it helps, Mark

[Jim Hartley]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Good info Mark, thank you.

I will purchase another battery, most likely from Garmin. I still have the original battery and can get up to seven hours out of it, so with another I will have juice for lots of air time. I purchased an IPad and an IPhone and will start using those soon.
I think the " brick" as you call it may be just the answer to charge and power them.

Jim

[astjp2]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Check amazon next time

I purchased one for my son for high school graduation last spring. He was always leaving his lights on. Of course ole dad would get the call to come help. I got a from Earth X through Wicks. He has used it a few times now for both his car and helping others. It seems to work OK. Sometimes you have to leave it connected a little bit before starting, but it has always gotten the job done.

[astjp2]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Why not just use the cigarette lighter adapter and plug in the GPS to that?

While there is an adapter for just about everything, with your 296 you will have to make a bit of a mod. First challenge is to match the voltage of the Garmin and the battery, then the plugs.

The Garmin voltage input, it is 11-35 VDC.

The new battery bricks have USB standard output at only 5 VDC, thus they can’t plug into your 296.

But with the battery cables that come with those new “bricks” that is 12+ VDC. Simple way is to take the two power leads off the Garmin cable (with fuse) and clip them to the car jumper cables on the battery. You might not get a full charge, but should get close.

If you wanted to use the USB ports, here is a possible way to make it work you could get a spare 296 cable (eBay or Garmin still) take the red and black power leads and splice them into the output end of a 5V to 12V USB power converter cable. Cut the finished 12V end off and use some crimped spade, male/female connectors. Or solder them together.

To get a 5-12 V DC step up converter cable, search Amazon or Ebay for one. This is a decent search term string: “5 to 12 Volt step up”. It must be a step UP converter.

Try and find one with as high as current rating as you can. You might not be able to run the 296 but it should charge the battery at least. Again you might not get a totally full charge on the 296.

One example on a quick search:

https://www.amazon.com/KUNCAN-Converter-Step-Voltage-Dc5-52-1mm/dp/B01ID90K4A/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1489615221&sr=1-6&keywords=5+to+12+vdc+power+converter

You could also do it the Radio Shack way and get a module like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/mini-5W-USB-...-/271843152682

Then you can use any portable battery “brick” with USB output.

If you want to keep using the 296 for a long time, I would recommend getting a battery for it. It is a proprietary form factor and when they quit making it you might be out of luck. However if the 296 will work without the internal battery then the above external connection might keep you going. It depends on the current draw of the 296.


Hope it helps, Mark

[Mark Bowden]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Jim, Garmin's new spec on the battery was 15 hrs (probably optimistic) so if you are half that a new one is a good idea as a back up.

For in aircraft backup I use a Mophie 10,000 mAh battery as it can run both the Stratus and Ipad mini at same time. Also for use if I need to charge them (or a phone) and wouldn't be near a AC mains outlet. It is super light and compact, like it so far.

Reason for cable suggestion was that I assumed the question was to charge the Garmin somewhere where there was no utility AC mains, vehicle with a cigarette lighter available or use in flight.

The new car starters + USB batteries don't have a female port to plug the Garmin cigarette lighter plug into, thus you can't use it that way.

Anker seems to make pretty good stuff. https://www.anker.com/products/A1501071 SOS strobe too.

If you want to use them in the hangar, camping or in the aircraft you have to make a safe and or voltage matched connection to do so. I didn't mean to recommend just clipping the car battery cable to the raw leads of the Garmin cable inside the aircraft, that's benchtop use at best.

Note most smartphone batteries these days are around 1500-2500 mAhr, Ipad mini's 4000-5000.

Mark

[3Dreaming]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Geez, Tom, get him a car with auto on/off lights.

The headlights go off, but the parking lights stay on. He would like to buy a different car, but I tell him he needs to keep the old free car going as long as he can. We did an engine swap over his Christmas break to keep it going a while longer.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

Hi Mark,

It looks like the compact unit without jump start capability is the right one for my application. Mophie looks like a good unit.

I have never come close to Garmin's claim on battery life but the more back light you use the more drain. I will order another battery as I will have the Garmin for years to come I am sure.

Yes your assumption was correct as I have no AC utility to charge in flight and the cigarette lighter plug can not be used in the brick/jumpstarter.

Isn't technology grand?

Thanks again!

Jim

Jim, Garmin's new spec on the battery was 15 hrs (probably optimistic) so if you are half that a new one is a good idea as a back up.

For in aircraft backup I use a Mophie 10,000 mAh battery as it can run both the Stratus and Ipad mini at same time. Also for use if I need to charge them (or a phone) and wouldn't be near a AC mains outlet. It is super light and compact, like it so far.

Reason for cable suggestion was that I assumed the question was to charge the Garmin somewhere where there was no utility AC mains, vehicle with a cigarette lighter available or use in flight.

The new car starters + USB batteries don't have a female port to plug the Garmin cigarette lighter plug into, thus you can't use it that way.

Anker seems to make pretty good stuff. https://www.anker.com/products/A1501071 SOS strobe too.

If you want to use them in the hangar, camping or in the aircraft you have to make a safe and or voltage matched connection to do so. I didn't mean to recommend just clipping the car battery cable to the raw leads of the Garmin cable inside the aircraft, that's benchtop use at best.

Note most smartphone batteries these days are around 1500-2500 mAhr, Ipad mini's 4000-5000.

Mark

[Jim Hartley]

Re: external battery pack/ jump start

A follow up to the direction I went. 30% discount on first orders direct from Mophie. Amazon was about $10 more.

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